Premium offerings have ballooned in popularity in recent years. When the pandemic started in 2020, specialty ingredients grew in sales as consumers began preparing more meals at home.
Kraft Heinz is launching a new premium line of sauces and spreads under the Heinz 57 banner. They are aimed at consumers looking for culinary ingredients in their cooking at home.
The sauces and spreads include Infused Honeys in Hot Chili and Black Truffle varieties, as well as Crunch Sauces available in Chili Pepper Crunch, Roasted Garlic Crunch, and Mandarin Orange Miso Crunch. Kraft Heinz said the sweet and savoury sauces were inspired by award-winning chefs Lee Wolen and Joe Frillman.
With consumer interest in cooking remaining elevated even as people become more comfortable venturing out, Kraft Heinz and other CPGs are looking to expand their gourmet offerings to give shoppers more choice and convenience.
Kraft Heinz’s decision to expand its sauces and spreads into the specialty arena makes sense, given its commitment to innovation in recent years.
Premium lines have been used by brands as a way to access consumers that are willing to pay more for gourmet foods and experiment with new flavours. Private-label brands have adopted them in recent years to offer variety to consumers.
It’s possible that a recession could prompt consumers to cook even more at home versus spending money at restaurants. This could provide a tailwind to inspire further interest in specialty foods.