Instore - July 2018 - 13

specialty insights

Designed for adults, loved by kids
In March, La Farge, Wisconsin-based Organic Valley added a grab 'n go
snack line to its product roster.
Organic Valley Snack Kits from Organic Valley, the largest U.S. organic
farmers' cooperative, feature cheese, crackers and meat in one pack.
The line includes three varieties: sharp cheddar and summer sausage;
pepper jack and summer sausage; and mozzarella and roasted garlic
summer sausage.
The packs were designed with adults in mind, says Ellie France,
Organic Valley's brand manager for Meat, Snacks and Prepared Food.
"We wanted to deliver premium, organic snacking to busy adults
on-the-go," France says.
The product tested great and, in its two months on the market, has
generated lots of positive comment from that target demographic
group, France says. But Organic Valley also has received unexpected
feedback of a different kind. "We're now hearing reports about adults
purchasing these kits for their children for lunch, for snacks after
school," France says.
While Organic Valley didn't design the Snack Kits specifically for kids,
the company did make it easy for all consumers to enjoy it, France says.
"The tray is easy-open, and each compartment includes finger holes
for easy access to the meat, cheese, and crackers," she says. "No more
dumping the tray over to get all the food out."
The packs, which retail for a suggested $4.99, have 230 or fewer
calories, pack 13 or 14 grams of protein and have nearly 40 percent less
sodium than other, similar packs.
France says consumers are
telling them how happy
they are to have an organic
snack option that includes
meat, cheese and crackers.
"And the quality is especially good," she adds. "Our
summer sausage is the
best-selling organic sausage
in the U.S., and our cheeses
also regularly win awards for
flavor and quality." In addition, Organic Valley partnered with a top artisanal
cracker maker for a "really
excellent" stone-ground
organic cracker, she says.

White Plains, New York-based Sabra Dipping Co. is focused on positioning its grab 'n go hummus and guacamole products, which come
with pretzels, pita chips or tortilla chips, as convenient, better-for-you
snacking options for the whole family, says Ryan Saghir, the company's
director of digital marketing.
Sabra Snackers and Sabra Singles are two such products that have
been a hit with kids, Saghir says. "Sabra Snackers are great as a mid-day
snack that will keep you going and you don't have to feel bad about
enjoying," he says. "Sabra Singles are a convenient accompaniment to
any lunch box, for both parents and kids alike."
And there's big room for growth in the category, Saghir says -for many
consumers, hummus is still foreign territory. "Surprisingly, there's still
a lot of people in the U.S. that have not tried hummus," he says. "Once
parents see how much their kids love our hummus, it becomes a
wholesome and delicious snack that the whole family can enjoy, especially with fresh veggies and delicious pita bread."

Kids know quality
Salt Lake City-based Creminelli Fine Meats tells a story similar to the
one told by Organic Valley. Creminelli's new line of snack packs pairing
its premium meats with similarly high-end cheeses and crackers or
breadsticks (and, in one case, cherries) was picked up by Kroger this
winter and Target this spring, says Eric Schwartz-Johnson, the company's vice president of marketing.
Like Organic Valley, Creminelli didn't create the packs with kids
in mind. Also like its Wisconsin counterpart, Creminelli has been
pleasantly surprised by how much buzz they're generating among the
youngest consumers. For Schwartz-Johnson, it started with his 3-yearold twins. "Quite frequently I'd grab a tray and it would end up as the
main part of their lunch," he says.

instore * JULY 2018 * 13

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