Green bean casserole—a Thanksgiving table staple most Americans love. The recipe is simple and contains soup, green beans and the best part, French fried onions. This holiday dish has been around since the 1950s. But where did it begin?
Before Pinterest (and the internet), brands would release small pamphlets bursting with cooking tips and delicious recipes using their products. These pamphlets were small, easy to find, and cheaper than a traditional cookbook.
Enter the Campbell’s Soup Company, who had its own kitchen in New Jersey dedicated to producing recipe pamphlets. The infamous green bean casserole was created in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly who worked at the Campbell’s kitchen. Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom was frequently used for casseroles, but nobody thought to add green beans until Reilly’s suggestion.
Originally called “Green Bean Bake,” Dorcas’ dish quickly became a popular holiday menu item. This traditional dish was made with minimal ingredients that were usually on hand. This made green bean casserole the perfect recipe for post-War America, when cheap, fuss-free cooking was all the rage.
Thanks to Clarence Birdseye, the first person to commercialize frozen foods in the 1930s, frozen green beans were an American dinnertime staple. Birdseye successfully marketed frozen vegetables as a better alternative to canned. He also enticed grocery stores to carry his frozen veggies by offering them free freezers.
The events of 2020 have highlighted the need for convenience in cooking, which is why frozen foods – and dishes made from frozen foods – promise to be a big hit at the dinner table this holiday season. Due to CDC guidelines restricting large gatherings, there will be smaller get-togethers, but there will also be fewer guests bringing dishes to pass – including the green bean casserole. That places big emphasis on the time-saving benefits of prepared frozen vegetables.
As grocers prepare for the holidays, now is the time to take a look at frozen aisles. Those who have Retail Space Solutions SpaceGrid® II HiGlide pusher display systems in place are already at an advantage.
The higher sidewalls on SpaceGrid II HiGlide are ideal for managing bags of frozen green beans and other frozen vegetables, keeping shelves organized and products front faced. The patented pusher securely holds the bags in place, but also allows for easy product removal. SpaceGrid II HiGlide trays slide out quickly and easily to provide clear access for restocking and product rotation, which is key during the holiday season when it’s critical to have freezer shelves fully stocked.
With more shoppers turning to frozen vegetables to help fill out their holiday menus, it’s best practice to be prepared. Investing in the right freezer display systems – like the SpaceGrid II HiGlide pusher display systems from Retail Space Solutions – will help the holiday shopping experience go faster for hurried party planners.
To learn more about the pusher display systems available from Retail Space Solutions, visit retailspacesolutions.com or call 800-279-5291.