Blount Fine Foods Introduces Line of Gourmet Side Dishes

With a mix of classic and modern recipes, including a selection of organic specialties, Blount Fine Foods has entered the rapidly-expanding side dish arena at foodservice, retail and club stores. Blount launched the line with an offering of ten “Signature Sides,” three of which are Certified Organic, as well as one dessert. The line includes Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries (gluten-free, vegetarian, low fat, good source of fiber); Butternut Squash (vegetarian, low fat); Mac & Cheese with Smoked Bacon; Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese; Signature Mac & Cheese; Mashed Cauliflower with Cheddar Cheese (gluten-free, vegetarian, low fat); Creamed Spinach with Mushrooms (gluten-free, vegetarian); Organic Spiced Lentil & Chickpeas (gluten-free, vegetarian); Organic Kettle Black Beans (gluten-free, vegetarian, low fat, high fiber); Organic Butternut Squash (vegetarian, low fat); and Cinnamon Apples (gluten-free, vegetarian, fat free). “The sustained growth of value-added, prepared foods is no longer just a ‘trend’ in the marketplace. It is how consumers shop and eat now, and that is not going to change,” says Bob Sewall, Blount Fine Foods’ executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Consumers want as good a meal at home as they can get in a restaurant, including items they can’t or won’t make themselves.” As with all new products Blount develops, taste is achieved through quality ingredients and a clean ingredient label was the starting point, say company officials, but for the new line to work for consumers in the kitchen, the offering had to align with protein choices available in prepared and heat-and-eat options, especially rotisserie chicken, and offer matching cook times and temperatures. “We developed this new line of side dishes to complement the popular proteins with a dish people really like, but wouldn’t make for themselves,” says Jeff Wirtz, Blount’s corporate executive chef. “We have eliminated the need to stock unique ingredients and spend hours in the kitchen for a restaurant-quality meal.” All but three of the Blount Signature Sides will be available year-round. As dictated by the availability of fresh ingredients up to Blount standards, Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes and both traditional and organic Butternut Squash will be available as seasonal specialties. The entire line is shipped and sold frozen and available for foodservice in cases of four 4-lb. bags. The retail club packs come in a 32-ounce bag in a tray. Signature Side Dishes Blount Fine Foods www.BlountFineFoods.com