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11.12.2008

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Redefining Quality in Premium
Frozen Dinners & Entrées

Quality [kwol-i-tee]
1 character with respect to fineness, or grade of excellence: food of poor quality;
2 high grade; superiority; excellence: a brand of unquestioned quality

In the early days of frozen foods, before refrigerated cases with doors became the standard merchandising unit, notions of “convenience” dominated the Arctic aisles. During this time, frozen food brands were looking to help American households where housewives were breaking away from traditional roles and embarking on careers of their own outside the home. Ah, but convenience could only go so far when the food tasted like, well, the cardboard containers they were packaged in. It was obvious that taste had to be improved.

Some of the earliest taste improvements in frozen food quality could be seen in the transformation of frozen pizza, for example. We don’t know how many of you are old enough to recall this early marker of quality distinction: “MADE WITH REAL CHEESE.” Fast forward to today's markers of quality distinction in frozen pizza and we see how high the bar in premium distinctions has been raised. Case in point, look at this description from a Wolfgang Puck all-natural pizza: "A Chewy, Honey-Infused Crust topped with a Classic Basil Pesto Sauce, Mozzarella, Fontina, Parmesan, & Goat Cheeses, and Sliced Tomatoes.”

Frozen foods certainly have come a long way since the 1960s. Contemporary notions of quality regarding the frozen meal are being redefined by consumers. For decades the frozen food industry traditionally marketed frozen meals based on factors of price and convenience. Yet, for today’s shoppers convenience is a "given" and within the common cultural quest for higher quality experiences, consumers are seeking out frozen entrées for use in unique occasions and with different product attributes (such as new flavor distinctions) when compared to legacy frozen brands. While consumers appreciate the convenience of popping a quick meal into the microwave and getting back to the normal activities of everyday life as quickly as possible, they also are looking for new, unique flavors and eating experiences that rival homemade and restaurant meals.

ORDER REDEFINING QUALITY IN PREMIUM FROZEN DINNERS & ENTRÉES TODAY! >>