Rustlers launches Marinara Meatball Sub

Rustlers, the £107.1m Chilled Ready Meals brand from Kepak, is appealing to the growing number of cost-conscious consumers seeking hot lunchtime options with the launch of a Marinara Meatball Sub Sandwich.

The Meatball Sub (RRP £2.30, case size 4), complete with a marinara sauce, provides a hot new addition to the fixture that can easily replicate the Out of Home menu favourites shoppers are craving, as they continue to curb spend.

The product will be available exclusively to the convenience channel later this month before rolling out in April.

“With the increasing cost of living, the rise of the ‘fake away’ trend (recreating takeaway favourites at home) is set to continue as consumers seek credible grocery alternatives instead of eating out. Rustlers Meatball Sub taps into this opportunity as it allows shoppers to recreate a much-loved QSR favourite at a great price,” says Elaine Rothballer, Head of Marketing Consumer Brands at Kepak.

“The top foods we consume for lunch remain Sandwiches, Soup and Toast-based meals. However, more filling and flavour packed lunches such as Italian food (+13 per cent) are seeing the fastest growth. This highlights the opportunity for a hot lunch option beyond the mediocre that delivers against convenience, enjoyment, and value for money.”

Rustlers’ Marinara Meatball Sub Sandwich joins the brands’ existing hot eat sandwich range, including The Southern Fried Chicken Sub, worth £1.6 million and in 39 per cent YOY growth in the convenience channel.