Chicken of the Sea Adds Flavored Tilapia to Pouched Seafood Success Story

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Chicken of the Sea continues to make a name for itself in pouched seafood with this week’s launch of Tilapia Select Fillets, a new line of single-serve, 3-oz. pouches containing America’s most popular white fish seasoned with the latest on-trend flavors.

The four new shelf-stable products target seafood fans looking to combine the health benefits of tilapia with an economical protein alternative in salads, sandwiches and rice bowls for lunch, snack time or dinner. The San Diego-based seafood provider is making the new line available at retailers nationwide for an SRP of $2.49.

According to a growing number of health professionals, tilapia plays an important role as the FDA looks to significantly increase recommended seafood consumption levels in the U.S. in the coming months.

“Americans simply aren’t eating enough lean seafood,” explained Serena Ball, registered dietitian and founder of TeaspoonOfSpice.com, where she helps families find shortcuts for making healthy homemade meals. “Not only is Tilapia an affordable, high-quality protein option, its high selenium content makes it essential for boosting cognitive function and enhancing the immune system. Selenium is also important in body metabolism.”

Answering the increased call for affordable seafood, Chicken of the Sea Tilapia Select Fillets represents several product firsts: the first single-serve, shelf-stable pouched tilapia; and the first line of flavored tilapia. The new line also comes on the heels of the 2014 launch of Chicken of the Sea Flavored Salmon Pouches, an industry first from the brand that introduced the world to boneless, skinless salmon in 1984.

Chicken of the Sea’s four new Tilapia Select Fillets varieties exceed industry benchmarks on likeability, flavor and purchase intent in brand testing. They include:

  • Chicken of the Sea Tilapia Select Fillets in Marinara Sauce: Sustainably caught Chicken of the Sea tilapia seasoned with a flavorful Marinara sauce in a 3-ounce single-serve pouch.
  • Chicken of the Sea Tilapia Select Fillets in Teriyaki Sesame Sauce: Sustainably caught Chicken of the Sea tilapia seasoned in a bold, tangy Teriyaki Sesame sauce in a 3-ounce, single-serve pouch.
  • Chicken of the Sea Tilapia Select Fillets in Santa Fe Sauce: Sustainably caught Chicken of the Sea tilapia seasoned with a zesty Santa Fe sauce in a 3-ounce, single-serve pouch.
  • Chicken of the Sea Tilapia Select Fillets in Yellow Curry Sauce: Sustainably caught Chicken of the Sea tilapia seasoned in savory Yellow Curry sauce in a 3-ounce, single-serve pouch.

“With the launch of the Chicken of the Sea Tilapia Select Fillets, Chicken of the Sea continues the pouched seafood innovation story it started last year with Flavored Salmon Pouches,” said Maureen McDonnell, Chicken of the Sea director of brand marketing. “Tilapia has become the new seafood of choice for discriminating seafood lovers looking for a mild-tasting, affordable white fish – and our new single-serve pouches give families four innovative new ways to enjoy the fish over rice, pasta or greens, or even straight out of the pouch.”

According to McDonnell, tilapia is now the second-most consumed seafood in restaurants and fourth-most consumed seafood at home. She says the launch coincides with anticipated new FDA advice encouraging more seafood in Americans’ weekly diet. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to recommend eat two-to-three servings of seafood every week to encourage prenatal brain development.

Expected to be filed this year, FDA’s amended guidance follows exhaustive reviews of the positive health effects of eating fish — including the high levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids — which point to the need for expectant and nursing women to quadruple their seafood intake.

Chicken of the Sea is introducing new recipes and serving suggestion to accompany the launch of its Tilapia Select Fillets. To access the company’s growing library of recipes, serving and meal-planning suggestions for its tilapia and other seafood products, go to www.chickenofthesea.com.

About Chicken of the Sea: Founded in 1914, Chicken of the Sea (COS) is a leading provider of healthy, sustainable and delicious seafood, offering not only a robust product line but the recipes and meal-planning insights needed to inspire seafood lovers to greater culinary creativity and inspiration. The company provides tuna, salmon, clams, crab, oysters, shrimp, mackerel, kipper snacks and sardines in cans, cups and pouches as well as innovative new products consistent with seafood’s growing status as a healthy “new” protein choice in America.

Headquartered in San Diego, COS sustainably sources its seafood products from around the world, and packages them at a state-of-the-art processing facility in Lyons, Ga., as well as at third-party facilities. The company is led by a team of industry veterans with more than 300 years of collective experience in the packaged seafood industry.

For information on Chicken of the Sea, including recipes, serving suggestions and nutritional and meal-planning insights as well as information on the latest new Chicken of the Sea products, go to www.chickenofthesea.com.

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