Recipe innovation is at the forefront of product development, and to win new customers, traditional combinations (featuring such standbys as pepperoni, sausage, or mushrooms) are giving up space to new meat combinations, as well as novel vegetable crusts, sauces, plant-based toppings, other natural ingredients and spices sourced from the world’s cuisines. 

Nick Fallucca, Chief Product and Innovation Officer of Palermo Villa, Inc., brainstorms pizza with Prepared Foods’ Executive Editor-Technical David Feder.

Home Run Inn has launched a limited-edition Nothing But Crust Holiday Gift Pack, consisting of six of its signature buttery and flaky pizza crusts – no sauce, cheese or toppings

General Mills announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire TNT Crust, a manufacturer of high-quality frozen pizza crusts for regional and national pizza chains, foodservice distributors, and retail outlets. TNT Crust is currently a portfolio company of Peak Rock Capital.

Overall competition for meal solutions is increasing as the restaurant industry rebounds. Industry market and consumer insights tracker NPD Group, Chicago, says the US restaurant industry ended 2021 better than the year began. Moreover, NPD predicts industry operators could recover 98% of pre-pandemic visits by the end of 2022.

In response to consumers’ continually changing behavior, Comax Flavors introduces the 2022 Flavor Trends divided into four different flavor collections. Pizza Pizzazz caters to consumers’ love for pizza while Get Grillin’ addresses consumers’ interest in BBQ flavors. Trust Your Gut taps into consumers’ digestive health journey while Sweet Decadence spotlights consumers’ retreat to comforting sweets. Each Comax Flavor collection is comprised of a variety of food and beverage applications.

Prepared Foods profiles new retail prepared meal, entrée solutions.

Pleese® Plant Based Pizza Shreds product is available for restaurant operators, food manufacturers and culinary directors who are looking for a trifecta in vegan cheese: taste, texture and melt.