Bakkavor introduces Yaas! brand

Bakkavor, an international manufacturer of fresh prepared foods and well-known for its private brands, recently introduced its first customer-facing brand — Yaas! — at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago to complement its private brand business.

The company said it will use the Yaas! brand to drive innovation with its chefs creating fresh products using on-trend flavors in hummus and dips, soups, sauces, burritos, prepared meals and sides.

Bakkavor, based in London with U.S. operations in Charlotte, N.C., has made fresh prepared foods for private brands for more than 30 years.

With the introduction of Yaas!, Bakkavor said retail and foodservice operators have more options as they build their fresh prepared foods business, and look to reduce labor without sacrificing quality and diversity. Among the items sampled at the NRA Show were spicy pepper hummus bites, teriyaki chicken in a sauce made with black garlic, and hummus topped with hemp and blueberry compote.

With three regional production centers in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and California, Bakkavor said its business has experienced “significant growth” as operators look to meet increasing consumer demand for convenient fresh meal solutions.

“Our commitment to quality, flavor and innovation that has established our UK business is translating well to the trend for fresher foods with cleaner labels in the U.S. market,” said Ivan Clingan, Bakkavor USA CEO. “Yaas! will give our customers more options to balance out their private label needs with market demand for new products.”

Last year, Bakkavor introduced 140 products in the U.S. market with 200 anticipated in 2017.