Instore - November 2018 - 12

merchandising

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Craft meats

Protein snacks are hot, as are all things artisan. That's very good news
for producers of craft meats sold in grocery instore delis.

"We're certainly seeing the industry move away from nitrates, and
with cooked meats, it's always a challenge," he says.

But suppliers aren't resting on their laurels. A host of new craft products that tap into snacking, health, convenience and other trends
show that the category is constantly evolving to meet its customers'
ever-changing needs.

In addition to being nitrate-free and sliced, Rufolo says the new
Porchetta product will differentiate itself by the fact that it's not
cooked sous vide and it's flavored with Tuscan spices that will be
unfamiliar to many U.S. palates.

Among the new deli craft meat offerings from Elizabeth, New Jerseybased Atalanta is a sliced, cooked Porchetta from the Tuscany region
of Italy, says Emil Rufolo, business development manager.

"Snacks of the past, like unhealthy

The marinated and roasted product is a way for Atalanta to extend
an already-successful product line, Rufolo says. "We've had a lot of
success in bulk cooked Porchetta, so we're excited to introduce a
sliced version. More retailers are seeing growth in pre-sliced."
Rufolo says there's a lot of competition for bulk craft deli meats in the
U.S. Offering sliced versions of those same products can help stores
stand out. The new Porchetta product isn't the first sliced craft meat
for Atalanta, he says, and it certainly won't be the last. "Pre-sliced has
been heavy for us for the past six months. Stores are allocating more
space for it."
Costco stores nationwide will soon add the new sliced Porchetta into
their deli rotations, Rufolo says. It's the first sliced, cooked Porchetta
on the market in the U.S., he says. Atalanta has been offering the
product in bulk for about a year.
Demand for cooked craft meats in general is growing, Rufolo
says, as is demand for nitrate-free meats. Atalanta's
new sliced Porchetta, sourced from Tuscany-based
Salumificio Toscano Piacenti (Atalanta has the
exclusive U.S. rights), checks both of those boxes,
which isn't easy to do, Rufolo says.

candy, are declining. People are
looking for healthier snacks, and
the meat category is now being
perceived as healthy."
Emil Rufolo, Atalanta

A new line of uncured deli meats from Battistoni Italian Specialty
Meats has gained huge momentum since its introduction in late 2017,
says Krista VanDusen, regional sales manager for Buffalo, New Yorkbased Battistoni.
"We're quite pleased with the reception we've gotten - on social
media, in emails from customers and from buyers," VanDusen says.
"It's all showing very good inroads made by uncured meats."
Battistoni's artisan-quality uncured meat line includes
both salami and pepperoni products. Both come in halfstick and sliced versions, VanDusen says.

Millennials, with their foodie
tendencies, are driving
big growth for craft
meats from Atalanta,
Columbus Craft Meats
and other suppliers.
12 * NOVEMBER 2018 * instore

ATALANTA, COLUMBUS CRAFT MEATS, OLLI

When the company decided to take on uncured, one
challenge it faced was the fact that while many companies have rolled out uncured lines, VanDusen says,
they haven't been able to make them taste very good.
Some were made by mainstream processors who use
extenders and fillers.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Instore - November 2018