| Hot Pockets | |
| Type: | Turnovers, sandwiches, ravioli, pizza, frozen food products |
| Currentowner: | Nestlé |
| Origin: | U.S. |
| Markets: | United States |
| Previousowners: | Chef America Inc. |
| Tagline: | Irresistibly Hot |
Hot Pockets is an American brand of microwaveable turnovers generally containing one or more types of cheese, meat, or vegetables. Hot Pockets was founded by Chef America Inc. Since April 20, 2002, they have been produced by Nestlé.
Hot Pockets were developed by Paul Merage and his brother David through their company Chef America Inc. Chef America invented a packaging sleeve and dough formula to keep its calzone-like sandwiches crispy when cooked in a microwave. In 1980, Chef America introduced its first stuffed sandwich, the Tastywich, the predecessor of the Hot Pocket.[1] Hot Pockets supplanted Tastywiches in 1983, first sold to restaurants because they were easier to break into than retail stores.[1] On May 22, 2002, Chef America was sold to Nestlé. Hot Pocket products were "a $2 billion category of frozen sandwiches and snacks". Breakfast-style Hot Pockets were introduced in 2001.[2]
There are 50 varieties of the traditional Hot Pocket, including breakfast, lunch and dinner varieties. Nestlé also offers Pretzel Bread Hot Pockets, Hot Pockets Croissant Crust (formerly called Croissant Pockets), Hot Pockets Breakfast items, Hot Pockets Breakfast/Snack Bites and Hot Pockets Side shots. Nestlé formerly produced Lean Pockets,[3] Hot Pie Express, Hot Pocket Pizza Minis (originally called Hot Pockets Pizza Snacks), Hot Pockets Subs, Hot Pockets Calzones, Hot Pockets Panini and Hot Pockets Breakfast fruit pastries. Hot Pockets are viewed as "an after school staple".[4] Individual Hot Pockets contain about 350 calories.[5]
Citing reduced sales, Nestlé announced in 2011 that it would cut employee numbers at its California factory. U.S. sales were about $610 million in 2010 (down $44 million from the previous year), according to Euromonitor International data.[4]
Paul Grimwood took over Nestlé SA's struggling U.S operations in 2011. In an attempt to bolster the failing brand by improving supply chain, Grimwood made the decision to drop the calzone version of Hot Pockets and the quesadillas Lean Pockets, reducing the number of doughs needed.[6] Nestlé executive Chris Johnson points to an end of extended SNAP benefits in 2013 as the cause of the fallen sales, stating SNAP benefit recipients are "a big part of the consumption of this particular product."[7]
In 2014, Nestle USA recalled 238,000 cases of its Hot Pockets because they may have contained meat from a massive recall of about 8.7e6lb of meat from "diseased and unsound" animals.[11] [12] Nestle stated that "a small quantity of meat" from the Rancho Feeding Corp was used to make Hot Pockets.[13] The USDA described the food as "unfit for humans".[11] This Rancho Feeding Corp meat recall was based out of a production facility in California,[11] but the recalled Hot Pockets were distributed nationwide.[13] The two types of Hot Pockets involved in the recall were the Philly Steak and Cheese and the Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese.[11] A full federal inspection was not performed,[13] and there were no illnesses reported in connection to this recall.[12] Customers who bought the recalled products were refunded by contacting Nestle Consumer Service.[13]
In January 2021, some batches of Hot Pockets produced during November 13–16, 2020, were found to contain pieces of glass or hard plastic, posing a choking and laceration risk. The USDA issued a Class I recall, because "use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death." Affected products include Premium Pepperoni Made With Pork, and Chicken & Beef Pizza with a Garlic Buttery Crust.[14] [15] [16]