Packaged salad producer Fresh Express has expanded its retail portfolio with the commercial launch of two new chopped salad kits, introducing Roasted Poblano Caesar and Fire-Roasted Queso Crunch across the United States.
Rolling out to produce departments at participating supermarket retailers nationwide from October 2026, the product introductions target expanding consumer demand for bold, restaurant-style flavour profiles and textural variety within the value-added salad fixture.
The launch builds upon the company’s culinary innovation programme, translating casual dining and Southwestern culinary influences into packaged, pre-portioned meal kits that combine washed leafy greens, specialised dressings, and crunchy toppings.
"We see an opportunity to change the conversation around salad from routine to anticipation," said Fabian Pereira, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Fresh Express. "Consumers shouldn't have to choose between convenience and crave-worthy flavour. With Roasted Poblano Caesar and Fire-Roasted Queso Crunch, we're taking flavours people already know and love and creating fresh new salad experiences they can genuinely look forward to eating."
Product Formulations and Ingredient Profiles
The two chopped salad kits introduce distinct dressing formulations paired with multi-ingredient inclusions to deliver contrasting textures and flavour profiles:
🌶️ Roasted Poblano Caesar Chopped Salad Kit: An adaptation of the traditional Caesar format featuring a peppery poblano chilli kick. The kit combines crisp romaine lettuce with creamy roasted poblano Caesar dressing, sweet corn, colourful tri-coloured tortilla strips, and savoury cotija cheese.
🧀 Fire-Roasted Queso Crunch Chopped Salad Kit: Inspired by loaded nacho flavour profiles, the kit pairs crisp chopped greens with a velvety fire-roasted queso dressing, a shredded taco cheese blend, and crispy tri-coloured tortilla strips, formulated for consumption as a standalone meal or as an accompaniment to Mexican-style dinner occasions.
Culinary Innovation and Flavour Development
The formulations were engineered at the Fresh Express Innovation Center in Streamwood, Illinois.
At the facility, culinary teams and food scientists evaluate foodservice dining trends, consumer usage patterns, and ingredient compatibility to create shelf-stable fresh kits. The development focus for the new SKUs prioritised flavour delivery and textural contrast, utilising seasoned cheeses, roasted vegetable reductions, and particulate toppings that maintain crunch throughout product shelf life.
"Great innovation gives consumers more reasons to choose salad more often," Pereira added. "By pairing the freshness and convenience people expect from Fresh Express with crave-worthy flavours and unexpected combinations, we can keep making salad more relevant, exciting and satisfying."
Produce Aisle and Retail Footprint
Commercial distribution for the Roasted Poblano Caesar and Fire-Roasted Queso Crunch kits will commence nationwide across grocery multiples and regional supermarket banners in October 2026.
The new SKUs are merchandised within retail produce departments, positioning high-flavour value-added salads to capture both weekday dinner meal kit solutions and rapid lunchtime consumption missions.
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