StarKist expands into beef, banking on continual American demand for convenience

Derek Hough holding a set of StarKist's packaging.
Derek Hough has teamed up with StarKist to launch the "Flex with StarKist" campaign.| Photo courtesy of StarKist
4 Min

Relying on Americans’ continuously growing desire for convenient protein snacks and meals, Reston, Virginia, U.S.A.-based seafood brand StarKist is expanding into beef offerings for the first time, rolling out new StarKist Beef Creations pouches.

StarKist has found success with its tuna, chicken, and salmon creations pouches, so building on that momentum, the supplier is now offering single-serve, fully cooked beef pouches in three flavors: Taco-style, Sweet BBQ, and Sloppy Joe.

“StarKist now has a full range of proteins featured across the StarKist Creations line, including tuna, salmon, chicken, and now beef. These products come in over 30 flavors, and each one is fully cooked and can be eaten straight from the pouch or added right to meals,” StarKist Vice President of Marketing and Innovation Tom Aslin told SeafoodSource.

Like other shelf-stable and smoked seafood suppliers, StarKist is banking on the healthy snacking trend across the U.S. to continue. 

Around 46 percent of Americans eat three or more snacks daily, and 57 percent want convenient high-protein snacks, according to Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.-based research firm Circana. The U.S. snack market is worth USD 214 billion (EUR 191 billion), according to the firm.

Besides its creations pouches, StarKists Lunch-To-Go Kits are also performing well, Aslin said. As a result, the brand’s Tuna Lunch-To-Go Kit Mix-Your-Own Tuna Salad Pouch item is now the top-selling kit item in the category for the company.

Overall, the company is realizing sales increases in shelf-stable proteins and seafood due to the sub-category’s “strong price value compared to other proteins and refrigerated/frozen seafood,” Aslin said.

StarKist has also partnered with celebrity dancer and entertainer Derek Hough on a new marketing campaign


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