6 New Frozen/Refrigerated Offerings

Consumers have noticed the shift: categories such as meat, eggs and produce have cooled off, while center-store pantry staples like salty snacks, paper towels, dry cereal and cookies have significantly risen, according to recent data from NielsenIQ.

In early July 2023, the average price for dry cereal rose 16%, and potato chips 16.7%, compared the year-earlier period 2022, according to NieslenIQ.

Click ahead for six products across entrees, smoothies, dairy and non-dairy store segments that are helping anchor the perimeter across both frozen and refrigerated options.

Pressed Juicery launched a line of refrigerated Protein Smoothies blending blueberries, banana and elderberry along with added protein. Three varieties include Protein Probiotic Smoothie, Coffee Protein Smoothie and Berry Protein Smoothie, the latter delivering 5 billion CFU of active probiotics to support overall health, vitamin C support—and providing 200% of the daily vitamin C requirements, according to the company. The smoothies also contain electrolytes, 190 milligrams of sodium, 400 milligrams of potassium, 120 milligrams of calcium in each bottle and more.

Lean Cuisine (Nestle Foods) introduced four Balance Bowls entrees that meet American Diabetes Association (ADA) nutrition guidelines of the Better Choices for Life program. The four Lean Cuisine Balance Bowls flavors include Tex-Mex Rice & Black Beans, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Stir-Fry, Roasted Eggplant Parmesan Pasta and Creamy Pasta Primavera, available for an SRP of $4.49. Lean Cuisine is the first company to participate in the ADA program with full meal offerings and the first to meet its frozen entree nutrition guidelines, the supplier said.

So Delicious Dairy Free entered the oat milk category with the launch of Organic Oatmilk in two flavors—Original and Extra Creamy. The variety is certified vegan by Vegan Action and Certified Organic, gluten-free and Non-GMO Project Verified. Organic Oatmilk is available for an SRP of $5.99 per carton.

“As leaders in the dairy-free space, we are always listening to consumers and striving to deliver what they are looking for,” said Olivia Sanchez, vice president of marketing at Plant Based Beverages for Danone North America. “Oatmilk is a favorite for both dairy-free veterans and people new to plant-based beverages, and we know that the interest in oatmilk isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

Truly Grass Fed, a premium brand of sustainably produced dairy products from the green fields of Ireland, offers Spreadable Butter tubs. The butter has a uniform, golden color and smooth mouth feel, the company said. It features just two ingredients: fresh sweet cream sourced from grass-fed cows and salt. It contains no plant oils or additives.

Ripple Foods added to its portfolio of plant-based products with Oatmilk + Protein, which contains 6 grams of plant-based protein per serving and three times more protein than most regular oat milk offerings, the company said. The variety contains gluten-free oats and pea protein. It is also 100% vegan and certified non-GMO. Each bottle has an SRP of $5.99.

Digiorno (Nestle Foods) now offers Loaded Ultra-Thin Pizza within several flavor options. Loaded Ultra-Thin Carnivore pizza is available in pepperoni, sausage, beef and ham, plus an herb seasoning; Veggie Lovers pizza has peppers, onions, spinach and garlic with garlic and herb seasoning; Detroit Style pizza is thick with two kinds of pepperoni, stacked; Three Meat pizza has real mozzarella cheese, sausage, pepperoni and beef; and Four Cheese pizza is topped with mozzarella, parmesan, asiago and Romano cheeses.