Fresh Ideas for a Familiar Favorite: Rethinking Ground Beef Blends

What should brands and retailers blend with ground beef next?

Central Market, the upscale Texas retailer, has partnered with Fable Food Co. on four shiitake-infused beef products: burgers, sliders, meatballs, and koftas.

The company makes a shiitake infusion designed for restaurants and retailers to blend with ground beef.

According to Supermarket Perimeter, a majority of consumers in a blind taste test preferred Fable’s shiitake-infused beef burger to a 100% beef burger.

Ground beef is one of the most versatile products in the meat case. It’s familiar to consumers and easy to cook. That makes it a great foundation for introducing something new.

Cheddar cheese and bacon are always popular, but there’s plenty of room for more ideas in the meat case.

I’ve written previously about ancestral blends that incorporate organ meats. Then there are brands like Schweid & Sons, which make burgers using specific combinations of beef cuts, such as chuck and brisket.

For brands and retailers, I think the opportunity starts with understanding what customers want.

Some are looking for unique flavor profiles; others are seeking nutrition-focused products. Still others may want a restaurant-style burger at home.

The blend needs to deliver on that need. And the marketing needs to make the benefit easy to understand.

That’s where the product name, packaging, signage, and sampling can help drive trial.

I’d like to see brands and retailers keep experimenting.