Kad Introduces Soft, Scoopable Frozen Herbs for Private Label
Marketed under the brand Cuca, this new line of scoopable freshly frozen herbs unites convenience with environmental consciousness while responding to the growing consumer demand for minimally processed food solutions. The frozen herbs come in six varieties: cilantro, parsley, garlic, onion, white and red horseradish.
Kad Bnei Darom, Ltd., with more than a half century of experience in herb and vegetable processing, launches a leap forward in fresh-frozen herbs. Kad has crafted a new line of frozen herbs that scoop effortlessly straight from the freezer. Kad also introduces popular spreads, traditionally sold in the refrigerated aisle, into the same frozen format.
Marketed under the brand Cuca, this new line of scoopable freshly frozen herbs unites convenience with environmental consciousness while responding to the growing consumer demand for minimally processed food solutions. The frozen herbs come in six varieties: cilantro, parsley, garlic, onion, white and red horseradish. The condiments line includes sundried tomato spread and olive tapenade who’s quality, freshness and soft texture are maintained through freezing as opposed to refrigeration without the need for preservatives. All are available under private label.
Fresh herbs are culinary kitchen essentials. They are commonly sold frozen and cubed into portions in plastic trays to overcome the myriad of challenges in handling fresh ingredients. Freezing eliminates the preparation time spent washing, drying, and chopping herbs. Freezing also addresses the highly perishable nature and short shelf life of fresh green herbs, which leads to waste and frequent shopping trips.
As frozen herbs transition from a niche specialty product to a mainstream convenience, major European retailers and U.S. giants are increasingly launching their own private-label versions. Yet the traditional frozen formats that are popped out of molds come with setbacks: Users often struggle with the packaging to extract the product, the herbs require thawing due to unworkable hard textures, and the flavor profiles are compromised. Dried herbs, commonplace in the U.S., lose their volatile oils, impacting flavor, aroma, color, and nutritional value.
Cuca frozen herbs and spreads were crafted by Kad in collaboration with Practical Innovation, Ltd., an innovation development firm dedicated to helping companies initiate next-generation solutions. The patent-protected technology involves the use of a plant-protein base combined with freezing-point lowering technology. This creates a soft, creamy texture that is sustained throughout freezing, without the addition of salt, sugar, or fat and makes the herbs easy to work with even when completely frozen.
“Our Cuca frozen herbs are designed to elevate the user experience for the home chef,” said David Ben-Ze’ev, CEO of Kad Bnei Darom. “The smooth, creamy herbs are ready to use straight from the freezer, delivering the precise desired portion with an effortless glide onto the spoon. The jar is then returned to the freezer where the herbs continue to preserve their freshness, flavor, and nutritional value as well as their creamy texture. No defrosting, chopping, or waste.” Cuca herbs are also cost-efficient, suitable for repeated, high-volume use and optimizing ingredient performance. Moreover, being able to freeze popular artisan spreads, significantly extends their shelf life while maintaining the same smooth texture and sensory enjoyment.
Kad is a veteran company, providing packaged gourmet delicacies for more than half a century. Founded in 1974, the company has long been a leading producer of premium, fresh agricultural produce, including pickled vegetables, olive oil, and condiments. Kad operates as part of the agricultural cooperative village (Kibbutz) Bnei Darom in southern Israel. This allows the company to run an almost vertically integrated operation, having nurtured decades-long partnerships with the farmers who cultivate their raw materials and serve as an integral part of Kad’s production process. Kad Bnei Darom exports its products to Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Russia and Ukraine.
Segev Food International, Inc., which specializes in bringing premium Mediterranean food products to the US serves as Kad’s official US distributor.
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