Differentiate your holiday menu with meat & seafood products that maximize profits

31 August 2023, Vancouver, BC –   During the holiday season of previous years, restaurant goers’ demand for impeccable food and service has been fierce - and 2023 will be no different. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, “Nearly 60% of consumers say they plan to dine out at a restaurant during the holidays, while 50% intend to order takeout or delivery for a gathering at home. Another one in four say they plan to do both.”

Chefs and restaurant operators face a variety of challenges, including ensuring profitably without sacrificing the quality of the product they serve. Building an innovative Holiday menu that incorporates items that are elevated, but efficient to execute will maximize your success.

Flip through the pages of our latest product guide to discover products that will maximize profits and differentiate your menu. View the guide here: https://issuu.com/intercitypackers/docs/icp_holiday_product_guide_2023

You’ve already made a key decision to ensure a winning strategy, which is to partner with a protein supplier, that’s frankly more than a protein supplier. Intercity Packers is here to relieve pressure from your operation, strategically procure meat & seafood, inspire culinary development, and consistently supply the top quality products. With over 50 years of experience serving food service and retail operators, we have some tips on how to be successful during the holidays.

Top 3 Ways To Maximize Profits During The Busy Holiday Season

1. Plan your meat and seafood offering in advance.

Supply and demand can be tight for certain proteins, such as Turkeys, Beef Ribs, FCOs, Strips and Tenderloins, during the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The key to not falling victim to shortages is to work with your ICP Sales Representative to book your offering early.

Your ICP Sales Representative will work with our strategic Procurement Team to find the best products at the best time. Booking your usage early also helps you lock in the best pricing, allowing you to maximize profits.

2. Opt for value-added products

Value-added products come in a variety of forms. Our vendors and expert in-house butchers have added value to the products in the Holiday Product Guide in one or more of the following ways:

Our expert butchers are here to relieve pressure from your operation. Streamline your back-of-house operation by maximizing efficiency with partially or fully prepared proteins in our value-added product line. Reap the benefits value-added products offer, such as reduced skilled labour costs, zero food waste and improved consistency.

3. Differentiate your holiday menu

Building a menu that stands out from the competition, while still expanding on your existing signature offering, is key to bringing in new and loyal patrons. Consider limited time offers (LTOs) that are elevated but efficient to execute by taking advantage of value-added products. Despite being partially prepared, value-added products offer an opportunity to add new creative features to your menu.

Here’s some inspiration for how the ICP Culinary team turned value-added products from the Holiday Product Guide into unique, seasonal menu items.

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ABOUT INTERCITY PACKERS


In 1972, Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood started out providing beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game products to local restaurants. We are now Canada’s leading supplier of the highest quality meat and seafood products to restaurants, healthcare and education customers across Canada. Our trained staff have years of experience in custom cutting of proteins. Because we produce food for the restaurant industry, our manufacturing plants are federally inspected and fully licensed, employing the high standards for food safety and quality assurance. With continuous innovation and the latest technology in the industry we provide safety, consistency, and leading-edge new products for our customers to meet evolving market trends and consumer preferences.

Level up your store’s beef case with case-ready Certified Angus Beef® products.

11 July 2023, Vancouver, BC –   Modern shoppers seek premium Canadian beef in your stores. Adding case-ready cuts helps keep your shoppers’ favourites in stock around the clock: steaks, roasts, grinds, patties and marinated cuts. The Certified Angus Beef® brand’s reputation is built on quality - and that legacy is what makes the brand trusted by consumers.

Mix & match between 12 unique Certified Angus Beef® products to tailor the right offering for your beef case.

To view the pack size, shelf life and code of each product, please download the following retail-focused Certified Angus Beef Sell Sheet here and share with your team.

To grow sales in your beef case, consider the following 5 benefits that only Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood can offer:

1. Sleek, consumer-favoured packaging

Consumers prefer the Certified Angus Beef® displayed in a black packaging. When asked to specify their colour preference - black, white or yellow - more than 7 in 10 (73%) chose black.*

Consumers confirm that the black packaging helps accentuate the brand’s generous marbling, and indicates a high quality product. Specifically:

On average, rollstock film uses 40% less plastic than traditional tray packaging. Rollstock packaging supports your initiatives to reduce plastic consumption.

Vacuum sealed and chub packages are tamper-proof and freezer-ready, making the products ideal for in-store merchandising and online order fulfilment.

2. Improved colour retention and extended shelf life

Freshly cut Certified Angus Beef® steaks have an extended shelf life up to an additional 5 days above the standard by spraying with specialized ozone water prior to packaging.**

The beef’s colour is retained for a greater period of time with ozone water. Packaging seals in the freshness so once package is opened, beef colour will bloom to natural cherry red.

Extended shelf life, combined with smaller cases, will improve inventory control and lessen the risk of spoilage.

3. Reduced labour and shrink costs

Opting for portion-controlled beef that is prepackaged and fully labelled, instead of butchering sub-primals in-house, will result in your store having reduced shrink and less out of stocks.

What happens when a customer’s preferred beef cut is out of stock at their local grocery store?

4 in 10 seek staff at meat counter to confirm availability

4 in 10 choose a different cut or protein - mostly lower cost items

2 in 10 forgo purchase - some return; some shop elsewhere

1 in 10 view the store negatively.***

Pre-cut portions have a 100% yield so you do not have to utilize or account for off-cuts and trim. Also, you do not need to account for additional labour costs to further package or label products.

Pre-cut portions will improve consistency over multiple business locations and operations.

No need to make large investments in specialty butcher equipment, such as bandsaws and knives, or packaging and labelling equipment. Your establishment does not need to employ a large team of skilled meat cutters.

Portions are packaged in small case sizes, meaning easier inventory control and less chance of spoilage.

4. Expertly aged beef for steakhouse flavour and tenderness

Minimum age guidelines can vary between retail and food service. At retail, beef can be sold at as low 5-7 days age. For this Certified Angus Beef® product line, the following standards have been set for a “steakhouse” experience:

  • Aged 14 days prior to processing
  • Ageing process can be extended by an additional 14+ days once cut and packaged.

5. Strict food safety standards

Since 1972, Intercity Packers has been one of the most trusted names for product integrity and safety in today’s constantly changing marketplace. To produce products you can trust, Intercity Packers adheres to the strictest food safety standards and regulators as noted below:

  • Federally regulated by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
  • Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) to ensure quality assurance
  • Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) standard of Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification
  • E coli testing by accredited 3rd party lab
  • 24/7 Product recall process in place

* In-store intercepts; sample size 600 (includes data from the United States)

** Testing done by Quality Control team at Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood

*** Midan Marketing


Aged, Cut and Packaged to exacting steakhouse standards by Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood.


Interested in listing Certified Angus Beef®at your grocery store? Get in touch.

Email our Sales Team at info@intercitypackers.ca

Follow Intercity Packers on Instagram & LinkedIn and Like Intercity Packers on Facebook.

Call our BC Sales Teams at 604-295-2010, or call our AB Sales Teams at 780-477-7254

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ABOUT INTERCITY PACKERS


In 1972, Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood started out providing beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game products to local restaurants. We are now Canada’s leading supplier of the highest quality meat and seafood products to restaurants, healthcare and education customers across Canada. Our trained staff have years of experience in custom cutting of proteins. Because we produce food for the restaurant industry, our manufacturing plants are federally inspected and fully licensed, employing the high standards for food safety and quality assurance. With continuous innovation and the latest technology in the industry we provide safety, consistency, and leading-edge new products for our customers to meet evolving market trends and consumer preferences.

Stock your seafood display with the Bayside Seafood brand

Simple. Sustainable. Seafood.

1 June 2023, Vancouver, BC –   Bayside Seafood offers an effortless meal solution that puts a spotlight on sustainably-raised BC steelhead. Your shoppers can satisfy their cravings with 3 unique, chef-made flavours of marinated steelhead. Fill your seafood bunker with conveniently packaged marinated BC Steelhead displayed in sleek, black rollstock film that uses minimal plastic. On average, rollstock film uses 40% less plastic than traditional plastic MAP tray packaging.


SOURCED, SEASONED & PROCESSED BY INTERCITY PACKERS.

EXCLUSIVELY MADE WITH BC-RAISED SEAFOOD

Bayside Seafood is made with premium Bayside Steelhead that is sustainably raised by reputable aquaculture facilities on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. All Bayside Seafood products hit store shelves with a recommendation from Ocean Wise.

SATISFY CRAVINGS WITH CHEF-MADE FLAVOURS

Eat more seafood and satisfy your cravings with 3 unique, chef-made flavours of marinated Bayside Steelhead. Each marinade was crafted in-house by the Bayside Seafood product development chef to compliment steelhead’s mild natural flavour.

READY TO EAT IN UNDER 30 MINUTES

In under 30 minutes, seafood lovers are guaranteed a delicious meal, even when cooked from frozen. Bayside Seafood creates nutritious meals that are healthy for the whole family, and healthy for our oceans.

SLEEK, MINIMALISTIC PACKAGING

Vacuum sealed packages are tamper-proof and freezer-ready, making them ideal for in-store merchandising as well as online order fulfillment. On average, rollstock film uses 40% less plastic than traditional MAP tray packaging, which supports initiatives to reduce plastic consumption.

Tailor the perfect line up of Bayside Seafood for your retail seafood case.

The following details apply to all products, and keep scrolling to learn more about the 3 flavours of Bayside Seafood.

Species: Steelhead Salmon

Portion: 160gr per package

Pack Size: 28 x 1 x 160gr (4.48kg)

Storage: Frozen

Specification: Skin-off & Bone-out. Individually vacuum sealed.

Flavour: Provençal Herb

Code: 20000278

UPC: 061986951847

Ingredients: Steelhead, Seasoning (canola oil, water, Italiano seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, parsley, tomato flakes).

Flavour: Maple Chipotle

Code: 20000279

UPC: 061986951854

Ingredients: Steelhead, Seasoning [canola oil, maple syrup, chipotle marinade (wheat, soy), water, chives].

Flavour: Mild Chive Curry

Code: 20000280

UPC: 061986951861

Ingredients: Steelhead, Seasoning (water, curry marinade, canola oil, chives).

DELICIOUS SEAFOOD.  READY IN MINUTES.


Interested in listing Bayside at your grocery store? Get in touch.

Learn more about Bayside Seafood at BaysideSeafood.ca

Download the Bayside Sell Sheet here.

Email our Sales Team at info@intercitypackers.ca

Follow Bayside on Instagram and Like Bayside on Facebook.

Call our BC Sales Teams at 604-295-2010, or call our AB Sales Teams at 780-477-7254

HEALTHY OCEANS. NUTRITIOUS MEALS.

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ABOUT INTERCITY PACKERS


In 1972, Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood started out providing beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game products to local restaurants. We are now Canada’s leading supplier of the highest quality meat and seafood products to restaurants, healthcare and education customers across Canada. Our trained staff have years of experience in custom cutting of proteins. Because we produce food for the restaurant industry, our manufacturing plants are federally inspected and fully licensed, employing the high standards for food safety and quality assurance. With continuous innovation and the latest technology in the industry we provide safety, consistency, and leading-edge new products for our customers to meet evolving market trends and consumer preferences.

Shop Intercity Announces Online Store Closure

28 February 2023, Vancouver, BC –  After serving the greater Vancouver community with restaurant-quality meat and seafood products for more than 2 years, Intercity Packers will be closing their online store, Shop Intercity, at the end of April.

For over 50 years, Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood has been a local provider of premium meat and seafood products across Canada. We have been a chef-driven company employing skilled in-house butchers who portion, grind and safely pack some of the best proteins available with locations in Richmond BC, Edmonton AB, and Montreal QC.

In 2020, our Richmond location endeavored into direct sales of Intercity products for local home cooks, foodies and aspiring chefs to enjoy a great restaurant experience in the comfort of their home. Shop Intercity was launched, and became a consistent source of high quality meat and seafood for curbside pick-up, or as an additional option, local delivery direct to the customer’s front door for added convenience. The pandemic offered the perfect time to offer direct delivery when grocery stores had restrictions and consumers were homebound.

Here’s a few comments from reviews about our products:

“As a Private Chef, I love ordering from Intercity.  The prices are excellent too. I also order Ribeye, Beef Short Rib and whole Organic Chicken.”

- Chef Maryam G. [12/26/2022 This review was collected from a verified customer who purchased this item.]
Learn more

“Honestly the best steaks I have ever had! I’ve ordered them numerous times and will continue to do so. I’ve told all my friends to order from here!”

- Sunny B. [11/18/2022 - This review was collected from a verified customer who purchased this item.]
Learn more

"Fantastic quality. Love ordering from intercity. We had also order artic char and was blown away by how fresh it was. The prices are excellent too. Have been referring a lot of friends to Intercity and now they can't stop purchasing from them. One friend who use to spend hundreds of dollars stocking up at Costco now used Intercity for all her protein products."

- Lily M. [4/10/2021 - This review was collected from a verified customer who purchased this item.]
Learn more

“It’s been a great experience for us to open up sales of our products direct to home consumers over the past couple of years,” says Brock Farrall, Director of Procurement and Marketing for Intercity Packers. “We were excited to bring unique and premium products that people in our area didn’t have access to through traditional grocery stores and wholesalers.”

Shop Intercity reached thousands of households during the span of the store operation. Some of the most popular products included Beef Wellington, Salmon Wellington, Ribeye Steaks, New York Steaks, Sockeye Salmon Fillets, and Lobster Tails.

Though the online store is closing, Intercity Packers will continue to be a vital part of the greater Vancouver community. We thank all Shop Intercity users for their ongoing support as we refocus our efforts back on our food service and retail customers. If you are a connoisseur of a great steak, raw oysters, perfectly prepared ocean fish, or a delicious burger, you can still enjoy our products at popular local restaurant destinations. 

If you need to get in touch with the Shop Intercity customer service team, please reach out at sales@shopintercity.ca or complete the following Contact Us form.

Follow Intercity Packers on social media:

Instagram: instagram.com/intercitypackers

Facebook: facebook.com/intercitypackers

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ABOUT INTERCITY PACKERS


In 1972, Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood started out providing beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game products to local restaurants. We are now Canada’s leading supplier of the highest quality meat and seafood products to restaurants, healthcare and education customers across Canada. Our trained staff have years of experience in custom cutting of proteins. Because we produce food for the restaurant industry, our manufacturing plants are federally inspected and fully licensed, employing the high standards for food safety and quality assurance. With continuous innovation and the latest technology in the industry we provide safety, consistency, and leading-edge new products for our customers to meet evolving market trends and consumer preferences.