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Tyson Foods’ expansion into convenience stores underscores the company’s confidence in the channel. At the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Chicago, Tyson Convenience, a division of the Springdale, Ark.-based company, unveiled a broad assortment of grab-and-go, heat-and-eat and made-to-order items spanning day parts and featuring on-trend flavors and formats.
“Convenience stores are becoming food destinations,” said Nancy Todys, vice-president of marketing for Tyson Convenience. “Operators are stepping up with better offerings.”
Among Tyson Foods’ newest products for the convenience channel is a portfolio of more than 60 items for made-to-order operations featuring a “no antibiotics ever” claim for consumers seeking cleaner labels.
“Gone are the days of mystery meat in a c-store,” said Anne Livermore, director of sales, Convenience Channel West at Tyson Foods.
New hot food service items include Hillshire Farm Sausage Rolls, featuring smoked sausage wrapped in soft, flavored bread. The products may be merchandised in a refrigerated case or heated and held in warmers. Varieties include CheddarWurst smoked sausage wrapped in bagel bread, spicy Italian style smoked sausage with mozzarella and Monterey jack cheese wrapped in Italian bread, and Polish smoked sausage wrapped in cheese bread.
From the Hillshire Snacking Small Plates lineup come three new varieties, combining pork or beef jerky with cubes of cheese. With 15 grams of protein or more per serving, the grab-and-go products feature culinary flavor pairings inspired by wine and premium spirits. Varieties include apple chardonnay pork cuts with gouda cheese, smoky bourbon beef cuts with asiago cheese, and whiskey and brown sugar pork cuts with Monterey jack cheese.
New in the freezer case, Tyson Single-Serve Chicken Nuggets are available in original and spicy varieties and feature microwavable packaging that allows for easy heating in the store or at home.
Tyson Foods further expanded its footprint in food service this year with the $4.3 billion acquisition of AdvancePierre Foods. At the NACS Show, the combined businesses highlighted new innovation in grab-and-go sandwiches. Featuring transparent packaging with a recessed rigid lid to retain freshness, Fresh-Cut Sandwiches from AdvancePierre include such varieties as black forest ham and swiss, chicken salad and Southwest turkey wrap.
Another AdvancePierre offering, the Hot N’ Ready line of breakfast sandwiches, has been upgraded with new ingredients and packaging. The new package features a hand-wrapped look with a window for product viewing prior to purchase. The transition to a semi-transparent sandwich wrap follows extensive research and consumer insights, Ms. Todys said.
