Expo West Gallery: Meal Solutions Aim to Make Dinners Easier

Nosh Staff Mar. 14, 2022 at 4:45 PM

At this year’s Expo West, meal solution companies showcased new ways to capture global flavors and cater to convenience while still tapping into the trend of at-home cooking. Here are some of the notable meal starters and solutions we saw in Anaheim.

The Good Bean

Bean-based snack company The Good Bean Co showed off its newest heat-and-eat product: Indian Coconut Curry Chickpeas. Made with coconut milk, onion, garlic and spices the vegan-friendly meal pouch can be prepared in one minute. Entering the meal category will help the brand further expand through center store; in 2020 the company acquired Beanitos to push into the chip set. The Good Bean’s first heat and eat product is available in a 4-pack of 10 oz. pouches for $11.96.

All Clean Food

Creamy Mac & Cheese is the newest organic pasta-based meal kit from allergen friendly food maker All Clean Food. Like the classic Hamburger Helper, consumers can either serve as is or with added vegetables and meat. The kits are available at select retailers for $7 per 10 oz. box.

A Dozen Cousins

A Dozen Cousins exhibited its newly launched seasoning sauces at the show which, together with its collagen-infused, Rice Cooked in Bone Broth and Bean pouches, create a platform of items that can be mixed and matched for meal creation. Available in a range of flavors, the microwavable pouches can be prepared in one minute while the sauces can be used to quickly marinate proteins such as chicken or beef.

Explore Cuisine

Explore Cuisine is making its entrance to the meal kit space with its Meal In A Minute pouches in two varieties: Marinara and Basil Pesto. Each plant-based microwavable meal combines Explore Cuisine’s high-protein (14 grams per serving) red lentil pasta with four organic sauces.

SOMOS

SOMOS Foods made its Expo debut with a range of Mexican-inspired foods including its flagship plant-based protein meal starters in Mexican Peacadillo, Cauliflower Tinga, Peacadillo in Salsa Verde and Smoky Chipotle Mushrooms varieties. SOMOS also offers protein-free rice and refried bean-based pouches with the entire portfolio available online in suggested mix-and-match meal kits as well as in stores nationwide

Chef Hak’s

Chef Hak’s, the condiment brand created by Chef Sharone Hakman, showcased its expanded range of heat-and-eat meals and side dishes at the show. From Organic Creamed Spinach to Fully Cooked Tandoori Chicken each gluten-free dish can be prepared in under 10 minutes. Started as a BBQ sauce and salad dressing line, the brand has found greater success in retail with items that still draw from its founder’s culinary background, but reduce the cook time for consumers.

Tattooed Chef

Plant-based food company The Tattooed Chef expanded its extensive portfolio of frozen foods with new Burritos, Quesadillas and Mexican Entrees including a Chorizo and Egg Burrito, Al Pastor Quesadilla and “Chicken” Mole Enchiladas. In total, The Tattooed Chef unveiled 62 new frozen products at the show, including a Japanese Breakfast Bowl and Cauliflower Spaghetti White Bolognese.

Fillio’s Americas Made

Fillio’s showed off new packaging for its ten varieties of microwavable beans and grains pouches at Expo West, moving from a white background to a bright, color blocked packaging. . According to the brand’s president Daniel Caballero, Filio’s is already outselling other pouched bean competitors such as Tasty Bite in many retailers.

Deep Indian Kitchen

Deep Indian Kitchen unveiled its latest addition to its line of made-from-scratch frozen dinners: Plant-based Chik’n Tikka Masala served over Cumin Rice. The new vegan-friendly product brings a medium spice level and 14 grams of protein per serving. The company is also now integrating its Deep Foods brand (formerly Tandoor Chef) to its wider range of products sold in Indian grocers.

Tribali Foods

Launched in late 2021, meat-based patty brand Tribali Foods shared its recently launched paleo-friendly frozen meals including Coconut Chipotle Chicken, Tikka Masala Chicken, Turkey and White Bean Chili and Lemongrass Basil Chicken, all of which are made with free-range proteins and are gluten and soy-free.