QDC Fresh Inc. has released Street Corn Sides, a new line of value-added kits created to spice up ears of sweet corn with chef-inspired sauces and seasonings. Designed to meet growing consumer demand for convenient, flavor-forward produce solutions, Street Corn Sides delivers a turnkey way to transform everyday sweet corn into a craveable and exciting side dish in minutes, the company says.
Each Street Corn Sides kit comes complete with preportioned sauce, Parmesan cheese and/or seasoning packets and a step-by-step prep video, providing a simple, mess-free way to deliver bold flavor while reducing the need for additional ingredients at home. The initial lineup features four varieties inspired by popular regional flavor profiles — California Style, Creamy Pesto, Texas BBQ and Nashville Zest — offering retailers a differentiated, high-impact addition to their value-added vegetable set, according to QDC Fresh.
“We developed Street Corn Sides to meet consumers where they are today — looking for convenient and exciting flavor-forward meal solutions without sacrificing freshness,” says Marvin Quebec, president of QDC Fresh. “This program gives our retailer partners a flexible, innovative way to elevate packaged sweet corn from a commodity item to a complete, value-added experience.”
Street Corn Sides was developed with both retailers and consumers in mind, delivering the convenience and flexibility today’s shoppers expect. Whether prepared on the grill, in the oven, on the stovetop or in the air fryer, the kits provide multiple cooking options that can be prepared in minutes and fit into busy lifestyles. By including all flavor components in one package, Street Corn Sides adds clear value back to the consumer — eliminating guesswork while enhancing the overall eating experience, says QDC Fresh.
“We’re incredibly excited to introduce Street Corn Sides to the industry as a fresh, value-added solution that brings both convenience and excitement to the produce department,” says Rachelle Schulken, director of marketing for QDC Fresh. “Just as importantly, we’re looking forward to collaborating closely with our retail partners to create programs that drive sales, build shopper engagement and deliver meaningful value at store level.”
In addition to simplifying meal preparation, Street Corn Sides supports retailers’ efforts to drive incremental sales within the produce department and cross-merchandising opportunities throughout the store by pairing fresh sweet corn with trending flavors and ready-to-use seasonings. The fully contained kits also help reduce shrink, streamline merchandising and encourage impulse purchases during peak corn season and beyond, says QDC Fresh.
The company plans to showcase the California Style Street Corn Sides at the upcoming Viva Fresh Produce Expo in San Antonio, where attendees are invited to experience the California Style flavor firsthand. Attendees can stop by booth No. 1105 to sample and discover how Street Corn Sides can bring excitement and value-added innovation to produce programs.
