Instore - July 2018 - 12

specialty insights

CONSIDER

Marketing to kids

Sabra Dipping Co.'s
hummus and guacamole
grab 'n go options are
a perfect fit for kids,
and the company says
there's room for huge
category growth.

hether it's meal deals, grab ' n go dips or protein with a carbohydrate, ready-to-eat pizza or snack packs, there's a plethora
of instore products loved by kids -even if they're not a part
of the target demographic.
One of Asheville, North Carolina-based natural foods retail chain Earth
Fare's core beliefs is that healthy foods should be available to everyone,
everywhere, says Paul Cassara, the company's director of prepared
foods and foodservice.
That "everyone," he says, includes kids -kids of all backgrounds. "In
our Ready To Go section, families will find a variety of kids' meals for
just $3 every day," Cassara says. "The two most popular options are the
chicken nugget meal and the turkey cheese roll-up."

"These meals are a delicious, healthy, affordable alternative to the
drive-thru that parents can feel good about feeding their children,"
Cassara says.
Other kid-friendly options in the prepared foods section of Earth Fare
include the chain's famous pizza, Cassara says. "Our pizza is definitely a
favorite among our younger shoppers," he says. And at $5 for two huge
12 * JULY 2018 * instore

Earth Fare also recently launched its Snackable program, which is
designed to provide healthy breakfast, lunch and after-school snack
options for both kids and adults. These mini-meals consist of a handful
of healthy items that pack a big punch when it comes to satisfying
hunger, Cassara says. "The most popular of these is our Protein
Snackable, which contains healthy trail mix, a cage-free hardboiled egg,
cubed RBGH-free cheese, and antibiotic-free and no-added-hormone
grilled chicken."
For an on-the-go healthy breakfast option, Cassara says the Snackable
with grapes, a cage-free hardboiled egg, organic yogurt and granola is a
customer favorite.
For a company built on the idea that eating healthy, clean, nourishing
foods directly and positively impacts people's health and can help
them lead longer, healthier, happier lives, making a point to reach
the youngest consumers is a no-brainer, Cassara says. Earth Fare
customers can look forward to many more new kid-friendly products.
"We believe that helping kids see that their favorite foods can also be
good for them can set them on a path of lifelong healthy eating, which
is incredibly motivating for us," he says. "We recently launched a great
signature mac and cheese that was tested and kid-approved. We'll look
to expand on this and bring an innovative new meal line to market
very soon."

SABRA, ORGANIC VALLEY, CREMINELLI

All kids' meals at Earth Fare come with a side of hummus and organic
baby carrots and fresh red grapes. And like all foods sold at the chain,
the kids' meals adhere to Earth Fare's rigorous Food Philosophy, which
ensures that all foods are free of antibiotics; added hormones; bleached
or bromated flour; high fructose corn syrup; and artificial fats and
trans-fats, sweeteners, preservatives, colors, and flavors.

slices cut from an 18 in pie, it's an affordable option for families with
hungry kids. "Some of our shoppers have even made a tradition out of
taking their kids to get a slice of pizza at Earth Fare."

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