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of cracking open the shells, and one of the reasons is because it supports mindful eating. Research shows the empty shells may serve as a visual cue to curb intake.”
As Wonderful Pistachios continue to share the bene ts of eating mindfully, Cooper explains, it is also a well-positioned alterna- tive for the increased number of fans looking for non-meat sources of protein. “Plant-based protein sources like Wonderful Pistachios provide the added bonus of ber, which meat doesn’t o er. e easy-to-eat snack solu- tion will launch with distribution in 55,000 stores nationwide, a larger debut than recent, high-pro le avored chips. Reaching for wide- spread appeal, the new avors are both inspired by recent consumer market research. Honey is the most popular avor in the snack nut cate- gory, and Hot & Spicy is the fastest growing avor in the overall salty snacks category.”
POS displays in the produce department are important, says Cooper. “We nd we have the most impact when we have multiple points of interruption in the store, both in produce and in other high tra c areas like the lobby and checkout areas. For the produce section, we have success because that’s when shoppers are thinking about health and about plant- based foods. Traditionally, nuts are found in the snack aisle, with unhealthy options like chips, but since our pistachios contain 6g plant-based protein and 3g ber per serving, they’re comple- mentary to the foods in the produce section.”
CUTTING THROUGH CLUTTER
Making the produce department easier to shop is a bene t to every product in it, a lesson that has not been lost on Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. in Terra Bella, CA.
“ e produce department can be visually ‘busy,’ so we created our displays to cut through the clutter and help retailers sell more pista- chios,” explains Joseph Setton, the company’s vice president of domestic sales. “Our shippers highlight popular callouts — California Grown, AHA Heart Check Mark, Gluten-Free and Non-GMO — to catch a shopper’s eye while occupying minimal oor space.”
Conventional wisdom holds that pack- aged pistachios sell better at retail, while bulk pistachios are generally sold out of the shell and used for foodservice in cooking, baking or snack mixes. ough it naturally varies by region, Setton says, the Setton Farms 2- and 3-pound pistachio bags are “the optimal sizes for retailers. ese o er a higher return to the retailer and greater value for the consumer.”
e company has done the work for consumers who don’t want to bother with
Setton Farms pistachio kernels come in variety of avors, such as Garlic Onion and Chili Limon.
shells. It recently introduced Seasoned Pista- chio Kernels to the market, which feature authentically seasoned, dry roasted pistachios. Consumers can choose from Salt & Pepper, Garlic Onion, Chipotle BBQ, Jalapeño and Chili Limon to satisfy their cravings.
e increasing demand for pistachios has been thanks to the growing availability and gradually lower cost due to a crop size that grows each year. While Setton says he sees pistachios sold in bulk, he says it is not the ideal way for them, or for nuts in general, to be sold. “To preserve freshness, pistachios should be stored and sold in airtight containers/packages to prevent them from getting stale or soggy.”
Education and promotions are an invalu- able way of driving sales. Pistachios are in high demand because of their health bene ts and taste. ough the pistachio harvest occurs
August through October, new trees are always being planted, and the crop o ers enough pounds to merchandize year-round.
Setton Farms works with retailers and their marketing and nutrition teams to help educate consumers on all of the health bene ts ofpistachios.“Wehaveavarietyofuniqueand nutritious pistachio-based recipes available to encourage additional sales,” he says.
Retailers also can promote kernels as baking needs or be sold as gifts. For instance, the Setton Farms Pistachio Burlap Bag is a premium packaged gift item that sells partic- ularly well during this time period.
Money-o or buy-one, get-one-free promo- tions generally work best to move pistachio SKUs through the register. In addition, Setton suggests cross-promoting them with beverages in order to maximize sales. pb
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