Page 44 - February2019

Esteve, produce director for Robert Fresh Market, a six-store chain headquartered in New Orleans.
ere was a large in ux of o erings for microwaveable trays in the fourth quarter of 2018, with avor innovations contributing to a 20-percent dollar growth versus a year ago, according to RPE’s Wysocki. “Sales of our best-selling micro tray, bite-size potato and sweet potato lines more than doubled in the latest 52 weeks. is is because of the extensive innovation we did with matching traditional and trending avors, such as Loaded Potato and Korean BBQ, to the right potato types and then creating optimal spice blends to create the best consumer sensory experience.”
is theme of world avors paired with speci c types of potatoes is echoed in several new product debuts over the past year. For example, Friesland, WI-based Alsum Farms & Produce’s Fast & Fresh! Microwave-Ready potatoes include red creamers prepackaged in a steam tray paired with Parmesan cheese and garlic seasonings and an olive oil packet.
New avors in Fresh Solutions Network’s Side Delight Flavorables line of 1-pound, microwavable-packed potatoes include Sea Salt & Pepper with Parsley Seasoning and
“Produce executives need to remember the importance the category drivers play and that value-added options should be
an incremental purchase to help drive greater category growth. Being able to properly merchandise the category to drive sales of both items is a challenge and an opportunity.”
— Ross Johnson, Idaho Potato Commission
Smokey BBQ Seasoning. Last fall, Robinson Fresh introduced its new Perfect Potatoes, which include 1-pound micro tray packed potatoes with seasonings. Two of these include red potatoes with a pesto- avored spice pack and a medley or red, yellow and purple pota- toes with a Hawaiian Red Sea Salt packet.
One of the latest value-added products is the line of Seasoned Baby Potatoes under the new Love Fresh brand, by Bala Cynwyd, PA-headquartered Love Beets USA, LLC.
“Most value-added potato items still typi- cally require some amount of cooking, but our potatoes are completely cooked, ready-to-eat and come in avors like Salt + Pepper, ai Lemongrass and Chimichurri,” says Lichty. “Our packaging is unique because of the
transparency of the container and the reseal- able top lm. Consumers have easy visibility of the item, showing them how fresh the pota- toes are. e resealable top lm also allows them to open and close the package multiple times for easy and convenient fridge storage.”
In the future, “value-added potato pack- aging will continue to evolve as new tech- nology becomes available and as transparency continues to stay front and center, especially with younger consumers,” says RPE’s Wysocki.
Beyond this, there are several ways the category will continue to develop in the future, according to e Little Potato Company’s Vann. “ ese include the ability of the product to perform for consumers at home, such as handled packaging for micro bags, size of bags,
44 / FEBRUARY 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS