Nestlé is set to launch a range of frozen meals in the US based on Asian and Mexican cuisines as it looks to tap into “new flavours and food options”.
The Swiss giant is to market frozen products sold under the Mings and Tapatío brands.
The Mings brand was created by celebrity chef Ming Tsai and combines a “fusion of East-West flavours”, according to Nestlé.
Nestlé is partnering with family-owned hot sauce brand Tapatío to bring to market new meals inspired by the company's flagship flavoured hot sauce created alongside Mexican chefs.
Nelson Peña de Jesús, president of Nestlé’s global culinary kitchen, said: “As the largest food and beverage company in the world, we have a deep expertise in global cuisines driven straight from the 118 countries where we operate.
“Our imported, powerhouse brands like Maggi and La Lechera offer consumers the authentic recipes they desire, and we’re excited to expand our deep bench of international offerings with the launch of Mings and Tapatío.”
The Maggi brand owner said global cuisine represents a $110bn market with “growing demand from consumers to see new flavours and food options in the grocery aisle”.
Tom Moe, president of Nestlé’s meals division: “Introducing both Mings and Tapatío into our range of frozen meals is just one more way we’re meeting consumers with the accessibility they want in the bold flavours they crave.
“The demand for international cuisine driven by Gen Z is a market opportunity we expect to expand even further in the coming years and one we’re ready to meet with continued innovation across our portfolio.”
Earlier this year, Nestlé launched a range of meals in the US designed as a “companion” for those taking GLP-1 weight-loss medication.
Nestlé said the range of 12 SKUs will include frozen meals such as bowls with whole grains or protein pasta, sandwich melts and pizzas, all for a suggested retail price of $4.99 and under.
The Maggi maker does not uniformly disclose sales numbers for the different parts of its portfolio. When the company reported its 2023 financial results, it said it had seen "market share gains" in the North American market for frozen meals. However, it added: "In the US, growth in frozen food was close to flat, supported by Stouffer's, Jack's and Tombstone."
