Reser’s expands into refrigerated chowders, pasta entrées and high-protein salads

Reser’s Fine Foods used its IDDBA 2026 appearance to push deeper into the refrigerated meal case, unveiling new chowders, pasta entrées and high-protein deli salads built for shoppers who want something faster than cooking and more substantial than a snack. The June 10 announcement followed the company’s showing at IDDBA 2026 in Orlando, Florida, a trade event that drew more than 10,000 attendees and 1,000-plus exhibiting companies from June 7-9.

The new lineup stretches across three of the case’s most competitive lanes. In chowders, Reser’s introduced Loaded Baked Potato Chowder, New England Style Clam Chowder and Corn & Green Chile Chowder. The pasta entrées include 3 Cheese Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Cavatappi Alfredo with Chicken and Penne alla Vodka. The salad expansion comes under the High-Protein American Classics Deli Salads banner, with Chicken, Tuna and Egg varieties. Reser’s said the salads deliver up to 25% more protein than existing Reser’s varieties and up to 60% fewer calories, using a blended cottage cheese base.

The move reflects a broader shift in refrigerated prepared foods, where protein claims, freshness and convenience now matter as much as flavor. Reser’s said the chowders were priced to encourage repeat purchases, while the entrées were designed to be easy to merchandise in the deli and to drive purchase frequency. Megan Torres, Reser’s brand strategy manager, said the company sees strong demand for solutions that deliver convenience and value without compromising quality or flavor.

That positioning lands in a large and still-expanding market. The U.S. meals and soups category was valued at $63.3 billion in 2023, and prepared salads were among the three fastest-growing segments in that market from 2019 to 2023. Retail offline channels accounted for about 80% of sales, underscoring why a refrigerated launch like this is aimed squarely at the perimeter and deli case, where shoppers still make meal decisions on the spot.

For Reser’s, the expansion also builds on a long company history in chilled foods. Founded in 1950 by Mildred Reser in Cornelius, Oregon, the business grew from potato salad made in a farmhouse kitchen into one of the largest refrigerated foods companies in the United States. In 2025, Reser’s said it had reached $2 billion in annual revenue, was celebrating 75 years in business and remained the largest family-owned prepared foods business in the country. This latest launch suggests the company sees salads not as an endpoint, but as a springboard into soups and refrigerated entrées that can refresh a category many shoppers still treat as routine.