Australia is Ready to Eat

Pilpel Fine Foods Yehiel Kaplan says the company’s range of soups contains fresh vegetables that are not frozen, dehydrated and powdered.

The increase in the number of working mothers, single parent families, single households, as well as rising consumer awareness about health and nutrition in recent years has meant a move towards healthier prepared meals. Food manufacturers are producing low-carb, gluten-free, low-fat, no dairy, low glycemic index (GI) and high protein meals to fuel existing health fads that are seeing high consumer response.

According to a recent report published by Global Industry Analysts, the world’s microwavable foods market is forecast to reach $78.8 billion by the end of the decade. The report, titled Microwavable Foods: a Global Strategic Business Report, discusses the prevailing trends, issues, demand forecasts, and activities that affect the industry.

Factors for growth for this market are taste, food quality and convenience. Consumer lifestyle will continue to drive product innovation and development efforts for the industry. The consumption of foods designed specifically for microwave cooking is projected to grow with more product innovations that cater to changing lifestyles and eating habits.

The report states that demand for microwavable foods is projected to exceed $9 billion in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010. The market for fresh convenience meals is therefore significant and Australian manufacturers plan to capitalize on this trend with a great variety of new ideas in fresh, high quality food.

A passion for perfection
Pilpel Fine Foods was established in December 2004 with a principle of adding only what is essential to the flavor. Its range of dips, pestos, soups and curries sold in Australia is gluten-free, contains no dairy, egg, animal fat, preservatives, and artificial colors or flavors. The range is therefore considered a suitable addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet, as well as for consumers with food sensitivities and allergies.

Says Yehiel Kaplan from Pilpel: “We work with fresh vegetables that are not frozen, dehydrated and powdered. We’re also working with the highest quality ingredients such as extra virgin olive oil, and fresh herbs and spices.”

Before making a decision to open the business, Kaplan’s years of market research revealed a need for fresh, convenience foods. “I was disturbed by the dips I saw on the shelves. For example, a simple avocado dip contains 2% avocado and consumers are getting a very bad product.”

His market research on soups and curries revealed similar issues. "I discovered that one of the New Zealand-based companies is using Chinese frozen and dry vegetables, while claiming their ingredients were organic. I have doubts that the company obtained their fresh, organic ingredients from China.”

Creative solutions daily
With its roots firmly planted in the hospitality industry while providing products to some of Australia’s top hotels and restaurants, Peter Cox and his team at Creative Food Solutions has developed a range of cooked meal products for ALDI under the Specially Selected brand. The product range includes a selection of meals produced from 150- day grain-fed Angus beef medallions and fresh chicken breast, each available in three types. The Black Angus beef and fresh hormonefree chicken breasts are grilled prior to being topped with freshly made sauces and cooked sous vide for 12 hours in a Simple Steps tray.

The range has been developed to provide a full main course meat portion for two persons. Each product contains two 180gm beef medallions, or two 200 gm chicken breasts – the same portion size as most restaurant main meals. By selecting from the range, consumers can have the main meal ready in three minutes. Consumers could also vary their meal selection by changing the side dishes served with the meal and providing combinations for different seasons and occasions.

Fresh food producer Mrs Crocket’s Fast & Fresh has a range of fresh, natural, gourmet soups that are presented in convenient,consumer-friendly packaging.

Says Cox: “We have sourced the Black Angus beef from the Margaret River region in Western Australia as part of Andrews Meat Industries Angus Cattle program. This program allows us to control the quality of the cattle from the farm through the processing, and then to the kitchen.

"Our chicken breasts are free from hormones, steroids and chemicals, in keeping with our philosophy of fresh and natural products. As we are a team of chefs, we produce the sauces from scratch, using fresh vegetables and natural ingredients. This process gives the fi nished product a ‘non-commercial’ look and a home-made appearance.”

After months of research and development on packaging with Cryovac, Creative Food Solutions decided on the Simple Steps program as the vacuum skin packaging (VSP) provided the desired presentation and microwave reheat with a unique self-venting system.

The system allows the consumers to heat the product quickly without drying out the food or having a rubber-like mouth-feel. Consumers need not pierce the skin of the packaging and contents of the meal would not spill and stain the microwave oven during the heating process.

If the meal heats beyond a set temperature, selected, vented areas of the package would release the pressure. After heating, the skin of the packaging would collapse over the meal for easy removal and serving. The VSP packaging system allows the product to be sauced and cooked in the tray, providing extended shelf life without the need for preservatives.

"The skin forms a tight seal over the product by keeping everything in its place during the cooking process, the transportation to the stores and to the customer’s fridge,” says Cox.

Serving up variety
Fresh food producer Mrs Crocket’s Fast & Fresh has a new range of fresh, natural, gourmet soups and risottos, following extensive industry research. The new, restaurant-inspired meals are presented in convenient, consumer-friendly packaging.

The company’s business development and innovation manager, Shelley Davidson, says the decision to redevelop the range was part of its strategy to meet changing consumer trends and offer attractive convenience food options to retailers.

"This range was developed for over three months. The products are made with the freshest Australian ingredients with no artificial colors or flavors. This is to ensure that consumers are receiving nutrition as they enjoy delicious, restaurant-quality meals.” The range has new microwaveable packaging that makes the individual servings more manageable for consumers and merchandising more practical for retailers.

The manufacturer of chilled convenience soups now has a market share worth about $14 million and it is growing at 27% per annum. The company has also recently launched a convenience food range in selected service stations. “We understand that consumers are becoming increasingly time-poor and health conscious. Consumers do not normally expect to find healthy gourmet foods at a service station, and they can now pick up a meal as they fill up the tank or head to or from work,” says Davidson.

www.foodmag.com.au