US Foods Highlights Private Label Offerings
Foodservice distributor US Foods debuted Monday its newly branded “Serve You” portfolio featuring more than 1,700 US Foods Exclusive Brands products that offer plant-forward, gluten-free certified, or clean ingredient labels. The products are featured in US Foods' Spring 2024 issue of Scoop magazine.
“Given evolving dietary and lifestyle preferences, it’s more important than ever for operators to appeal to a variety of diner desires, but the challenge is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” said Stacey Kinkaid, VP of product development and innovation for US Foods, in a statement. “With Spring Scoop, we’ve delivered a variety of on-trend, high-quality products that can meet specific preferences, while also appealing to all diners regardless of their dietary or lifestyle choices.”
Plant-forward products on the menu are expected to grow by more than 517 percent over the next four years as more vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diners seek expanded dining options, according to data from US Foods. Featured plant-based offerings include:
• Molly’s Kitchen Plant-Based Smashed Patty: Made with pea protein, the vegan and gluten-free certified patty grills up with crispy edges and emulates the taste of a meat-based burger.
• Chef’s Line Tempura Brussels Sprouts: With brussels sprouts projected to grow by 47 percent on menus over the next 4 years this product is on-trend and highly versatile across the menu, said US Foods.
• Molly’s Kitchen Mexican-Style Cheese Stuffed Cigars: This vegetarian products builds on three popular appetizers—spring rolls, cheese sticks, and jalapeño poppers, said US Foods.
US Foods noted that, because nearly 30 percent of consumers limiting or avoiding gluten, restaurant operators need to offer gluten-free options that appeal to a wide variety of diners. Highlighted gluten-free offerings include:
• Chef’s Line All Natural Gluten-Free Breaded Chicken Breast Fillet Raised Without Antibiotics: The fillets were made to meet the demand for breaded proteins that are gluten-free and raised without antibiotics.
• Harbor Banks Gluten-Free Breaded Alaska Sole: This Marine Stewardship Council Certified Wild-Caught Alaska sole has a gluten-free coating made from a combination of amaranth, quinoa, chia seeds, rice flour, and navy bean flour.
Seventy-eight percent of consumers find clean-label products appealing, according to data from US Foods. Some of the clean-label products include:
• Chef’s Line Pinsa Crust: Made with simple ingredients, such as wheat flour, rice flour, and extra virgin olive oil, each crust is cold fermented for 24 hours then hand-stretched and hand-pressed.
• Metro Deli Kettle Cooked Potato Chips: These gluten-free certified kettle-cooked potato chips offer a clean label profile and come in three flavors: Hickory Barbeque, Original with Sea Salt, and Sea Salt and Vinegar.