With a recent survey suggesting that 89% of consumers in the United Kingdom are looking for a greater variety of jacket potato options on menus, including more innovative fillings, Aviko is encouraging restaurant and foodservice operators to think beyond standard cheese and beans with the launch of its new Top That! Recipe Book.
Available to download free, it is loaded with tips on how to give jacket potato menu offerings a new lease of life during any meal occasion, with recipes such as the Breakfast Jacket, Moroccan Lamb & Apricots Jacket, and Puy Lentil, Feta & Beetroot Jacket with Rocket.
“It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and serve regular toppings such as tuna mayonnaise or chili con carne, but while servings of jacket potatoes are growing at three percent year-on-year, it’s clear that consumers want to have more choice,” said Mohammed Essa, general manager of Aviko UK-Ireland, the Blackburn, England-based division of Steenderen, Holland-headquartered value-added frozen and chilled potato producer Aviko BV.
He continued: “Our new Top That! Recipe Book enables operators to do just that. It includes recipes that tap into the consumer trends driving the market – such as gluten-free, health, heat and meat-reduction – as well as provides hints and tips on how to develop it further or add your own creative twist. With eight out of ten people choosing a jacket potato as a healthier alternative when dining out-of-home, it makes sense to make the most of it on menus.”
Publication of the recipe book follows the launch of Aviko’s new Jacket Potato range, which is available frozen in large and extra large sizes, ready to heat, top and serve.
“The fact that they are slow-baked before freezing ensures the Jacket Potatoes have a crisp skin and are soft in the middle. This is essential given that recent research has found crispy skin is the most important factor for consumers, followed by a light and fluffy center,” said Essa.
The large Jacket Potatoes are available in 4 x 1.5 kg boxes, while the extra large offering is distributed in 4 x 1.86 kg boxes. Both are suitable for conventional oven, combi-steamer or microwave oven heating, and are ready to serve after just six minutes of preparation.
