NEW ORLEANS – Blount Fine Foods spotlighted a new side dish and two new soups at IDDBA ’18.

It’s more common for retail foodservice products to get their inspiration from foodservice, but in the case of Blount’s new Asiago Mac and Cheese with Fire-Roasted Tomatoes, it’s the other way around, company president Todd Blount said at the show.

The new side and the two new soups, Southwest Corn Chowder and Minestrone, all ship under Blount’s Panera at Home line.

The soups are new twists on old favorites, Blount said. The Minestrone, for example, features chickpeas and kale to give it not only a unique taste but also appeal for health-minded consumers.