UK: Unilever launches Knorr Foil Steam pouch line

An innovative market first from Knorr Knorr introduces an exclusive Foil Steam Pouch to its Gourmet range

Knorr, the savoury brand from Unilever UK, is set to strengthen its new Gourmet range with an innovative, first-to-market sub range of packet sauces based on the "En Papillote" method of cooking, launching in September.

‘En Papillote', meaning ‘in parchment', is a French method of cooking by which ingredients are wrapped into a folded parcel to lock in moisture whilst the food is steamed. In line with the existing Gourmet range, this Foil Steam Pouch has been specially created with recipes inspired by chefs and uses sophisticated but simple flavour combinations with a unique twist, presenting consumers with delicious meals that can be easily prepared at home.

Joanna Wright, Brand Manager for Dry Sauces at Unilever UK comments: "Our Foil Steam Pouches are designed to transform everyday ingredients into restaurant quality food without the time and effort of cooking from scratch. This product is unique to Knorr and has been developed by our team of Knorr chefs, targeting confident cooks who are searching for convenient meal solutions without compromising on quality.

"The Dry Sauces category is thriving with a positive growth of 14% YoY and is currently worth £118 million1. By launching a range of quality, dry sauces in Knorr Gourmet we will drive value and bring incremental growth to the category, introducing new shoppers as well as providing existing Dry Sauce purchases with the opportunity to trade up."

The packaging of the additions to the Knorr Gourmet range will be in line with the current design, which complements its premium positioning. The block dark green colouring communicates sophistication and quality and creates stand out on shelf.

Now available in four different formats (foil steam pouches, recipe mixes, sauces and oven bags) for retailers to purchase, Knorr Gourmet is being supported by a £4 million marketing campaign including TV advertising, digital engagement, PR and in-store support. The advert will be live on air in the last quarter of 2012.

-Ends- *All prices quoted are Recommended Retail Prices. Retailers are free at all times to set their own retail prices.

Notes to editors: Unilever UK is one of the country's leading FMCG players, with a turnover of £2.5 billion. The company owns 40 brands spanning 14 categories and has a household penetration of 98% in the UK.

Knorr Gourmet is available in the following variants:

3 Foil steam pouches: Lemon Cod in a buttery sauce with a pinch of parsley Mediterranean salmon with extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of oregano Primavera chicken with a hint of basil and a dash of white wine

4 Recipe mixes: ? Creamy wild mushroom chicken with white wine and a pinch of chives ? Creamy baked cod with white wine and a twist of dill ? Oriental stir fry chicken with a hint of garlic and ginger ? Rustic Ratatouille with a pinch of oregano and basil

4 Sauces: ? Rich three pepper sauce with a touch of white wine ? Creamy bread sauce with onion and a hint of nutmeg ? Luxurious cheese sauce with a hint of pepper ? Luxurious Chanterelle Mushroom sauce with a classic hint of garlic and parsley

3 Oven bags: ? Classic chicken casserole with red wine and a dash of balsamic ? Spiced roast chicken with chestnuts and a hint of citrus ? Rich Lamb Casserole with a hint of rosemary

The RRP's* of Knorr Gourmet are: Foil steam pouches- £1.69, available in cases of 20 Recipe mixes - £1.09 per item, available in cases of 18 Sauces - £0.89 per item, available in cases of 18 (except for Chanterelle which is 19) Oven bags - £1.49 per item, available in cases of 20

Original source: Unilever