Not
just for Kids meals or Kids snacks Lunchables has expanded its top-of-mind
presence adding fresh fruit edifying its customer focused halo of
‘better-4-you’ in the mind of consumer both young and old. According to Steven
Johnson Grocerant
Guru®
at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® with the addition of fresh fruit
Lunchables are fast becoming a staple grocerant niche meal, snack, or treat
that can be taken to the office, on a road trip, or at home providing a simple
fresh fast meal replacement or solution.
Gen
Z and Millennials and their parents have adopted and drove the success of Lunchables.
Thirty-four years after debuting in deli cases, Lunchables are expanding their
visibility and adding customer relevance over to the produce department for the
first time.
Kraft
Heinz the
brand parent of Lunchables has partnered with Fresh Del Monte Produce on an initial product
rollout that features pineapple, clementines, grapes and apples with the deli
meat, crackers and cheese assortment Lunchables are known for, the companies
announced Tuesday.
So,
the product placement launch, is timed to coincide with back-to-school season,
comes after the food producers noted a 500% increase in social media searches
for “Lunchables with fruits and vegetables” in the past year, they noted.
Check
out the new Lunchables line that consists of Ham & Cheddar Cracker Stackers
with Fresh Apples, Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers with Fresh Grapes, Ham
& Cheddar Cracker Stackers with Fresh Pineapple and Turkey & Cheddar
Cracker Stackers with Fresh Clementines.
They
will initially be available in the produce section of select grocery retailers
in the south-central U.S., the companies said.
Good
companies work at getting better, Kraft Heinz said it has been working to improve
the nutrition profile of its Lunchables line. Earlier this year, the food
manufacturer announced two new products that meet National School Lunch Program
guidelines, complementing its recent focus on reducing sodium, sugar and
saturated fat in its products. The crackers contained in the packages now
include less salt and oil, the company said.
Fresh Del Monte VP of Marketing Melissa
Mackay, stated, “We see the partnership to introduce this evolution of
Lunchables as a true game changer for children’s nutrition,”…. “By bringing
together the freshness and quality that Fresh Del Monte fruits are known for
with the convenience and fun of Lunchables, we have a real opportunity to
change kids’ perspective around fruits, ideally helping to make fruit
consumption second nature to younger generations.”
A
Grocerant niche staple ever since their national launch in 1989, Lunchables’
compartment-based product line has expanded to include a variety of
protein-and-carbohydrate combinations, including Chicken Dunks (breaded
white-meat chicken with a juice pouch and candy), a build-your-own Turkey and
Cheddar Sub Sandwich (with water, drink mix powder, chips and chocolates), and
Extra Cheesy Pizza (shredded cheese blend, whole-grain crusts and pizza sauce).
The
combinations are peppered with products from other CPG brands, including Capri
Sun, and Kraft Heinz brands, such as Oscar Mayer.
Naor
Danieli, director of marketing for Lunchables, stated, “At Kraft
Heinz,
we are transforming through innovation by making bigger bets to fuel growth and
create new products for our fans,”… “Lunchables with Fresh Fruit is a ripe
example of how we are quickly moving to introduce new offerings rooted in real
consumer needs. Teaming up with Fresh
Del Monte
helps accelerate the innovation our brand strives for, lending its expertise in
fresh produce to expand the delicious, buildable and real food experience we
provide for kids.”
Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food
marketing ideas look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning
how our Grocerant Guru® can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform
for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation,
and individualization? Email us
at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit: us on our social media sites by
clicking one of the following links: Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter
