Prime Star Group, Inc. recently announced the formation of Gourmet Fusion Foods as an extension of its Gourmet Fusion Seafood, Inc. operation. Gourmet Fusion Foods is set to serve up a line of kosher-vegan sliders.
A small bun or biscuit-like sandwich a few inches across, a ‘slider’ is a favorite for parties and other gatherings. Sliders were first marketed by fast food chain White Castle as “Slyder™”, making the more generic term used by Prime Star easily recognizable to potential customers.
Prime Star’s announcement underscores its entry into three potentially lucrative markets: sliders, kosher, and vegan. One research company, NPD Group, noted that more than one million biscuit sandwiches were served in the U.S.A., according to a recent General Mills (NYSE:GIS) slider promotion. The well-known Farmland Foods, owned by Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE: SFD), now includes sliders in its sandwich lineup.
The kosher market is large and growing – and not just among people of Jewish descent. According to the website klbdkosher.org, the buzz is more about perceived high quality of food than religion. The site estimates that there are more than 25 million kosher consumers, with only “a small part” being Jewish, and that the kosher market has been growing annually at the rate of 15%.
The vegan market has also seen spectacular growth in recent years, paving the way for Prime Star’s decision. Most vegans are motivated either by health reasons or by animal-rights issues. With the rapid rise in heart disease, and especially diabetes, many Americans are switching to meatless and egg-free diets. Medically, this helps them avoid high cholesterol and heavy animal protein loads. Experts began seriously tracking vegan prevalence more than a decade ago. It was reported in 2003 that the vegan foods market jumped from $646 million in 1998 to $1.6 billion in 2003 and was projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2008. The New York Times reported in 2007 that the vegan market jumped 63.5% between 2000 and 2005 (New York Times, Jan. 11, 2007).
The company has dubbed its new Gourmet Fusion slider the “Biriyani Kosher-Vegan Slider” and it joins the company’s other sliders in being sold by national food brokers. Corporate Executive Chef for Gourmet Fusion Foods, Brian Thompson explained, “Our fourth product (the Biryani) is designed to be a ‘complete-protein’ slider, with high concentrations of omega 3 amino acids and non-meat proteins. This fourth slider… has received rave reviews from just about everyone that has tried them. These ‘Medallions of Wholesomeness’ are made with biryani curry, fresh-cut organic vegetables, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and ground flax seed.”
Thompson went on to note that the new slider “has no meat, no wheat, no dairy, eggs, or sweetener… (It’s) just good, wholesome food.”
More information on Prime Star Group, Inc. can be found on the Company’s website at www.primestargroup.net
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