OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 14, 2009-- Responding to consumer demand for high-quality, contemporary meals at an affordable price, Marie Callender’s has introduced a new line of authentic Italian frozen entrees called Pasta al Dente. Many Americans have cut back on their food spending over the past year, but not at the cost of sacrificing fresh, high-quality meals for their families. In fact, a new survey commissioned by ConAgra Foods and released today found that the majority of Americans – 86 percent¹ – say value is a top concern when shopping for food. But no matter the cost, three in four (74 percent) say they expect fresh ingredients and well-made food regardless of the price tag.

According to NPD Group data, over the past four years there has been a steady increase in the number of Americans eating meals at home.² This helps explain why sales of frozen foods were expected to increase by 4.5 percent in 2008 and are expected to remain strong throughout the recession.³ Three out of four (74 percent) Americans agree that steaming food can help enhance the flavor and texture of frozen foods. The new Pasta al Dente line appeases consumers’ taste buds by incorporating a patented packaging technology that steams the ingredients and pasta separately from the sauce so the vegetables are vibrant and crisp and the pasta is cooked perfectly – al dente, or “to the tooth.”

“The introduction of the Marie Callender’s Pasta al Dente line is a welcome addition for consumers,” said Rob McCutcheon, vice president and general manager, Marie Callender’s. “People are amazed when they taste the new Pasta al Dente line because it shatters their expectations of frozen meals by delivering an authentic Italian dining experience with fresh-tasting, vegetables, meats, Italian herbs and pasta, steamed to perfection, at a great value.”

Real Ingredients, Real Flavor; Steamed to Perfection

The survey also found that the No.1 element Americans want when it comes to frozen and prepared meals is quality ingredients, followed by authentic-tasting food. Marie Callender’s new Pasta al Dente line utilizes a patented SteamCooker™ technology which separates the ingredients from the sauce with a two-tray, steam-cooking system. The innovative technology used to prepare Pasta al Dente entrées is the same method used in Healthy Choice® Café SteamersTM, recently recognized as the best-selling new food product in 2008, by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI).

Marie Callender’s stands for great-tasting, quality meals, and the new line of Pasta al Dente meals provides consumers with a truly authentic Italian meal they can enjoy in the luxury of their own homes. The meals were developed from classic Italian recipes and traditions that use fresh Italian herbs and spices and come in six new varieties:

• Rigatoni Marinara Classico with meatballs and Italian sausage
• Tortellini Romano with fresh basil and real Parmesan cheese
• Penne Chicken Modesto with chunks of artichoke hearts and Roma tomatoes
• Cavatappi Genovese with Chicken with crushed pesto and fresh zucchini
• Fettuccini Chicken Balsamico with crimini mushrooms, balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy
• Rigatoni con Pesce with Shrimp in lobster cream sauce

Four new flavors will be available mid-2009 including Penne Chicken Piccata, Cavatalli Chicken Carbonara, Orecchiette Chicken Pesto and Old World Rigatoni Bolognese.

These Pasta al Dente meals are available now at grocery stores nationwide with a suggested retail price of $3.49 for a 10- to 11-ounce meal.

ABOUT CONAGRA FOODS

Marie Callender’s^® is a brand of ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG). ConAgra Foods is one of North America’s leading food companies, with brands in 97 percent of America’s households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip and many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying potato, other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

¹ These findings are based on a survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation among a sample of 1,000 U.S. adults 18 years of age and older. The Caravan Omnibus study is conducted twice a week among a demographically representative sample of U.S. adults. Interviewing for this survey was completed April 17-20, 2009. SOURCE ConAgra Foods, Inc.

² The NPD Group’s National Eating Trends® Service; year ending Feb

³ Mintel Oxygen Report; April, 2009

Source: ConAgra Foods, Inc.

Ketchum
Jacqueline Kohlmann, 312-228-6859
or
ConAgra Foods
Sue Burke, 630-857-1347
www.conagrafoods.com