Saffron Road, #1 Better-For-You Frozen Entrée Leader*, Takes Chinese Meals to the Next Level
SAFFRON ROAD, #1 BETTER-FOR-YOU FROZEN ENTREE LEADER*, TAKES CHINESE MEALS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
With Modern, Clean-Label and Plant-Based Launches at Expo West–Booth 857
STAMFORD, CT (February 23, 2022) -Saffron Road—a leading clean-label, world cuisine brand of frozen entrees, ethnic sauces, and chickpea snacks—is raising the bar in Frozen again, bringing two clean-label and modern Chinese dishes to American dinner tables that are convenient, healthy, and deliver on the next-level in culinary excellence.
Saffron Road will be at Natural Products Expo West 2022, showcasing a vegetarian, whole Plant-Based General Tso’s dish—with no protein isolates or artificial ingredients ever. This entrée’s Asian-style dumplings are made from cauliflower and chickpeas. The brand will also debut a classic, artisan Kung Pao Chicken recipe, yet made with antibiotic-free chicken and a signature, chef-crafted sauce.
Saffron Road’s new clean-label Chinese innovations are a true representation of the modern evolution of frozen world cuisines, the welcoming of bold, ethnic flavors, and demand for an elevated at-home dining experience:
- Plant-based General Tso’s: A healthier version of the traditional deep-fried dish, this entrée features whole plant-based protein–never artificial ingredients or protein isolates. The star of the show is batter-free, mouth-watering cauliflower & chickpeas dumplings bursting with flavor and significantly lower in fat. The dumplings sit on a bed of white rice, bok choy, and red bell peppers swirled into a classic, chef-crafted tangy sauce. “We used a wheat-free, slow-brewed tamari, regionally-specific dried chili, and a specially created mirepoix to build an amazing unami that will make your taste buds dance,” shares John Umlauf, Senior Vice President of Culinary Operations. Delish!
- Kung Pao Chicken: Following the popularity of its Sweet & Sour Chicken, Saffron Road’s first foray into Chinese cuisine, Saffron Road is giving the most popular Chinese dish in America a modern upgrade: Using white meat chicken raised without antibiotics, red & green bell peppers, roasted peanuts and a signature sauce that’s complex in flavor and brings a bold level of heat! “We carefully sourced Szechuan peppercorn from an artisan spice house, blending it with miso, red chilies, apple juice, and a slow-brewed tamari to create an eating experience that far above the rest,” shares John.
Adnan Durrani, Saffron Road CEO + founder, says, “The theme here is clear: there’s a modern revolution in Frozen foods. I launched Saffron Road nearly 12 years ago as the first antibiotic-free, clean-label world cuisine brand. To see its success, leading in our category amongst Big Food brands, both during and now 2 years post-COVID, along with the level of culinary excellence we have delivered in the category is incredibly rewarding. It’s not surprising that Saffron Road is the number #1 Millennial favored entrée brand in the freezer case nationally. All credit goes to our awesome team whose passionate focus for over a decade on modern consumers’ appetite for culinary excellence has been codified in Saffron Road’s brand funnel—as evidenced by our steady state long term growth versus a slew of fallen angels in the sector.”
Saffron Road saw 40% year-over-year growth while the frozen category has experienced a resurgence with exciting ethnic varieties, unique flavor combinations, and premium, artisanal ingredients; retail sales of frozen foods were up 21%, according to a Deloitte study and online sales up 75%. According to the American Frozen Food Institute, Frozen has become a priority in American households, with 30% of shoppers increasing their freezer capacity since the onset of the pandemic.
Saffron Road executives will be available at Booth #857. Any inquiries or to set up a meeting, please contact lindsay@pacepublicrelations.com
ABOUT SAFFRON ROAD
Saffron Road is a leading brand in the natural and organic food industry, offering a wide range of products from frozen entrées and shelf-stable meals to simmer sauces and plant-based protein snacks. All Saffron Road Products are Halal-certified by IFANCA and are available in more than 25,000 retail locations in the U.S. Saffron Road is a socially responsible brand on a mission of collective progress for the betterment of humanity, by inspiring, connecting and respecting global citizens through a shared love of ethical World Cuisines. With Saffron Road, explore international cuisines that combine bold flavors from around the world with high quality, wholesome ingredients which are better for the environment, better for the farmers, better for the animals, better for your health, and most all better tasting. Saffron Road. Journey to Better® *According to SPINS/IRI data, in 2021 and the latest 2022 period, Saffron Road is the #1 single serve entrée brand in the Natural Animal Protein sector nationally.
