Fresh Fruit Snacks Drive Frequency

 

Getting fresh hot French fries at a drive-thru is convenient enjoyable and a treat.  More and more consumers are looking for a treat that is “better-for-you” according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®

One of the hallmarks of the Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food grocerant niche is the addition of consumer-focused snacks and meal complements that have the ‘halo’ of ‘better-4-you.  In fact regular readers if the blog know that the ‘halo’ of ‘better-4-you’ is a Grocerant Guru® success clue.

Once again let’s look at a new survey from Del Monte Foods Inc. and see just what it revealed.

The new Del Monte Foods survey, which tracked snacking attitudes and behaviors for U.S. consumers, found that more than two-thirds of adults are reaching for fruit when they want to feel their best. They are also seeking to relive the joy of their childhood snacks, with fruit cups and fruit snacks topping the list of snacks they wish were more geared toward adults. Now let’s did a bit deeper. 

So, the findings show “a majority of general consumers regularly replace meals with snacks, with parents especially likely to "snackstitute." Additionally, while taste, nutritional content and convenience top the list of what people are looking for in snacks, fruit, in particular, is a key component of what snackers are missing.

·         As the act of "joy snacking" has gained popularity in recent months, fueling up with fruit is one of the best pick-me-ups. More than two-thirds of adults reach for fruit-based snacks when they want to feel their best — which is significantly higher than any other snack options.

·         Adults are missing their favorite childhood snacks like fruit cups, and parents intentionally seek out snacks that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. More than a quarter of adults, and almost half of parents, wish fruit cups were more geared toward adults.

·         Nearly all adults crave more refreshing snacks in the summer.

·         Parents are especially in need of snacks on-the-go, both for their kids and themselves. More than three-quarters of adults (85 percent parents vs. 70 percent nonparents) say convenience and portability are qualities they consider when purchasing snacks.

·         Snacks remain a universally enjoyed, consistent activity for all, but parents are more likely to replace meals with snacks. A majority of adults regularly replace meals with snacks, with parents much more likely to do so (eight in 10 parents vs. two-thirds of nonparents).

·         Fruit is a key component of what is currently missing from snacks. Taste and nutritional content top the list of what people are looking for in snacks, with more than a quarter of adults saying snacks are lacking in fruits.

Just in case you thought that the survey was completely objective it was timed with the release of two new flavors of Del Monte's Fruit Refreshers, adult portable fruit snack cups which meet the need for nutritious, delicious and convenient snacks, and give consumers a grown-up version of the fruit cups they've been missing, according to the maker.

Del Monte Foods Brand Manager Chris Kocur, stated, "We're thrilled to learn a bit more about the snacking attitudes of our consumer base and to be able to meet their desires with our Fruit Refreshers product line," … "The new flavors, Pineapple & Mango in Prickly Pear Flavored Fruit Water and Peaches in Honeysuckle Flavored Fruit Water, provide a delicious, convenient and refreshing snack for busy parents and adults in need of a mid-afternoon pick me up, or those who are looking for a grown-up version of the fruit cups they loved as children."

Looking for success clues of your own? Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced food marketing and business development ideations. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities, technology, or a new menu product segment.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Grocerant Niche Staple Lunchables New Point of Distribution Will Drive Sales

 

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