NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Side Delights®, the brand under the Fresh Solutions Network umbrella, recently announced the launch of its newest product line, Amazables!®, which will debut at the Southeast Produce Council’s upcoming Southern Exposure.

"We invite retail and foodservice buyers to visit us at booth #424 to experience Amazables! for themselves. These quick-to-cook, convenient potatoes with delicious custom sauces by Litehouse are game changers across generations and for multiple eating occasions,” notes Kathleen Triou, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Solutions Network.

According to a press release, Amazables! is a first-of-its-kind, crispy-skin style, and microwavable U.S. No. 1 grade Russet potato available with two custom sauces. These were created in partnership with Litehouse® to maximize the taste of a Russet potato with complimentary flavors.

“The Loaded Potato sauce leverages America’s No.1 way to eat a potato (baked style), then adds all the steakhouse loaded baked potato fixings. The bacon was so good, that we added even MORE real bacon chunks to the final recipe. Shoppers will also love Buffalo Ranch sauce, which blends the heat of Buffalo sauce and the cool tang of Ranch for the perfect flavor combo. This flavor is so on point for today’s taste buds,” Triou continues.

The potatoes are wrapped in an innovative film using Krisp Film technology that actually shrinks around the potato in the microwave, crisping the potato skin and cooking in only six minutes. The packaging design was created to draw consumers’ attention at retail with its colorful, friendly appearance.

To learn more about this new launch, be sure to stop by booth #424.

NEW ZEALAND - Consumers want more fruit, but do they always remember to eat it? Zespri™ recently commissioned a survey of over 500 Singapore residents, revealing an overwhelming majority (93 percent) want to eat more fruits, but over one-third of them do not because they simply forget. How do we solve this challenge? With Zespri’s latest innovative packaging launch: The Fruit Pillbox.

“We all recognize the importance of eating fruits as part of a healthy diet, and yet our survey found that more than 50 percent of consumers in Singapore do not consume fruits every day. Inspired by Nudge Behavioural Economics, The Fruit Pillbox aims to encourage a positive change in the eating habits of consumers, making fruit consumption a seamless and enjoyable part of their daily routine,” said Ng Kok Hwee, General Manager, Global Marketing. “The initiative is aligned with our purpose to help people, communities, and the environment thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit.”

Playing off the design of pillboxes created to remind people to take their medicine and supplements daily, the new limited-edition packaging serves as a reminder to consumers to eat a kiwifruit daily.

As a press release detailed, The Fruit Pillbox features seven compartments labeled Monday through Sunday, each containing a Zespri SunGold™ kiwifruit.

Beginning tomorrow, March 2, Zespri’s limited-edition The Fruit Pillbox will be trialed at four FairPrice Finest outlets. While the packaging is offered in limited quantities, Zespri kiwifruit will be readily available in the usual punnets across all FairPrice stores.

The kiwifruit maven will conduct a follow-up survey through a QR code printed on The Fruit Pillbox. Results of the survey are set to be released at the end of this month and will be compared against the findings in the initial survey.

To read more about the launch, click here.

Keep reading ANUK for the industry’s latest.

SALINAS, CA - Taylor Farms continues to drive innovation. Its latest launch brings six easy-to-make vegetable kits to the market, all of which cook up in 20 minutes or less. Talk about a convenience factor.

"Providing consumers with delicious vegetable side dish options that are not only hassle free, but offer craveable flavor combinations, such as brown sugar carrots or cauliflower 'mac n cheese' are at the core of our new line-up,” says Charis Neves, Director of Innovation and Product Management for Taylor Farms. “We know how hectic mealtime can be, which is why we’re always looking for ways to make it just a little easier—and more delicious.”

According to a press release, these new flavors include: Cauliflower “Mac N Cheese”, French Onion Green Beans, Broccoli Caesar, Spicy Maple Brussels, Brown Sugar Carrots, and Cheesy Pesto Riced Cauliflower & Broccoli.

Each of the Taylor Farms kits have a suggested cooking preparation method and cooking time listed on the packaging such as Roast, Sauté, or Air Fry. This furthers helps consumers understand how to use the product they’re picking up, a factor that continues to drive conversion on the floor.

“We know consumers crave comfort foods, and our new recipes bring a sense of nostalgia with familiar flavors that create a restaurant experience in your home in minutes,” adds Product Manager, Chelsea Perkins.

Taylor Farms’ new vegetable kits will be available at select grocery stores in March with a nationwide expansion in May 2024.

We’ll continue to keep apace with Taylor Farms’ latest news so stick with ANUK.

SALINAS, CA - With the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) anticipated Southern Exposure experience on the horizon, it’s only right that AndNowUKnow touch base with some of the many companies soon to hit the show floor. Taylor Farms is among these industry aces, and the grower is bringing a robust portfolio of offerings into the spotlight come March 7.

“We will be highlighting our new Mini Chopped Salad Kits and some new and exciting organic Earthbound Farm items during the product showcase,” shared Micah Shea, Vice President of Sales, Taylor Farms Retail. “We love being able to connect and rub elbows with our customers in a casual environment, and SEPC provides a platform that is casual yet conducive to business.”

Attendees of the show will get an up-close look at Taylor Farms’ impressive lineup, including its core Chopped Salad Kit lineup, along with a host of other salad kits, salad blends, core veg, snacks, foodservice products, and more. The company will also have a suite of Earthbound Farm organic offerings on display.

With such an expansive and diverse lineup, the supplier’s portfolio is overflowing with options for Taylor Farms’ partners.

The supplier will also be featuring its new Vegetable Kits.

As the company continues to bolster this portfolio, Taylor Farms has set its focus on several key areas of growth. This includes exploring developments in the organics space.

Due to its ambitious social media efforts, the brand has also drawn attention to its Mini Chopped Salad Kits, receiving 6.1 million views from user-generated content on TikTok in January 2024. This unique lineup is comprised of 25 total kits, along with two seasonal varieties.

“Right now more than ever, customers are looking for solutions and innovation, and we are there for them to test out new things for shoppers to try,” Micah added.

The grower has also expanded its retail capabilities on the East Coast, bringing increased opportunities to both retail and foodservice partners.

With these newly expanded capabilities and bolstered portfolio, Taylor Farms is gearing up to make a big splash at this year’s Southern Exposure! Stop by the supplier’s booth #932, at the show to learn more

For more show coverage and exclusive insights, you know where to find us.

IMMOKALEE, FL - Acquisition news ahead! Lipman Family Farms is bolstering its production prowess with the acquisition of Northeast Produce, the company’s 12^th acquisition in the last 20 years.

"We are thrilled to welcome Northeast Produce into our Lipman family,” shared Elyse Lipman, Chief Executive Officer of Lipman Family Farms. “This acquisition represents our growth-focused strategy, allowing us to better serve our customers by providing high-quality fresh produce across an expanded geographical area."

As explained in a press release, this acquisition underscores Lipman's dedication to creating fresh produce that is accessible to all and reinforces its commitment to continuous growth and innovation.

“With the global population now over 8 billion, the demand for fresh produce will continue to grow. The best we can do as suppliers of fresh vegetables is to meet the moment, invest in services, infrastructure, and partnerships that can make produce available and safe for everyone across our network to our network,” continued Lipman. “We need to make sure that we’re growing in a way that makes produce accessible, affordable, and attainable for generations to come.”

The Northeast Produce facility in Plainville, Connecticut, will continue to operate and service customers under the Lipman umbrella, resulting in extended reach and enhanced service to the northeast United States.

“We’re honored to be working with an organization such as Lipman Family Farms,” shared Mike Melninkaitis, previous Owner of Northeast Produce. “Our companies’ cultural alignment and shared vision has us excited for the future as one team.”

Following this deal, Melninkaitis will be taking on the role of Business Development Manager for Lipman in the northeast.

Joe Ruffini, former owner of Northeast Produce, will continue to manage sales out of the Plainville facility.

“This new venture allows us to strengthen our relationships with our customers and bolsters Northeast Produce’s strong roots in quality and service,” said Ruffini.

How will Lipman Family Farms continue to expand, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a cohesive and collaborative environment? ANUK will be here to report.