In today’s fast-paced world, the food-to-go market is booming, and seafood is emerging as a key player and opportunity. Operators are seeking efficient, high-quality solutions that meet the increasing demand for healthy and delicious options. Seafood offers the perfect answer, providing flexibility, convenience, and exceptional taste. Here’s how to leverage these products to enhance your food-to-go offerings and delight your customers.

Meeting the demand for sustainable choices

Customer satisfaction is paramount in the food-to-go sector, and it’s important that products deliver on quality. By using MSC certified sustainably sourced seafood and with excellent coating techniques, they ensure a consistently delicious eating experience. This aligns perfectly with the growing consumer demand for healthy, responsibly sourced meals that fit into busy lifestyles.

Shoppers in the UK and Ireland spent a record £1.33 billion on MSC certified fish and seafood in 2023, up 5% from the previous year (Data source – https://www.msc.org/uk/for-business/msc-uk-ireland-market-report#:~:text=Shoppers%20in%20the%20UK%20and,higher%20than%20the%20preceding%20year.)

Following the MSC’s Sustainable Seafood September campaign, a YouGov survey found that awareness of the blue MSC ecolabel amongst UK seafood consumers had increased from 54% in 2022 to 56% in 2023, while 67% said the campaign made them interested in sustainable seafood, up from 63% in 2022.

Featuring MSC certified seafood as part of a food-to-go offering allows operators to engage with environmentally conscious consumers.

Seafood to go serving suggestions

Incorporating diverse serving ideas can further enhance the customer experience.

Whilst there are many obvious seafood serving suggestions from classic crispy fish and chips or a posh fish finger sandwich, cold options like prawn salads or seafood wraps are always popular choices. Offering a selection of dipping sauces and condiments can also elevate the meal, allowing customers to customise their experience.

To maximise customer enjoyment, consider pairing seafood with complementary sides. Fresh salads, seasoned fries, or grain bowls can create well-balanced meals that cater to various dietary needs. Presentation is also crucial in the food-to-go market. Packaging that is both functional and visually appealing can significantly enhance the perceived value of the meal.

In a market where speed is essential, Pacific West has launched a range of fully cooked seafood, with products that eliminate the need for lengthy preparation, allowing operators to serve premium seafood quickly and consistently. From crispy battered fish bites to lemon sourdough crispy coated goujons, it meets the demand for diverse customer preferences with minimal effort.

Here’s some more hot serving, coated, sustainable seafood suggestions to inspire your food-to-go menus:

·   Crispy Lemon Sourdough Fish goujons, gem lettuce, dill pickle, tartare sauce in a brioche bun

·   Hoki Fish Goujons, corn tacos, shredded lettuce, purple cabbage and paprika mayo

·   Cod Fish Goujons, tortilla wrap, crisp lettuce, curried mayo, pickled red cabbage and fries

·   Crispy Fish Bites in a Brioche bun, crushed minty peas, hash brown, tartare sauce

·   Katsu Fish Goujons in a brioche bun, little gem, spring onions, radish, katsu mayo with fries

·   Mini brioche fish & chip butties made using crispy Fish Bites, with an aioli drizzle

·   Tempura sole, salt and vinegar crispy potato hash brown, pea and lemon tartare sauce

Smoked Salmon – a classic and versatile menu choice

Moving away from coated seafood, Smoked Salmon is an invaluable addition to any food-to-go menu. Its rich, distinctive flavour and smooth texture leads to a wide array of applications, from classic Smoked Salmon and cream cheese bagels to sophisticated salads and wraps. Smoked Salmon’s ability to be served both hot and cold, and its compatibility with various flavour profiles, ensures its continued appeal to a broad customer base. This timeless seafood option elevates any food-to-go offering, adding a touch of premium quality and satisfying the demand for healthy, flavourful choices.

In summary, by prioritising quality, convenience, and innovation, you can create a standout seafood-to-go experience that keeps customers coming back for more. Make your food-to-go offering unforgettable by celebrating the effortless excellence of creatively prepared seafood.