Hormel’s pepperoni cups
Hormel has launched Pepperoni Cup N’ Crisp, a pizza topping designed to curl into a bowl shape as it cooks. A five-ounce package of Hormel Pepperoni Cup N’ Crisp comes in original and bold varieties at a suggested retail price of $3.49-$3.99 at select retailers nationwide.
QSRs say ‘supersize it’
Taco Bell announced a triple-size version of its popular Chalupa sandwich, a “Triplelupa” with three mini-Chalupas linked together featuring three different cheese sauce blends, which can be pulled apart for easier sharing. Meanwhile, McDonald’s has upsized its Big Mac burger, to the so-called Double Big Mac with four beef patties (instead of two). The chain also is rolling out a Little Mac version with a suggested retail price of $2.29. And Pizza Hut has brought back its Big Dipper Pizza featuring 24 pieces of cheese or pepperoni pizza and four dipping sauces for $12.99 for a limited time.
Mountain House ramps production
Spurred by the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, freeze-dried meal maker Mountain House reports a tenfold increase in demand compared to a year ago. The company said it has significantly increased production of its just-add-water meals to keep up with orders from major retailers nationwide. The meals are batch cooked and then freeze-dried to lock in flavor and nutrition without the use of preservatives. All entrees have a 30-year shelf life and flavor guarantee. The company’s 32 recipes include Breakfast Skillet, Chicken Fajita Bowl, Chili Mac & Cheese, Lasagna and Yellow Curry.
USPOULTRY recruiting grants announced
The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded a $7,000 student recruiting grant to Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, endowed by Frost PLLC. A portion of the funds will be used for recruiting opportunities at various ag-focused events in the state of Texas, as well as regular visits to high schools and community colleges in the local area.
The USPOULTRY Foundation also awarded a $7,000 student recruiting grant to the University of Delaware, made possible in part by an endowment gift from Valley Proteins. A portion of the funds will be used to further the poultry program’s existing efforts to recruit and educate students on the opportunities available within the poultry industry. The remaining funds will be used to support further education about the poultry industry among the university’s agriculture students.
Albertsons files for IPO
The Albertsons Cos. supermarket chain has filed plans for an initial public offering. The retailer has 2,260 stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia. The company is owned by Cerberus Capital Management and merged with Safeway in 2015. Net sales were $60.5 billion in fiscal 2018.
Taco Bell adds breakfast burrito
Taco Bell has debuted an all-new Toasted Breakfast Burrito Menu, offering three burritos stuffed with “morning flavors,” the company said in a news release. Starting at $1 (at most locations, not including tax) fans can get the Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito, made with eggs, nacho cheese sauce and sausage; Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito featuring a double serving of scrambled eggs (as compared to the Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito), three-cheese blend, potato bites, pico de gallo, and fans’ choice of bacon or sausage, or steak for an additional cost; or Hash Brown Toasted Breakfast Burrito.
Ghost kitchen chicken concept underway
C3 (Creating Culinary Communities) a subsidiary of sbe Entertainment Group, announced the launch of a delivery-only, virtual restaurant concept, called Sam’s Crispy Chicken, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. Delivering “100% antibiotic-free chicken” right to the doorstep, Sam’s Crispy Chicken will serve as an incubator of limited service culinary brands. The concept marks sbe’s foray into the food delivery spectrum that’s set to become a more than $75 billion business in the next two years. Coupled with the rise in popularity of food delivery, Sam’s Crispy Chicken was born out of the “skyrocketing demand for chicken,” the company said in a release.
Smithfield Foods expands apprenticeship program
Smithfield Foods Inc. has expanded its apprenticeship program to now include Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. The program, which addresses the country’s growing need for skilled trade professionals, supports internal candidates, high school graduates and military veterans with hands-on electrical and mechanical training while earning their associate degree. The new apprentices will train alongside experienced maintenance technicians at Smithfield’s facilities in Iowa and Nebraska and receive free college tuition, salary and benefits as they progress through the program as full-time employees.