Golden West Food Group, Vernon, Calif., is bringing innovation to in-store rotisseries, helping retailers upgrade their dinnertime offerings. For decades, chicken has been the primary protein from the rotisserie. Golden West now offers a Certified Angus Beef brand Beeftisserie roast and American BBQ Company Porktisserie roast that give consumers more reasons to shop the deli each week. The meat is hand-cut at Golden West and slow-roasted in store for fresh-made quality.
“We’re helping retailers bring more options to one of the most popular areas in the store and fill carts with more meal occasions,” says Zack Levenson, COO at Golden West. “These products offer the quality, variety and ease consumers seek for satisfying family meals.”
The Beeftisserie roast is made with Certified Angus Beef brand sirloin, providing the assurances of flavor, juiciness and tenderness through the brand’s 10 exacting quality standards. There are six, 2-lb.- average weight roasts per case. Each roast serves a family of four, and retails for an average of $16.
The Porktisserie roast is available in the same product sizing, with a retail average of $10. Golden West imparts the time-honored traditions and methods for seasoning and hardwood smoking the meat for a restaurant-quality, pork rib roast.
A retailer launched the products in June, just as the beef and pork roasts debuted at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show, where retailers could sample the products and learn more about incorporating them into the rotisserie.
The beef and pork rotisserie cuts were developed through collaboration between Levenson and Mark Gwin, product integration manager for the Certified Angus Beef brand. With Gwin’s background in retail and new product development with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, he has always been intrigued with bringing more protein offerings to the rotisserie. He talked with retailers and meat companies over the years and found the right fit with the beef brand’s quality and Levenson’s enthusiasm.
“Consumers have come to depend on the rotisserie section as a dinner solution,” Gwin says. “These rotisserie roasts give shoppers more reasons to come back to the store during the week, helping retailers capture more dinner dollars.”
Both products offer retailers the added benefits of maximizing product use and eliminating waste. Beyond the rotisserie, the roasted cuts can be included in sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads, options across multiple formats and ethnic cuisines. Retailers have greater avenues for attracting frequent, loyal shoppers looking for quick, tasty meal options on the go, especially with cross-promotions, including complimentary sides, sauces and beverages. Unlike meal kits, these items allow shoppers to customize each meal with family-approved accompaniments.
“Shoppers seek food that tastes good and inspires them to create meals that satisfy,” Gwin adds. “These items are just what our retailers need to differentiate their stores, bring more value to the basket and offer customers easy meal solutions more days of the week.”
Numerous studies point to growth potential for foodservice items at retail, like the beef and pork roasts. A recent study by the Cleveland Research Company, Cleveland, shows frequent shoppers at 10 store visits per month purchase prepared foods five and a half times per month, and those shoppers anticipate increasing their prepared foods purchases by 45% over the next 12 months. Average shoppers at five visits per month plan to increase their purchases of prepared foods by 20%.
Source: Certified Angus Beef/Golden West Food Group
