Supermarket Perimeter - April 2022 - 26

Deli: Eastern influences
Allergen and supply issues
Consumers tend to explore global cuisines
through countries' traditional sauces such as
Korean gochujang and bulgogi sauces, Japanese
yakiniku and tonkatsu, and Thai and Indian
curries, said Tyler Burns, food scientist for
Wixon, Inc., St. Francis, Wis.
Coconut milk is used in many types of curry,
but allergy issues may crop up with that
ingredient.
" Additionally, sourcing clean label coconut
milk powder has been difficult due to supply
chain issues, " Burns said. " Some developers
omit coconut milk completely from their
formulations resulting in a less authentic flavor.
However, there are many allergen-free coconut
flavors available, which when paired with starch
and gums for mouthfeel, allow one to get closer
to a more traditional tasting curry. "
Galangal and kaffir lime are other Thai curry
ingredients that may be expensive and limited
in supply.
" Galangal can be replaced with ginger, and
kaffir lime can be replaced with lime with great
success, " Burns said. " The overall flavor of
the curry when employing these substitutes
will vary from the original but will still allow
the developer to provide the unique aromatic
qualities characteristic of coconut curries. "
Other ingredients may affect flavors
unfavorably.
Deli and
prepared foods
sections are seeing
demand for highquality
Asian foods
migrating from
restaurants to
grocery stores.
products top of mind for consumers. Rebranded Van's Kitchen, Dallas,
the company is sharing its refrigerated egg rolls with a new audience.
Listening to its market is helping Café Spice, Hudson Valley,
N.Y., create Indian food dishes that resonate with its consumers. A
willingness to explore new flavors can help explain the continuing rise
of Indian cuisine, according to a 2022 Hospitality Trends Report from
af&co. and Carbonate. Within the restaurant industry, this includes
redefining boundaries by introducing Indian foods to the public that
many in the United States have never eaten before.
" Consumers are looking for a punch of flavor, whether it be from
condiments, ingredients or other accompaniments, " said Lauren
Baghdo, marketing coordinator, Café Spice. " We believe that consumers
are opening their minds to explore bold flavors and foods that are spicy,
which is reflected by the rise in popularity with Indian food, Korean
foods and every other Asian cuisine that has made an appearance in
grocery store aisles. "
Others are finding opportunities to provide crossover grab-and-go
products that merge a traditional favorite like sushi with a popular
mainstream brand. Last year, Hissho Sushi, Charlotte, N.C., teamed with
Frank's RedHot to create a Crunchy Buffalo Chicken Roll. The traditional
sushi format contains avocado, carrots, cream cheese, rice and nori
with decidedly " unsushi " additions of grilled chicken and Frank's
RedHot, a hot sauce made with cayenne peppers. Toppings include
Frank's RedHot, crunchy fried onions, Japanese barbecue sauce, spicy
mayo and a dusting of Frank's RedHot seasoning.
Located by the deli or near the seafood section, Snowfox sushi kiosks,
operated by JFE Franchising, Houston, prepare fresh sushi daily. Pairing
the familiar with the new, Snowfox recently released sushi-inspired
salad cups in California, Salmon & Tuna and Zucchini Noodle varieties at
various Kroger locations.
26 - APRIL 2022
supermarketperimeter.com
CAFE SPICE
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Supermarket Perimeter - April 2022

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