First Take: Frozen Breakfast
Frozen breakfast sandwiches align with consumers’ efforts to stay fueled throughout the day. People are realizing that a meal made with real, wholesome ingredients and loaded with protein is the superior option to feel full and satisfied, keep energy and concentration levels at peak levels and maintain steady blood sugar levels. Manufacturers are keeping up with hectic mornings by offering options that are already assembled and require minimal cook time to enjoy.
“Frozen breakfast sandwiches and hand-held breakfast options continue to meet consumers where they are—offering dependable convenience, familiar flavors, and a ready-when-you-are breakfast solution for busy mornings,” Doug Skeoch, National Sales Manager with Swaggerty’s Sausage.
This year, Swaggerty’s is looking to further expand and deepen its national distribution, while helping customers fill any key product voids that they may have, Skeoch shared.
The company is also optimistic about the aftermath of investing in its manufacturing capabilities. “With our recent plant expansion, we now have significantly more capacity to maintain superior customer service levels while pursuing new distribution opportunities that support our long-term growth as the fastest-growing breakfast sausage company,” Skeoch said.
One of Red’s All Natural’s most recent product launches was its two new premium croissant breakfast sandwiches. Company leaders said they became top turners and reflected consumers’ demands for real ingredients, savory flavor profiles and protein-rich options to provide sustainable energy through the morning.
“These protein-packed breakfast sandwiches begin with a flaky artisan croissant, crafted with 24 delicate layers of buttery goodness, and are stacked with antibiotic-free crispy hardwood-smoked bacon or savory chicken sausage, fluffy cage-free eggs and a satisfying slice of melty cheese,” a company spokesperson shared. “We strongly recommend consumers cook our sandwiches in the air fryer, which results in a restaurant-quality experience in minutes at home. People are loving how they taste and feel great about the quality of the ingredients.”
Further encouraging consumers’ efforts to start their day right with a wholesome, balanced meal, Kodiak, a line that promises to keep breakfast un-boring with protein-packed meals and snacks, introduced a line of frozen breakfast sandwiches, marking its entry into the frozen breakfast sandwich category.
“Kodiak has always been about fueling adventure with real, nourishing food that tastes great and powers your day,” said CEO Valerie Oswalt. “With the introduction of our frozen breakfast sandwiches, we’re not just expanding our product offerings, we’re meeting our consumers where they are, whether they’re hitting the trail, racing through a busy morning, or needing a hearty, satisfying bite on the go.”
To engage and connect with consumers, Swaggerty’s looked backward, at the comforting snacks and meals people enjoyed in their youth. They came up with Smoked Sausage Kolaches, Jalapeno Cheddar Kolaches, and Sausage Pancake Rollers and added them to their existing breakfast sandwich lineup. “All are reminiscent of the nostalgic ‘pigs in a blanket’ snack, but with an elevated flavor profile,” Jon Amidei, Chief Operating Officer, previously explained. “A lot of our newest breakfast sandwich items are actually created from listening to what our customers and partners want—and turning those cravings into real, delicious products.”
“These items evolved from listening to our customers and working together to come up with new and additional Swaggerty’s Farm products that enhance the category that consumers will enjoy,” he added.
Swaggerty’s appeals to classic, traditional breakfast options, but stands out by putting a one-of-a-kind twist to pique consumers’ curiosity. “Our breakfast sandwich line includes the traditional and popular sausage, egg, and cheese combinations on buttermilk biscuits, croissants and English muffins, but we also offer the unique waffle options,” Amidei explained. “We have a sausage waffle and even a chicken waffle breakfast sandwich available, satisfying the sweet, savory, and on-trend cravings for consumers.”
Red’s All Natural is elevating breakfast time and is proving consumers can expect more from the ingredients, flavors and presentation available to them. Today’s breakfast sandwiches are a far cry from the unappetizing, frozen-in-the-middle sandwiches of the past. “At Red’s, we are on a mission to cook food better,” the company spokesperson said. “For us, that means that each and every day, we wake up fixated on raising the bar of our food: how the food is cooked, who we partner with on ingredients, our packaging, our recipes, and our air-fryer-centric cooking instructions. It is a journey that never ends. The result is high-quality food that is delicious, convenient, and a step above the rest.”
Kodiak’s premium frozen breakfast sandwiches provide a nourishing, protein-packed choice to start the day right. Ingredients are sandwiched between two maple flapjacks that come with sausage, egg and cheddar cheese or bacon, egg and Colby Jack cheese. Made with 100 percent whole grains and 20 grams of protein, “it’s a nutritious and satisfying breakfast option for even the grizzliest-sized appetites,” Kodiak promises. “By bringing the brand’s core values—100 percent whole grains, real ingredients, protein-packed, and hearty nutrition—into the frozen aisle and the on-the-go snack space, Kodiak continues to lead the charge in making better-for-you foods more accessible without sacrificing flavor or convenience.”
Red’s All-Natural is aware that consumers are tightening their belts but will spend extra on brands they trust will consistently deliver on ingredients and flavor. “During these harder economic times, we are finding people are more focused on getting value for their money,” said the spokesperson.
As consumers demand real ingredients, lasting energy, and ease, the frozen aisle is emerging as a place where premium brands and breakfasts are coming together for more good mornings.
