KANSAS CITY — Conagra Brands, Inc. is tapping into trends with a spate of new products set to hit shelves this year. The company unveiled its upcoming innovation during a Feb. 16 presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York virtual conference.
“We're excited to share a preview of our latest slate of on-trend innovations, which will begin to hit shelves in the months ahead,” said Sean M. Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands. “Innovation will be further expanding in fiscal '22.”
Protein-packed offerings on tap include Healthy Choice Max, which are 40% larger than Healthy Choice Power Bowls and provide 33 to 34 grams of protein per bowl, and Banquet Mega Pizza Double Stuffed, which feature two layers of crust stuffed with pizza ingredients and contain 39 to 42 grams of protein.
“We're tapping into new benefit areas to maximize health and satiety with Healthy Choice Max, a 40% larger bowl with more protein,” Mr. Connolly said. “And to satisfy even the most intense pizza cravings, we're rolling out a Mega Banquet Pizza, double stuffed with mega protein.”
New plant-based products are plentiful in Conagra’s pipeline, particularly from the Gardein brand. Gardein is rolling out Plant-Based Chili made with the brand’s plant-based Be’f, Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Filets and Chick’n Nuggets, and Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burgers in Black Bean, Falafel and Chickpea varieties.
“We're continuing to evolve our plant-based Gardein line,” Mr. Connolly said. “We're introducing a slate of new products, including QSR-inspired forms and innovations like chickpea and falafel burgers.”
Conagra also is adding keto-friendly and low-sugar options across its brands, including Healthy Choice Zero with no added sugar, Reddi-wip Zero Sugar and Duncan Hines Keto-Friendly baking mixes and frostings.
“For those who are health-conscious but have an indulgent craving, we're expanding our low-sugar lifestyle and keto-friendly offerings with new products from Reddi-wip, Duncan Hines and Healthy Choice,” Mr. Connolly said.
The Birds Eye brand is offering a range of meal solutions, including sheet pan meals, stir-fry vegetables and sauce, oven roasters and skillets.
“We're bringing new news to the frozen meal aisle with Birds Eye's value-added meal helpers such as these sheet pan meals and skillet sides as well as simple solutions to address modern wellness trends,” Mr. Connolly said.
Other innovations on the way from Conagra focus on meeting consumers demand for food experiences due to restrictions and lockdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New restaurant-inspired offerings include P.F. Chang’s chicken, shrimp and salad dressings as well as Gardein’s quick-service restaurant-inspired Chick’n Filets and Chick’n Nuggets.
“We're rolling out even more P.F. Chang's favorites, with expanded lines of proteins and dressings, so consumers can recreate that restaurant experience at home,” Mr. Connolly said.
New popcorn options offer movie theater vibes in the comfort of consumers’ living rooms, including new flavors of Angie’s Boomchickapop, Orville Redenbacher’s Pop Kit and Act II macaroni and cheese flavored popcorn.
“We're adding an extended array of old experiences and fun flavors to our popcorn lines just in time for the new movies hitting streaming services this year,” Mr. Connolly said.
To help consumers get creative in the kitchen at home, the Duncan Hines brand is debuting three new Epic Cookie Kits.
“On Duncan Hines, we're introducing epic upgrades that will make sweet activities sweeter than ever,” Mr. Connolly said.