Fresh Trio Offers Savings

Mann Packing is offering retailers three new budget-friendly items to capitalize on fresh seasonal produce sales. Mann’s Sunny Shores new Dip Combo platter features two of America’s most popular dips, Home-style Ranch and Creamy Dill, with Mann’s fresh-cut vegetable assortment.

Salinas, Calif.-based Mann added the new combo dip platter as part of its strategy to meet customer demand for items beyond traditional veggie/dip trays, explained Lorri Koster, the company’s VP marketing. “Sales of fresh veggie platters are steady, but not growing like they used to. We are responding by adding new twists to traditional favorites,” she said, noting that the new dip combo tray features two, 3.5-ounce tubs (one filled with ranch, the other with dill) vs. the traditional tub of ranch.

In the fresh-cut vegetable category, Mann is also launching two items: Lo Mein Stir Fry and diced butternut squash in 12-ounce and 20-ounce packages. “The Lo Mein Stir Fry is a classic we are bringing back to the marketplace by customer request,” said Koster, explaining that it was first introduced in 1999. “It promotes broccoli coleslaw as a cooking item, which is a huge opportunity to encourage trial and bring new users into the category,” she continued, noting: “We took an approach to the packaging to keep the retail low, and broccoli coleslaw is also affordable so [it] provides the base for a healthy meal at a low cost.”

Butternut squash is another top-selling item in the specialty niche vegetable category. “We’ve had our eye on butternut squash for some time,” observed Koster. “It’s on trend, on the menu and growing in sales. It’s the perfect complement to our fresh-cut sweet potatoes and keeps our focus on cooking vegetable items. The larger 20-ounce package is ideal to promote during peak holiday cooking occasions.”

For more information about Mann’s product line and promotional opportunities, visit www.veggiesmadeeasy.com.