Fresh Solutions Network connects potatoes with younger shoppersโ growing interest in comfort, value, and updated family favorites
As younger consumers rediscover hands-on experiences in the kitchen, Fresh Solutions Networkยฎย (FSN) is highlighting Side Delightsยฎย potatoes as a natural fit for the return to comfort cooking, nostalgic recipes and updated family favorites.
Nostalgia is increasingly influencing what consumers put on the table. According to theย 2026 IKEA Cooking & Eating Report, 40% of consumers actively seek foods that remind them of childhood, compared with just 25% who want to try new foods more often.
At the same time, younger shoppers are showing enthusiasm for getting into the kitchen.ย FMI โ The Food Industry Association reports that 51% of Gen Z consumers like or love meal preparation, compared with 46% of consumers overall.ย When asked how retailers could make meal preparation easier, Gen Zโs top request was better-value food options, cited by 49%.
For retailers, potatoes sit naturally at the intersection of these trends: familiar, versatile, and value-oriented, while providing a foundation for traditional favorites and globally inspired meals.
โPotatoes have always been one of Americaโs great comfort foods, but todayโs younger cooks are finding new ways to make them their own,โ said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. โSide Delights gives retailers an opportunity to connect the potato category with shoppers looking for affordable comfort, cooking inspiration and fresh takes on familiar favorites.โ
The trend is appearing in movements such as โanalog cooking,โ โnowstalgiaโ and โgrandmacore,โ where younger consumers are embracing traditional recipes and cooking techniques while adding contemporary flavors, global influences, and better-for-you twists.
Side Delights recipes bring those influences to familiar favorites, includingย Spanish Potato Frittataย andSlimmed-Down Scalloped Potatoes.
Interest in hands-on cooking is also renewing enthusiasm for traditional cookware such as cast-iron skillets and Dutch ovens.ย Side Delightsย bagged, convenience, and petite potatoes work across these preparation methods, fromย Easy Potato Breakfast Skilletย to simply preparedย Dutch oven bakedย andย Dutch oven petite potatoes.
For retailers, the opportunity extends beyond the traditional potato side dish. Side Delights varieties, pack sizes, and convenience options can connect the potato category to some of todayโs strongest consumer motivationsโcomfort, value, cooking inspiration, and nostalgiaโwhile introducing a new generation of shoppers to fresh potatoes.
