While most Americans punch the clock at 5:00 p.m., that doesn’t mean the day is over. There’s the commute, recitals, soccer games, dog walks, and more. By the time they reach the grocery store, they’re drained, tired -- and probably hungry.

Now, grocers can beat that tide of frustration and diffuse it. By getting their customers steamed.

Today, Aqua Star, one of the largest retail frozen seafood brands in North America, released a new, chef-designed line of seafood meals that are easy to prepare, flavor-rich, all under 500 calories, and sure to please even the busiest customers.

MicroSteam Seafood Meals by Aqua Star are microwaveable. They feature an innovative technology that locks in the steam, so each meal is perfectly cooked from frozen in just six minutes. Each meal includes a healthy protein and sides that come in a ready-to-use, recyclable container, so cleanup is a snap. Customers will love the convenience, but return for the flavors.

The new meals combine BAP- and MSC-certified, healthy seafood, including salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and cod, with on-trend ingredients like mafalda pasta, sriracha, red quinoa, and yellow carrots. In the microwave, the MicroSteam film expands and locks in steam to cook food evenly with a savory aroma emanating from a seamless cooking process.

“Our MicroSteam Seafood Meals are a one-step meal solution for those who want a premium quality seafood meal in less time than it takes to brew a pot of coffee,” said Aqua Star President & CEO, Dirk Leuenberger. “These meals will be a hit with consumers and the grocers that serve them. With a near zero shrink, environmentally friendly trays, and best-in-class presentation, we are confident our new meals will swim out of the seafood freezer case.”

Aqua Star is building great momentum in product development. MicroSteam Seafood Meals is the second new product line launched in 2019. They launched Cutting Board Meal Kits in the second quarter of 2019.

Available in five flavors, Aqua Star’s MicroSteam Seafood Meals have a SRP of $7.99 - $8.99. They include:

• BBQ Sriracha Wild Salmon with Broccoli, Brown Rice, Red Quinoa, Bacon, and Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce (GF)
• Lemon Herb Wild Cod with Green Beans, Roasted Seasoned Potatoes, and Lemon Herb Butter (GF)
• Roasted Garlic Salmon with Green Beans, Yellow Carrots, and Roasted Herb Butter (GF)
• Cajun-Style Tilapia with Creamy Cheddar Cheese Pasta Shells
• White Wine Shrimp with Mafalda Pasta, Broccoli, White Wine, Butter, and Parmesan Cheese

Note: (GF) indicates gluten-free options.

Beyond the innovative flavors, the meals are also vacuum skin-packed for optimum freshness in “Go-Green” environmentally friendly trays, which are produced using reduced energy and material. Aqua Star’s MicroSteam Seafood Meals help reduce food waste and lower carbon emissions as compared to fresh meal options.

Aqua Star’s MicroSteam® Seafood Meals are available for distribution now and will start rolling out at retail this month. For more information, visit www.aquastar.com.

Source: Aqua Star