Why everyone’s warming to frozen fries!

Frozen potatoes are pure gold for all catering operators – ever versatile, they can provide menu inspiration, customer satisfaction and a healthy profit margin served up as a side, or the hero on the plate.

In 2022 the UK frozen potato market was 1.4 million tonnes, 495,000 tonnes of which was in foodservice.  Domestic production (UK for the UK) accounted for 660 tonnes (47%), whereas 740 tonnes was imported to satisfy demand.

The most popular products in foodservice are coated, straight-cut fries and there is now a sustained growth in skin-on products, which are seen as more artisanal - 1 in 3 UK OOH meals are served with chips or fries, so fries reign supreme for all operators, with the slimmer French Fry shape winning over the more traditional, thicker ‘chippy’ cut!

With the continued popularity in loaded and dirty fries among consumers, fries that stay crispy are a win-win for operators.  Innovation in coatings and cooking methods have led to a rise in a more artisanal, textured finish, plus double-coated or even triple-coated finishes add extra crunch.

The operational advantages of frozen chips over making from scratch are to be had in preparation time, efficiency in labour cost and consistency of quality, while the benefits over bought-in fresh chips include fewer additives and a greater control over waste.

And there is the nutritional advantage of frozen to further boost it as the top choice.  “In frozen vegetables like potatoes, freezing locks in more of the nutrients that fresh produce continues to lose during the supply chain process.  In creating our fries, freshly cut potatoes can be frozen down and bagged within 90 minutes!” says Ash Liles, Lamb Weston’s Trade Marketing Manager.

For more innovative ideas, recipes and potato inspiration, head over to www.lambweston.eu/uk, call 0800 963962 or email us at salesUK@lambweston.eu