McCain Foods is set to launch new McCain Signatures Roasts following research that identified demand for pre-prepared homemade style roasts that can be customised to meet operators’ specific business requirements, while saving time and removing waste.
McCain Signatures Roasts are made with 100% quality potato, simply peeled, chopped, blanched and frozen, enabling operators to profit from serving roasts cooked ‘their way’, and in under 30 minutes. With no waste and minimal preparation required, the introduction of McCain Signatures Roasts means it has never been easier for operators to serve a premium, homemade style roast with a deliciously crisp exterior and soft, fluffy interior, every time.
Research among operators shows that publicans are the biggest users of roast potatoes out of home and that the majority of them currently make roasts from scratch. However, this process presents a number of cost and operational challenges, with chefs finding that roasts are time consuming, labour intensive to prepare, difficult to produce to a consistent standard, and create a high level of waste. Seasonal issues with the fluctuating quality and cost of the potato crop can also make it difficult to manage budgets and maintain profit margin. They also take up valuable oven space on Sunday’s when space is at a premium due to the need to roast large joints of meat.
A reputation for serving consistently great tasting roasts can also help operators stand out among the competition but these operational challenges mean that 80% of pub operators only serve roast potatoes on a Sunday, despite their status as a pub classic and consumer favourite.
The introduction of McCain Signatures Roasts ensures operators can now maximise the profit opportunity offered by roasts by serving them throughout the week.
Donna Rowbottom, McCain Foods’ Marketing Manager, said: “McCain Signatures Roasts will revolutionise the way roasts are prepared and served in the out of home market, enabling operators to serve premium quality, homemade style roasts, made to their own recipe. And, for the very first time, without the hassle and in under 30 minutes.
“The profit opportunity is fantastic – great roasts can make a pub stand out and help forge its reputation, so the opportunity to serve them in your own unique style, without all the hard work that goes with it, is an exciting development. The time and labour saving provided by McCain Signatures Roasts is significant, freeing up time and oven space to focus on other areas of the menu and ensuring chefs and publicans can rely on a consistent product and a consistent profit margin. Sundays are often the busiest day of the week so the operational savings can make a big difference.
“An added bonus is that McCain Signatures provide operators with the option of including roasts on the menu every day, enabling operators to add variety and a customer favourite to the menu every day.”
The Taste Test
In a recent consumer taste test, which pitched McCain Signatures Roasts against roasts made from scratch, pre prepared roasts from the veg man and roasts made from an alternative pre-prepared branded frozen product; consumers were unable to tell the difference between McCain Signatures Roasts and roasts made from scratch, putting them on par in terms of colour, size, taste, texture, appetite appeal, shape and crispness. In addition, McCain Signatures Roasts ranked significantly higher than the veg man and frozen pre prepared products across all categories.
*McCain consumer taste testing with 168 participants July 2013
Profit calculator
Achieve an 83% profit on roasts with Signatures.
Estimated portion cost (150g) = 30p
Suggested cost to consumer (as part of a roast dinner) = £1.75
Estimated profit per portion = £1.45
How to cook
Simply heat your chosen fat in the oven, add McCain Signatures Roasts, season in your own signature style and baste before returning to the oven.
After 15 minutes, take them out and baste again before returning them to the oven for a further 15 minutes.
After 30 minutes you have perfectly crisp and golden roast potatoes, cooked your way. No waste, no preparation and ready in a fraction of the time it would take to prepare roast potatoes from scratch.