The investment in the Wednesbury plant had been “well worth the while” and was in response to a dramatic uptick in consumer demand for US street-style foods, Thomas told FoodManufacture.co.uk in this exclusive podcast.
“[Ready cooked pulled meat products] are convenient, because people don’t have time to cook for a long, slow process, but they really love the product,” he said.
Less time to prepare
As well as slow-cooked meats, Tulip was also working on other convenience food products, as busy consumers looked for quick meal solutions, Thomas added. “We’re seeing that whole trend towards convenience rise.”
“People want that great taste, but they don’t want to spend hours cooking, so we’re seeing increasingly convenient products that are either part prepared or fully prepared, to help them in their busy lives.”
Tulip was also investigating ways to make its products healthier, as more consumers were looking to improve their diets, as well as their health and fitness, he said.
To hear what other trends Tulip is investigating, listen to this podcast.
Meanwhile, read a Big Interview with Thomas in the December issue of Food Manufacture bysubscribing here.