Tony Roma's Launches New Packaging, Making Authentic Barbecue a Convenient Dinnertime Option

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL--(Marketwired - Mar 7, 2016) - Rupari Food Services, the leading culinary supplier of ready-to-eat pork ribs and barbecue meat entrees, is setting a new standard in pre-cooked refrigerated meats by refreshing its Tony Roma's brand with the introduction of innovative packaging for Tony Roma's ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken and boneless spare ribs. Catering to consumer demand, Rupari is making it more convenient to put authentic barbecue on the dinner table any night of the week. Also included in the revamp is the launch of several new regionally inspired products: Memphis Dry Rub Ribs, Kentucky Bourbon Pork Steaks, Texas Pulled Brisket and Memphis Rubbed Pulled Pork.

With a peel-away plastic seal, the updated oven-ready packaging is designed for one-step preparation and fast cleanup. Tony Roma's ribs will be packaged in an aluminum pan that consumers can put directly into the oven or onto the grill. Tony Roma's pulled pork, pulled chicken and boneless spare ribs lines will be packaged in a plastic microwave and oven safe pan in the shape of a smoker to highlight the naturally hardwood smoked meat. The previous packaging required consumers to transfer the meat to an oven or microwave safe dish before heating.

"From meal planning to clean-up, we're making delicious, restaurant-quality barbecue a viable option at dinnertime, even on the busiest nights," says Kristin Kroepfl, vice president of marketing for Rupari Food Services. "Rupari continues to be on the cutting edge of the pre-cooked refrigerated meat industry, regularly responding to consumer feedback to make meals available from the comfort of home. In fact, there's no other brand on the market serving ribs the way we do with Tony Roma's, in an oven and grill ready, one-step aluminum pan."

Continuing the tradition of offering regionally inspired flavors, Tony Roma's has cooked up four new recipes to introduce alongside the updated packaging: Memphis Dry Rub Ribs, Kentucky Bourbon Steaks, Texas Pulled Brisket, and a Memphis Rubbed Pulled Pork. In keeping with Memphis barbecue culture, the Memphis Rubbed products will come unsauced. All of the new products will also have the updated packaging.

Hand-trimmed and slow-smoked in natural hardwoods, Tony Roma's ready-to-eat meats are an easy way to enjoy delicious, quality barbecue at home without the extensive prep time. Each heat-and-serve meat is filled with rich and robust flavors, bringing that fresh-off-the-barbecue taste to the kitchen in just 20 minutes, without the hassle of cleaning extra dishes.

Just in time for America's prime grilling season, the pulled pork and chicken, Texas Brisket and Memphis Rubbed Pulled Pork will be available in mid-March, while the updated ribs packaging, the Memphis Dry Rub Ribs and Kentucky Bourbon Steaks will hit supermarket shelves in early April.

For more information on Rupari Food Services, visit http://www.rupari.com/. To find a store near you, visit http://www.tonyromaribs.com/where-to-buy.

About Rupari Food Services
Rupari Food Services is a full services food distribution company specializing in the manufacturing of pork products. As the number one distributor of pork ribs in the United States, the company supplies restaurant quality products to food service and retail chains across the nation. Rupari's products can be found in the refrigerated meat case and freezer under the Tony Roma's brand and in the hot and cold sections of the deli under the Butcher's Prime brand. For more information, visit http://www.rupari.com/.