OMAHA, Neb., March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- From taking up to
50 minutes in the oven to healthful, fresh tasting meals in minutes
steamed in the microwave, the TV dinner has come a long way since
the 1950s. Massive improvements in the quality and taste of
frozen meals have set the bar high and today's meals are portion
control made easy with real, fresh tasting ingredients that can be
steamed in minutes. This is one of the reasons why frozen
food is up 22% or $10 billion
annually (Packaged Facts, 2006-2010) and is projected to be
a $70 billion category by
2015.
Today – in recognition of National Frozen Food Day (March 6) – ConAgra Foods celebrates its decades
of preparing the great tasting frozen foods America
loves. From the original TV dinner, which came packaged in an
oven-proof aluminum tray, to the vast array of fresh tasting
options today, frozen meals have changed the way Americans eat. The
aluminum tray was replaced in the 1980s with a plastic version
suitable for the microwave, dramatically reducing preparation
time. As American lifestyles and tastes changed over the
decades, the frozen meal category has responded to consumer demand
for healthier meals with more nuanced and sophisticated fresh
flavors.
ConAgra Foods' frozen foods, including Healthy Choice® and
Marie Callender's®, have been at the
vanguard of improving the taste, quality and nutritional content of
frozen meals. Since its introduction in 1988, Healthy Choice
has been the only brand for which all of its products are able to
be called 'healthy' by meeting strict government standards.
Healthy Choice has changed the reputation of frozen foods -
revamping over the years based on direct consumer feedback for
fewer, fresher-tasting ingredients. Today Healthy Choice is
better than ever – starting with bold chef-inspired ingredients
like granny smith apples, red bell peppers, savory garlic, carrots,
sweet potato, zucchini and vine-ripened tomatoes.
"As we mark National Frozen Food Day, we should acknowledge the
great strides that have been made to improve the taste, convenience
and nutrition of frozen meals," said Al
Bolles, Ph.D, executive vice president, Research, Quality
and Innovation at ConAgra Foods. "Frozen meals today are
prepared with fresh tasting, high quality ingredients featuring a
variety of flavors from traditional to ethnic-inspired cuisine –
many with lower fat, calories and sodium for great tasting, real
food you can feel good about serving your family."
"With shoppers seeking high quality, great taste and terrific
value every time they shop, the frozen food department is tops on
their shopping list," says ConAgra Foods spokesperson and the
Supermarket Guru, Phil Lempert.
"From foods made with frozen fruits and vegetables to healthier
offerings like new Healthy Choice "Top Chef" Inspired Cafe Steamers
made with gourmet ingredients, the frozen foods case is stocked
with the least time-consuming array of foods. It's no
surprise the average American cooks and eats a frozen meal about
six times each month."
"ConAgra Foods is a pioneer when it comes to frozen food and we
just keep making it better and better," said Bolles. "When I
look back at the progress and changes of frozen meals over the past
half-century, I am excited to see what comes next."
About ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America's leading food companies.
With brands in 97 percent of American households, ConAgra Foods
provides some of America's long-time favorites. Consumers can find
Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Hebrew National hotdogs, Hunt's tomato
sauces and ketchup, Marie
Callender's, Orville
Redenbacher's popcorn, PAM cooking spray, Reddi-wip topping,
Slim Jim meat sticks and beef jerky and many other ConAgra Foods
brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores.
ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe
website that provides consumers with Easy Dinner Recipes and more.
ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence,
supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other
vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known
restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For
more information, please visit us at
http://www.conagrafoods.com.
SOURCE ConAgra Foods, Inc.