Applegate expands protein lineup with seven new products

Applegate widened its protein reach with seven new products built to work across breakfast, lunch and quick dinner assembly, a clear sign that protein is moving deeper into mainstream convenience eating. The launch leaned on ready-to-heat proteins, flavor-forward lunchmeats, bacon additions and larger pack sizes, not a single hero item, which is the point: Applegate is trying to make protein feel like an everyday refrigerator staple, not just a sports nutrition purchase or meal-prep add-on.

The rollout included APPLEGATE NATURALS Roasted Shredded Chicken Breast, which was available immediately and carried 20 grams of protein per serving. APPLEGATE NATURALS Applewood Smoked Uncured Ham and APPLEGATE NATURALS Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken Breast were set to launch on June 12, each with 11 grams of protein per serving. APPLEGATE NATURALS Uncured Beef Bacon was slated for June 22 with 4 grams of protein per serving. Applegate also expanded pack sizes for APPLEGATE ORGANICS THE GREAT ORGANIC UNCURED BEEF HOT DOG, APPLEGATE ORGANICS Chicken Strips and APPLEGATE NATURALS Chicken Patties, a move that points to households wanting bigger-format, less fussy protein options.

Distribution had already started at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Publix, Stop & Shop, Giant and Gelson’s Market, with more placement expanding through June. That retailer mix matters because it puts the launch in front of shoppers who are already trained to look for better-for-you refrigerated proteins, but who still want something that tastes like a practical meal solution rather than a compromise.

Joseph O’Connor, Applegate’s president, said the company starts innovation and new product development with its standards and wants to make it easier for people to enjoy food that aligns with their values. That framing fits the brand’s long-running positioning: Applegate says its meat is raised humanely without antibiotics, hormones or growth promotants, and without artificial ingredients or added chemical nitrites. The company also works with third-party certifiers including Global Animal Partnership and Certified Humane.

The new lineup also fits Applegate’s place in the market. The brand says it is the No. 1 brand in the natural and organic prepared-meats category, and it operates as a stand-alone subsidiary within Hormel Foods’ Refrigerated Foods segment. With a first deli meat launched in 1993, snacking added in 2019, and major ingredient and beef-sourcing shifts in June 2015, Applegate has spent decades nudging beyond the deli case. This launch pushes that strategy further, turning protein into a broader convenience play across the daypart map.