In today’s economic climate, many consumers who want the convenience of takeout food or the quality of dining out are turning to their local supermarkets. One way that grocery stores across the nation have begun to compete directly with restaurants is by creating ready-to-heat or ready-to-eat portion-controlled meals for consumers.
Some recent research suggests that consumers feel that supermarket prepared meals have evolved to the point where they are of restaurant-quality at better prices. The supermarket prepared meals category grew approximately seven percent in 2011, and continued growth is expected in 2012.
In order to compete with the restaurants, these ready meals must be attractively prepared and of high quality. More and more, consumers are also seeking innovative food choices and flavors. In order to keep up with popular food trends, producers must employ their unique talents coupled with the latest developments in food processing equipment and technology. Beyond unique flavors and high quality, food producers need the capabilities for variety and flexibility.
Like any quality restaurant meal, a big component of the style and flavor of a meal stems from a sauce. With the increased popularity of ready meals, a large variety of new sauces and ready meals are heading to market. To help producers meet this growing demand, Air Products offers the Freshline® continuous sauce chiller.
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