Schwan’s Food Service is partnering with fellow CJ CheilJedang (CJCJ) subsidiary, TMI Trading, to offer 100-plus authentic Asian food menu solutions for United States foodservice operators.
Schwan’s Food Service acquired a portion of TMI Trading’s foodservice business for an undisclosed amount, and is now offering more than 60 products made by the supplier, including the Chef One and Twin Marquis brands.
“The combined product portfolio provides operators with everything from egg rolls and dumplings, to noodles and fried rice, to stir fry kits and sauces – establishing the most authentic and complete Asian food offering in the U.S. foodservice market,” Schwan’s Food Service said in a press release.
“Since the start of COVID-19, we have seen much of the foodservice industry – including many of our long-time customers – faced with unprecedented challenges in serving their consumers,” Schwan’s Food Service President Jacob Berning said.
“With 65 years of combined experience providing Asian food in the foodservice industry, the Schwan’s Food Service and TMI Trading teams are eager to demonstrate the depth of our Asian portfolio to deliver flexible and easy-to-use options that best serve operators’ needs in this difficult environment,” Berning added.
With dining out disrupted by COVID-19, 30 percent of U.S. consumers said Asian food is what they craved and missed most from restaurants, according to Schwan’s.
Asian food is rapidly growing in popularity in the U.S., especially with younger consumers, Schwan’s noted.
“In K-12 schools, where Schwan’s has more than four decades of experience, foodservice operators are hearing from their students the desire for more Asian food on menus,” the supplier said.
Millennials, who account for 25 percent of the U.S. population, are another consumer group that increasingly is gravitating to Asian food. Compared to other ethnic cuisines like Mexican, Italian, and Mediterranean, 69 percent of millennials said they prefer Chinese food, according to Schwan’s.
