From the Cold Corner Podcast
Teton Waters Ranch Builds Frozen Momentum with Clean-Label Burger Patties
Frozen patties mark brand’s first raw product launch.
Teton Waters Ranch is expanding its footprint in the frozen aisle with a new line of raw burger patties that prioritize sourcing transparency, animal welfare and simplified ingredients.
The product recently earned second place in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ annual Best New Retail Products contest.
Rich, juicy and ready in minutes, these frozen burger patties cook effortlessly when grilled, griddled or air fried. Each package includes four beef patties and can be found in the frozen section of the store. Image courtesy of Teton Waters Ranch
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The burgers are made from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised beef, a distinction CEO Kevin Pallaoro says is often misunderstood in the marketplace.
"Every single cow is grass-fed at some point in their life," Pallaoro said. "But in the traditional system, they eventually go into feedlots and are finished on grain. Grass-fed, grass-finished means they stay on pasture, eating a diverse mix of native grasses and roaming like nature intended."
That commitment to regenerative agriculture practices and humane animal treatment is foundational to the brand’s identity. Teton Waters Ranch collaborates with ranchers who avoid antibiotics and hormones while focusing on land stewardship and biodiversity.
"And that’s really the basis of all the products that we have. That commitment to the land, that commitment to the humane treatment of animals, has really transpired in delicious-tasting beef," Pallaoro said.
Unlike other frozen options that rely heavily on added ingredients, Teton Waters Ranch took a more restrained approach to product development. The company intentionally avoided pre-seasoning or additional inclusions.
"We wanted the flavor of the beef to come through," Pallaoro said. "We asked ourselves, ‘How do we bring something to the market that is the ultimate clean product and representative of the true, robust flavor of the beef that we’re putting so much care into?’"
The decision to launch the burgers as a frozen product, rather than fresh, was driven in part by sustainability considerations.
Kevin Pallaoro, CEO, Teton Waters Ranch Image courtesy of Teton Waters Ranch
The burgers are made from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised beef. Image courtesy of Teton Waters Ranch
"Anytime you make a fresh burger patty and try to run that through retail, the probability of food waste goes way through the roof," he said. "We found that we could have a really great product frozen, help reduce food waste – and still get the same flavor profile – because the beef can talk for itself."
The frozen patties also represent a new direction for the brand, marking its first entry into raw products. Historically, Teton Waters Ranch has focused on fully cooked, pre-seasoned offerings across refrigerated and frozen categories.
Distribution for the new burgers is currently centered on retail, with availability at Whole Foods and additional outlets being added. While the company has not yet entered foodservice, that may soon change.
Teton Waters Ranch Builds Frozen Momentum with Clean-Label Burger Patties
Teton Waters Ranch is expanding its footprint in the frozen aisle with a new line of raw burger patties that prioritize sourcing transparency, animal welfare and simplified ingredients. The product recently earned second place in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ annual Best New Retail Products contest.
"We’ve had a pretty high-profile sports team come to us," Pallaoro said. "They tried the product and said, ‘This is fantastic.’ We’re in conversations about bringing this into a major stadium later this year."
For more on Teton Waters Ranch and their winning product, listen to the podcast in the player above or download it now. And check out our May eMagazine for more with Kevin Pallaoro and all the winners.
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