In November 2022, Lamb Weston Co. debuted a new, revolutionary potato-based product in Belgium and the Netherlands in conjunction with renowned chef Sergio Herman. The Atelier-Frites product was created as part of Frites Atelier, a fast-casual cuisine concept. This collaboration sought to expand the reach of high-quality fries to a wider audience, notably in the restaurant business. Lamb Weston teamed up with Frites Atelier to create these unique, premium fries to make them accessible to chefs, enabling them to serve a unique, high-end product to customers. This deal is a strategic initiative by Lamb Weston to grow its presence in the foodservice market and at the same time offer chefs with a new and premium product to enhance their offerings.
In February 2022, Kraft Heinz and Simplot Food Group, a joint venture between J.R. Simplot Co. and Kraft Heinz, entered into a strategic agreement to declare Boise, Idaho, as the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of Kraft Heinz's best-selling frozen potato brand, Ore-Ida. By facilitating greater control over the production process, vertical integration aims to enhance operational efficiency. In order to have a seamless supply chain from the field to the freezer, Simplot will start supplying the potatoes that go into Ore-Ida products during the 2023–24 crop season. Enhanced production efficiency, reduced expense, and enhanced Ore-Ida product line quality are the objectives of the agreement. This move enhances the long-term objectives of Simplot and Kraft Heinz to grow the market share of Ore-Ida as well as maximize their production capacities.
