Congratulations to the top-five winners in our 2021 Best New Refrigerated Retail Products Contest! These five companies pulled away from the other 25 nominated foods in online voting from August 3 to September 3, and will be honored with individual Q&As in our December magazine.

Hissho Sushi, a leading sushi distributor in the U.S., is joining forces with Franks RedHot to unveil a new sushi roll: the Franks RedHot Crunchy Buffalo Chicken Roll.  Available August 30th at more than 1,000 locations across the country, including grocery stores, hospitals and airports, the inspiration behind the unique roll is America’s love of football and buffalo chicken. 

Pilgrim’s Pride announced it has executed an acquisition agreement to acquire the meats and meals business of Kerry Consumer Foods in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Following the acquisition, Pilgrim’s will be a leading food company, with a significant value-added protein and integrated prepared foods business anchored by a portfolio of strong brands.

In 2014, the Refrigerated Foods Association (RFA) proclaimed July as National Deli Salad Month. This designation has been officially recognized and established and each year, throughout the month of July, food manufacturers promote and feature such summer staples as potato salad, macaroni salad, dips, chilled desserts, protein salads, ready to eat sandwiches and more. 

After a career spanning forty-three years, John Wellenzohn, senior vice president, In-Store Bakery & Deli Direct Chains Division, has announced his retirement from Rich Products.

Hormel's Deli Solutions Group has rolled out its line of Perfect Plate products, making it easier for retailers to deliver what consumers are looking for in a touch-free and convenient meal while easing the back-of-house labor challenges that may come with prepared meal products in a store's deli section.

D’Artagnan is launching a new line of artisanal deli meats in five varieties. D’Artagnan’s Artisanal Deli Meats are all-natural and contain no preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, artificial colors, or preservatives. They also come in small case sizes to ensure top-notch quality and freshness.

Eckrich introduces bold new packaging for their Deli collection which will begin rolling out in stores nationwide this month. Through both qualitative and quantitative market research, Eckrich successfully created a design that breathes new energy into the heritage brand with a modern, approachable look, all with its key consumer top of mind. The designs feature a white background and crisp imagery, displaying the product and information in an organized, eye-catching way. The imagery also showcases the product in a prepared fashion, allowing consumers to see easy ways to create an Eckrich meal at home.