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SEVEN NEW, FRESH SALAD KITS THAT PACK IN THE PROTEIN
Giving consumers the option of a ‘full’ meal in these packages can help drive sales. BY CAROL BAREUTHER
While too many carbohydrates or too few fats are a concern on some popular diets, it’s protein that always seems to be the good guy in the middle, whether its Keto, Paleo, Whole30, Atkins or simply a flexitarian-style of eating.
What’s more, it’s now a mix of proteins that are in demand. This includes traditional animal-based protein such as meat, poultry and cheese.
In fact, 67 percent of U.S. consumers believe ‘meat is essential to a balanced diet,’ while 51 percent say ‘a meal is not complete without meat,’ according to Technomic’s Menu Monitor, in February 2018.
At the same time, plant-based proteins such as grains, nuts and seeds are getting more respect.
A 2018 report by New York-based food consultants Baum and Whiteman revealed more than 30 percent of Americans have meat-free days, and about 83 percent are adding more plant-based foods to their diets. Toss this protein-trend together with the popularity of prepackaged salads — the No. 1 selling vegetable SKU at retail in 2018, according to FreshFacts on Retail, Year in Review, by the Washington, DC-head- quartered United Fresh Produce Association — and this serves up several potential best- selling products for the produce department. Below are seven items, listed alphabetically by company.
1.DOLE FOOD COMPANY
DOLE Bountiful Kit
Westlake Village, CA
This new four-item line of packaged salad
kits (8.4 to-10 ounces) combines lettuces, vege- tables, grains, seeds and other ingredients into an all-fresh salad experience typically reserved for restaurants and deli counters. Varieties include: Sweet Thai (iceberg, green leaf and
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