For operators looking to spice up their menus ahead of this year’s National BBQ Week (30th May-5th June), potato specialist Aviko has launched the perfect side — new Piri Piri Wedges.
The skin-on jacket potato wedges feature a generous sprinkling of piri piri seasoning for a tasty kick, ideal for the 56%* of people who say they want to see more spicy options on menus when eating out-of-home. With a further 63% saying they would choose potato wedges as their preferred spicy side and almost half (48%) favouring a piri piri spiced dish, Aviko’s new addition helps operators meet consumers’ growing interest for menu additions with heat.
Ready from frozen in as little as three minutes, Aviko’s Piri Piri Wedges offer a speedy option to enhance a host of BBQ favourites, from sizzling steaks and sticky ribs to chargrilled vegetables and chicken kebabs, without putting any additional strain on already busy summer kitchens. As well as a side to a main course, the wedges work well as part of a sharing platter, a bar snack or a takeaway option, giving operators scope to add a spicy kick to the entire menu.
Mohammed Essa, Aviko General Manager UK & Ireland, comments: “Not only are consumers looking for more spicy food when eating out, but almost half (44%) are willing to pay a premium for a side dish that offers a kick, which means there’s a clear profit opportunity available to those operators that deliver on this demand.
“When it comes to BBQ season, operators tend to focus their attention on how they can differentiate their meat, fish or chicken, but what they often don’t consider is the huge opportunity there is to generate extra sales by offering alternative sides too. With our new Piri Piri Wedges, operators can capitalise on one of the biggest flavour trends in foodservice without any prepping or seasoning required and are guaranteed a high quality, consistent product that’s also versatile.”
Available in 4 x 2.5kg boxes, Aviko's new Piri Piri Wedges are gluten-free and can be fried, oven baked or cooked in a combi steamer.
Aviko has created a handy infographic highlighting the key results of the recent research.
Dedicated to foodservice and one of the biggest potato processors in the world, Aviko offers a range of chilled and frozen potato specialities made by chefs, for chefs, from morning favourites such as Hash Browns and innovative Hash Brown Bites, through to Premium Fries, Mash, Roasties and much more.
*Aviko/Toluna, December 2015, 300 consumers
