Charcuterie, Prepared Foods Highlight Hormel Foods’ IDDBA Offering

The tone was set in the Hormel booth by a giant charcuterie table, set up each day for the grazing pleasure of show attendees. By far the biggest and most elaborate table set up by the company at a trade show, it symbolized Hormel’s big investment in charcuterie products.

New for 2019, for example, are Columbus Craft Meats branded charcuterie bacon products and a charcuterie tasting board, which will begin shipping in November, says Hormel’s Andrew Quinn.

The charcuterie bacon product comes in three flavors: Pineapple Jalapeno, Salted Caramel and Maple.

The new board features a faux-wood container suitable for serving and contains Calabrese salami or Italian dry salami, white cheddar, Castelvetrano olives and multigrain crackers.

Also new at the IDDBA show was a single-serve snacking tray, which will launch nationally in January, Quinn says. “Snacking is a now a lifestyle, not a trend,” Quinn says, explaining Hormel’s investment in the category.

In the deli prepared foods category, meanwhile, Hormel introduced a new service, Cuisine Crate, which delivers bags of frozen pre-made prepared foods that are thawed, heated and served hot instore. Three varieties are available now — Beef Tips and Noodles, Chicken Alfredo Penne and Brisket and Cheese Macaroni — and three more will be available in the coming months, Quinn says.

Also new in prepared foods for Hormel are Fontanini meatballs, rib tips and and paninos.