Peapod, Barilla Roll Out More Meal Kits

Online grocer Peapod has introduced five fresh-to-prepare meal kits featuring all-new recipes by Barilla, with all ingredients pre-packaged and pre-measured to make a meal for four or more. This makes a total of eight Peapod Meal Kits now available for delivery or pickup.

The new recipes, which emphasize seasonal fall flavors, are part of an ongoing partnership between Peapod and Bannockburn, Ill.-based Barilla America to help make mealtime easier and more affordable for Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee families.

"Our customers want convenient, healthy, fresh and great-tasting meals to cook for their families," noted Tony Stallone, Peapod's VP of fresh markets, "but they're busy – and appreciate the convenience of having most of the chopping and dicing already done for them, and step-by-step instructions to simplify the prep. This season's Peapod Meal Kits can definitely be part of the mealtime solution for busy families, meeting our customers’ need for convenient and delicious mealtime choices at a great value."

The new recipes are Bucatini all'Amatriciana, Spaghetti with Quick Bolognese Sauce, Tortellini Soup, Farfalle with Butternut Squash (pictured) and Steak alla Pizzaiola, which have joined previous offerings Baked Rotini with Mozzarella & Spinach, Parmesan Chicken over Pasta and Lemon Spaghetti with Grilled Chicken. All of the kits can be ordered online or through a newly redesigned mobile app for phone and tablet.

"All of the recipes contain a fresh component – whether it is fresh mozzarella and spinach, fresh butternut squash, etc. in addition to the pasta," a company spokesman explained to PG. "None of the meal kits contain a frozen component."

An Ahold USA company, Skokie, Ill.-based Peapod serves 24 U.S. markets throughout Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin.