Karen White Discusses Catching Back-to-School Demand with Bolthouse Fresh™ Baby Carrots and Carrot Shakers™

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Back-to-school may feel early to talk about, but for retailers, the time to plan is now—especially as parents look for fresh alternatives to chips and candy. Bolthouse Fresh™ is stepping in with a dynamic duo built for the season: classic baby carrots and bold, flavor-packed Carrot Shakers™. Together, they deliver the perfect blend of nutritious staples and exciting, kid-friendly innovation.

“Baby carrots maintain core volume, while Carrot Shakers™ add variety, encourage trade-up, and create opportunities for secondary placement. From the retail perspective, this duo allows for both routine purchase and basket-building innovation,” the brand’s Vice President of Marketing, Karen White, explained. “Together, they help retailers meet evolving shopper demands, support their goals for convenience and incremental growth, and reinforce produce as a dynamic, snackable destination.”

Carrot Shakers, a small bag of baby carrots with a seasoning packet built in, were created in direct response to the evolution of modern snacking habits and consumer desire—for themselves and their children—to freshen up their convenient foods.

“To help retailers maximize sales of Carrot Shakers and baby carrots during the back-to-school window, Bolthouse Fresh recommends a layered support strategy focused on driving visibility, trial, and repeat purchase. Dedicated back-to-school displays in high-traffic areas, like grab-and-go sections or lunchbox aisles, can increase awareness and basket size by showcasing the products with complementary items, such as hummus, cheese sticks, ranch cups, and crackers. These cross-merchandising opportunities help parents envision complete snack or lunchbox solutions,” Karen shared.

Offering families the chance to try Carrot Shakers firsthand with in-store samples is another hands-on and engaging way to introduce new shoppers to a fun, fresh snack solution during one of the most high-traffic seasons of the year.

“Bolthouse Fresh is positioning both baby carrots and Carrot Shakers as must-have snack solutions for busy families during the back-to-school season,” Karen continued. “Baby carrots continue to be the lunchbox MVP. They are naturally sweet, crunchy, and perfectly portioned for kids—a trusted, no-prep staple that aligns with what parents want: simplicity, nutrition, and kid-approved. Carrot Shakers™ build on that foundation by offering bold, kid-friendly flavors like Dill Pickle, Chili Lime, and Ranch, delivered in a playful, shake-to-season format that brings fresh energy to the produce aisle.”

Together, these offerings deliver on what today’s families are looking for while giving retailers a way to drive seasonal relevance, expand snacking assortment, and grow the fresh category in a meaningful way.

Karen pointed out that over 90 percent of consumers snack at least once a day, playing out at retail via the rapid expansion of fresh snacking sets. Bolthouse’s carrot offerings bridge the gap between produce and snack, delivering incremental category growth and repeat purchase behavior.

“We see the category continue to grow, driven by demand for bold, craveable flavors typically found in packaged snacks. Carrot Shakers bring that same flavor-forward energy to the produce aisle, combining the natural crunch of fresh baby carrots with on-trend seasonings—delivered in an interactive ‘shake to season’ format that’s fun for kids and satisfying for adults,” she said.

Strategizing so Carrot Shakers and baby carrots work together to strengthen both the performance and versatility of the carrot category at retail, Bolthouse is providing a powerful combination to drive unit growth and basket expansion. A duo where each serves different but complementary shopper needs while sharing the same foundation of freshness, health, and convenience.

“Baby carrots are a produce staple and trusted household item. Carrot Shakers, on the other hand, elevate that base by tapping into snacking behavior and flavor trends—introducing something new and exciting to attract younger shoppers and re-engage loyal ones,” Karen concluded.

While it may seem impossible to plan back-to-school sets already, Bolthouse Fresh certainly has grocers’ homework ready long before the first bell.