Marie Callender’s® Fresh Flavor Steamer™ Entrées Introduce New, Modern Recipes

Entrées use steam cooking for fresh-tasting meals in minutes

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marie Callender’s®, a brand of ConAgra Foods, is introducing new frozen entrées that use steam cooking for fresh-tasting meals in five minutes or less, available now at grocery retailers nationwide. New Fresh Flavor Steamer^TM entrées are the natural evolution of the brand’s successful line of Pasta Al Dente meals.

“Pasta Al Dente meals are eaten at lunch 50 percent of the time, versus only 39 percent for premium, single-serve frozen meals1”

The meals use proprietary tray-in-tray steaming technology that separates the sauce from the rest of the ingredients during cooking. As the sauce heats up, it steams the ingredients for the fresh flavors and textures consumers expect from a homemade meal.

After introducing Pasta Al Dente, steam-cooked, Italian recipes, the brand saw an increase in the number of consumers who were enjoying Marie Callender’s for lunch. “Pasta Al Dente meals are eaten at lunch 50 percent of the time, versus only 39 percent for premium, single-serve frozen meals¹,” said Jenn Freeman, brand director, ConAgra Foods. “With new consumers enjoying Marie Callender’s in new ways, we definitely saw an opportunity to expand our Pasta Al Dente line of steam-cooked meals to include new recipes from around the globe that have broader consumer appeal.”

The launch of Fresh Flavor Steamers is supported by television and online advertising that remind consumers to take the time to really enjoy their meals. With the tag line “It’s time to Savor,” the new ads begin Aug. 30.

New Fresh Flavor Steamers are available now and include recipes such as: Asian-inspired Sesame Chicken; Chicken Teriyaki and Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables; classic American recipes Smoky Cheddar Mac & Uncured Bacon; Creamy Chicken & Portobello Risotto; and a Mexican-inspired Chicken Fajita Bowl. The entrées retail for an average of $2.99.

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's leading food companies, with brands in 97 percent of America's households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

¹ Arbor Tracking and NPD Eater Data, 2010