High Liner Foodservice taps seafood demand in convenience channel

High Liner Foods is expanding its foodservice portfolio with a new line of fully cooked whitefish products for convenience channel operators seeking to grow seafood offerings without increasing prep time or kitchen complexity.

The company’s High Liner Foodservice division introduced four fully cooked pollock items: a Panko Breaded Pollock Square, a Panko Breaded Sandwich Portion, a Panko Breaded Pollock Strip and a Garlic and Herb Lightly Coated Pollock Strip. The products are made with wild-caught pollock and are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified. The high protein fish portions can help operators offer seafood options among their convenience items.

Anthony Rasetta, chief commercial officer at High Liner Foods, said the new products are designed to meet operator and distributor demand for seafood that is quick to prepare, consistent and aligned with consumer interest in higher protein choices. Because the items are fully cooked, operators only need to heat and serve, reducing back-of-house labor and supporting service in small or limited-kitchen environments.

High Liner Foodservice positions the four products as suitable for a range of applications, from fish sandwiches and wraps to bowls and salads. The launch comes as High Liner Foods cites recent survey findings from Elevator Research indicating shifting consumer expectations in the convenience channel. In research among convenience store and seafood consumers, 51% of respondents said they would go out of their way to try new seafood options if available. In the same survey, 58% said they would consider ordering menu items such as shrimp, white fish or salmon in convenience settings, and 75% viewed seafood as “something different” for the channel.