Handy Seafood
Salisbury, Maryland, U.S.A.-based shellfish supplier Handy Seafood noticed consumer demand for frozen products was on the rise even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and accelerated the habit.
Millennials in particular have consistently been willing to explore the frozen aisle in search of convenient, exciting meal options, Handy Director of Product Development Lion Gardner told SeafoodSource in March 2020.
“Millennials are willing to give frozen products a try provided they are high quality, innovative and delicious,” Gardner said.
The company’s product launches leading into 2020 did well to attract such consumers. Handy entered the year with new apps and meal items gracing its portfolio, including Salmon Superfoods Bites, Salmon Pastry Bites, and Salmon Dip Flatbread; as well as Domestic Key West Shrimp Bites, Domestic Key West Shrimp Cakes, Shrimp Rolls, and Nashville Hot Shrimp.
Made with salmon, edamame, spinach, chia seeds, broccoli, and other ingredients, the Salmon Superfoods Bites – which pack 12 grams of protein per serving – “appeal to consumers looking to add more plant-based products into their diets but not ready to depart from traditional proteins like shrimp and salmon,” Gardner said.
Salmon, broccoli, and cream cheese filling make up the 24-count Salmon Pastry Bites, which boast 10 grams of protein per serving, while Salmon Pastry Bites and Salmon Dip Flatbreads offer consumers an “easy-to-prepare gourmet appetizer for entertaining or snacking,” Gardner said.
Handy’s Thai Chili Shrimp Rolls were among the nominated products for the 2020 Seafood Excellence Awards before the competition was put on hold in response to the pandemic. The product includes “premium succulent shrimp, accented with sweet chili sauce then hand-wrapped in a delicate pastry sheet.”
“These crispy mini rolls are perfect as an appetizer and a great addition in seafood platters,” the company said on its website.
In 2021, as the Crisfield, Maryland softshell blue crab season began, Handy Seafood Director of Corporate Operations Jeff Middleton expressed enthusiasm over the gradual reopening of the foodservice channel – a sector ripe for seafood innovation moving forward.
“We are excited to get this season underway especially now as we see more restaurants opening up,” Middleton said. “We are processing more and more crabs every day and ready to fill orders.”
Photo courtesy of Handy Seafood
