Dive Brief:
- McCormick & Company announced a packed fall lineup on Sept. 14 that includes 40 new products, many of which are a departure from its previous offerings.
- The new items are meant to provide simple ways to get back to eating wholesome and tasty meals at home, according to a company statement.
- "These new products offer many options to make a flavorful breakfast, dinner or snack in minutes – whether it's heating up a mug of rich turmeric and ginger bone broth for an afternoon pick-me-up, or combining Simply Asia soba noodles with your favorite veggies and broth to make an easy noodle bowl," Jill Pratt, vice president and general manager of U.S. core and specialty McCormick Brands, said in the statement.
Dive Insight:
McCormick, founded in 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland, has a long record of producing spices but now appears to be repositioning itself with trendy additions to its lineup. The new products — bone broth, slow-cooker seasonings and Asian noodles, among other items — seem designed to appeal to busy people who can't spare a lot of preparation time but still want flavorful home-cooked meals.
McCormick has said it intends to capitalize on millennials’ interest in ethnic flavors and home cooking. It has a wide range of spice blends with brands such as Thai Kitchen, Zatarain’s, Simply Asia and Lawry’s. Home cooking and using spices to reduce salt and sugar have led to a strong uptick in direct-to-consumer sales of spices.
Even though the new products may raise a few eyebrows, it could be a smart move to bring in new customers who think of McCormick only when they need a jar of cinnamon or another spice. It's clearly been a focus recently for the company. In July, McCormick announced it agreed to purchase Reckitt Benckiser's Food Division for $4.2 billion, adding the iconic French's mustard and Frank's RedHot brands to a portfolio.
While large food manufacturers struggle as consumers shun packaged foods in favor of fresher, more nutritious items, this deal and the new fall product line allows McCormick to capitalize on the public's desire to eat better without losing the flavor and taste they covet — further strengthening the company's position as a go-to destination for adding flavor to a variety of dishes.