Bellisio Foods has announced that it is “shaking up the freezer aisle and mealtime” with the introduction of EAT! frozen entrées. The range combines global flavors and high-quality ingredients to “create a welcome departure from the soul-stifling, tasteless meals typically found in a grocer’s frozen food section,” according to the Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA-based company’s publicity department.
Three flavor profiles and eight varieties are available. EAT! BimBap offers a taste of Asia, while EAT! Lavida embraces Latin American cuisine, and EAT! 2.0 updates classic American flavors. The offerings include Chicken and Potato Curry, Korean Inspired Chicken, Orange Chicken, Mexican Style Mac & Cheese with Uncured Bacon, Tomatillo Chicken, Chicken Penne Primavera, Honey Balsamic Chicken, and Lemon Herb Chicken.
Made with authentic ingredients, most of the entrées include a half-cup of vegetables as packaged, 100 percent natural white meat chicken (minimally processed and with no artificial ingredients), and whole grains. All have responsible nutritional values, including no more than 700 milligrams of sodium and fat content that does not exceed 13 grams. Furthermore, they contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
“EAT! frozen entrées are ideal for those on-the-go individuals who want a convenient meal option but who crave an adventurous eating experience,” said Jeff Tuttle, Bellisio Foods’ senior vice president of Innovation. “With Asian- and Latin American-inspired meals as well as new takes on American favorites, we believe this product line offers the kind of interesting and bold flavors that have been missing from the freezer aisle and the dinner table.”
The new entrée range is available in more than 4,000 retail stores nationwide, including Albertson’s/Safeway, Crest Foods, D&W, Dillon’s, Family Fare Market, Food City, FoodMaxx, Frey Meyers, Gordy’s Market, Hy-Vee, King Soopers, Kroger Stores, Lucky Market, Lunds & Byerlys, Martin’s Price Shopper, Quality Food Centers, Raley’s Ralphs Fresh Fare, Ralphs Grocery, Save Mart, Schnucks, Smith’s Food and Drug, Smith’s Marketplace, SpartanNash, Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, VG’s Grocery Vons, and Woodman’s.
Bellisio Foods, which ranks as one of North America’s largest and fastest growing frozen food companies, has been on the scene for 25 years. It produces more than 400 products spanning a wide variety of frozen food categories, including single- and multi-serve entrées, snacks, side dishes and specialty sauces. The company markets these products under its Michelina’s and Eat! brands, as well as via licensed labels Boston Market, Chili’s, EatingWell, and Atkins. It also co-manufactures private label, retail and foodservice products.
Buddy’s Kitchen Buy Idle Plant
Meanwhile, in other news, it was reported on October 20 that Bellisio Foods sold its former Arden Kitchens frozen food factory in Lakeville, Minnesota, to Buddy’s Kitchen, Inc. Situated on a 16-acre property, the 92,000-square-foot facility has not been operational since 2013.
“We’re growing rapidly and need the extra space to accommodate that growth,” said Dave Smith, chief executive officer of Buddy’s Kitchen.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Buddy’s Kitchen specializes in manufacturing custom frozen foods ranging from frozen sandwiches and breakfast entrees to burritos. It also packs an extensive menu of breakfast items and meals for airlines and the convenience foodservice sector at a 65,000-square-foot plant in Burnsville, Minnesota.
