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Consumers Find More
Reasons To Enjoy
Prepared Guacamole
Retailers seeing ‘green’ after big spike in interest. BY CHUCK GREEN
With prepared meals hitting the right note with more consumers, industry experts report a growing number of grocery produce departments are stocking up on items such as prepared guacamole.
“Providing prepared guacamole or prepared salad is a good way for produce departments to participate in this trend,” says Samantha McCaul, marketing manager at Concord Foods, LLC, in Brockton, MA. Guacamole is one of the fastest-growing snack and party items in the United States, and by offering prepared guacamole — or
30 / APRIL 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
guacamole mixes — in produce, stores are providing consumers with fast, simple and delicious meal solutions, she says.
“We’re seeing tremendous growth now in the produce department, as well in the deli, dairy and other departments,” observes Ron Araiza, vice president, Calavo Foods Division in Santa Paula, CA.
Guacamole sales reached $525 million — following a 13 percent increase in the past year — and sales have nearly doubled in the past five years, according to the Total Food View report published by Chicago-based Nielsen.
Year-over-year growth rates in sales have been around 20 percent annually for the past