Stouffer's recently announced that it will be simplifying its recipes in order to use fewer ingredients. In recent years, many consumers have begun avoiding products with long ingredient lists that contain the names of unfamiliar items. Now Stouffer's is trying to keep pace with these changing preferences by simplifying and shortening its recipes.
In keeping with its new 'Kitchen Cupboard' commitment, Stouffer's will begin overhauling its recipes. The company will not only aim to use fewer ingredients, but also to use ingredients that consumers are already familiar with such as vine-ripened tomatoes, real mozzarella and fresh pasta. This approach has already been used to revamp the brand's Lasagna with Meat and Sauce and will soon be carried out with other products as well.
Familiar Ingredient Branding
Stouffer's Frozen Entrees Will Now Be Made with Fewer Ingredients
Trend Themes
1. Ingredient Simplification - Stouffer's simplifying its recipes to use fewer ingredients presents an opportunity for other food companies to follow suit and appeal to consumers' preference for shorter ingredient lists.
2. Ingredient Transparency - The trend of consumers avoiding unfamiliar ingredients is driving companies like Stouffer's to use ingredients that consumers are already familiar with, creating opportunities for ingredient transparency in various industries.
3. Revamping Traditional Brands - Stouffer's brand revamp by using familiar ingredients presents an opportunity for other traditional brands to update their product offerings and cater to changing consumer preferences.
Industry Implications
1. Food Manufacturing - The ingredient simplification trend in the food industry opens up opportunities for food manufacturers to streamline their recipes and create products with shorter ingredient lists.
2. Frozen Food - The ingredient simplification approach by Stouffer's presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the frozen food industry to redefine frozen entrees with simpler and familiar ingredients.
3. Consumer Packaged Goods - The focus on ingredient transparency by Stouffer's highlights an opportunity for the consumer packaged goods industry to attract customers by using easily recognizable ingredients in their products.