Although the foodservice sector has suffered mightily during the pandemic, the growth of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables and various blends continues to rise.
Those who provide these precut and value-added items have rightly surmised that with many foodservice operators out of the equation, these same products appeal to other customers.
Gold Coast Packing, Inc., BB #:133777 in Santa Maria, CA, is a grower-shipper of fresh-cut vegetables almost exclusively for foodservice. In March 2020, as foodservice dwindled, the company saw an opportunity to provide its line of fresh-cut vegetables and blends to home cooks.
Crystal Chavez, marketing director, says, “We had been considering and working on expanding our retail offerings before the pandemic, but it then became more urgent. Our goal is to have all the new retail products and packaging tested for shelf life, complete with prep instructions, in stores October or November. For the club stores, we’ll start with 2-pound bags. Depending on what retailers want in terms of price point, we’ll consider 12- or 14-ounce bags.”
Chavez admits the process has been slow.
“Before Covid-19, a new product launch like this would take 9 to 12 months. However, there have been some delays because parts of the project that would take 90 days now take four months with people working from home.
“Additionally, the suspension of venues to show the new line, such as in-person sales calls and trade shows, has made it difficult to meet potential buyers,” Chavez explains. “This is the new normal, but people are learning to work under these circumstances.”
This is a feature from the New Product Showcase that ran in the November/December 2020 issue of Produce Blueprints Magazine. Click here to read the full article.
The Link LonkJanuary 07, 2021 at 08:08PM
https://www.producebluebook.com/2021/01/07/new-products-reaching-retail-with-fresh-cut/
New Products: Reaching retail with fresh-cut - Produce Blue Book
https://news.google.com/search?q=fresh&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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