branding

Findus UK frozen pasta launch puts consumers in control!

In Britain Findus is a brand of many firsts: from Crispy Pancakes in the late 60’s, through the first frozen Lasagne in the early 70's and French bread pizza in the late 70's. It has always understood the needs of its consumers and provided innovative frozen products relevant to their requirements. 

Now, with the Findus brand in the UK returned to its original owners, the UK’s number one name in frozen pasta has announced the launch of significant new innovation to the frozen ready meal category: a range of three pasta dishes in a multiple-portion, re-sealable bag format. The range offers three classic Italian recipes: Fusilli Bolognaise, Penne Carbonara and Penne and Meatballs in a Tomato sauce.

The range is launched in response to demand for people to have more control over their ready meals – being able to decide how much they want to eat and ensuring they are eating satisfying and healthy food as well as reducing food waste.

Each bag contains up to four main meal portions of favourite Italian pasta recipes. To cook, simply un-zip the bag, pour the product into a bowl, microwave for six minutes(or heat on the hob), stir and enjoy. Zip the bag back-up and replace in the freezer for next time. The products have performed exceptionally well in research, thanks to the use of high quality fresh ingredients and authentic recipes.

The range is developed in response to research which shows that consumers are once more looking to frozen to provide the solutions for their busy and hectic lives. In particular providing excellent, products that are quick and easy to prepare, offer portion control, quality ingredients, value for money and reduce packaging and food waste.

The new pack format has also been designed to reduce its environmental impact as it is over 80 per cent lighter than standard ready meal packaging, meaning less waste to dispose of. The new re-sealable bag format also takes up less space in the freezer.

All dishes are low in fat and contain no artificial colours or flavours. Microwavable in just six minutes, the new Findus pasta range offers effortlessly good food that is perfect for meeting the demands of the fast-paced, health-conscious noughties generation.

The products will launch from mid-September in major UK retailers at a recommended price of £2.99. The launch is supported by a £5m multimedia marketing campaign which includes TV and press advertising, in-store activity, sampling and PR.

Findus is enjoying considerable growth, with the brand worth £43m in 2009 at retail according to TNS Worldpanel, an increase of over 10% on 2008. It enjoys considerable brand awareness, at 88% amongst consumers (Federation of Food and Drink study, Jan 2009).

Neil Sanderson, business unit director for Findus UK commented, “The new bagged frozen pasta range does everything that frozen does well: great value, convenience and popular, hearty recipes. What our new bagged pasta range adds for the first time is flexibility, allowing the consumer to take charge of portion control through our unique format and re-sealable packaging, and a superior taste that is a real step forward in frozen The range builds on frozen food’s value credentials by reducing food waste and most importantly, offering unbelievable quality at a stunning price point”.

Notes to editors
In the UK the Findus range of frozen foods is now entering an exciting new phase. After a number of years being produced by a completely separate company, it rejoined the wider Findus Group in April 2009 and is being relaunched and reinvigorated in autumn 2009 with new products, new packaging and an up weighted marketing campaign. Best known for its pasta meals and iconic Crispy Pancakes, Findus is still one of the UK’s top four frozen food brands.



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