Los Alamitos, CA (October 2019) – The holidays are right around the corner and soon shoppers will be thinking about what to serve their holiday guests.

With the growth of plant-based eating, many of today’s shoppers are looking for more meatless main dishes to include on their holiday table. One-third of Americans consider themselves to be “flexitarians”—someone who fluctuates between enjoying a plant-based and a meat-based diet1. In fact, 60% of people are more likely to include at least one plant-based main dish on their holiday table than in the past2. This means shoppers will be stocking up on a variety of fruits and vegetables for the center of the plate this year, so be sure to offer options that will delight their senses.

“As more shoppers are looking for meatless main dish alternatives, it’s important for retailers to make plant-based foods a focus in their stores,” says Alex Berkley, director of sales for Frieda’s. “Frieda’s Colored Cauliflower is a great option for holiday main dishes such as whole roasted colored cauliflower with salsa verde. Cauliflower continues to explode in popularity, and adding colored cauliflower to your produce set will keep you on trend with consumers,” Berkley says. Just as versatile as white cauliflower, colored cauliflower—which comes in purple, orange and green—will add a colorful splash to the holiday table.

Veggie-based mains are perfect for “Friendsgiving” celebrations that continue to grow in popularity – particularly among millennials who are looking to try something new and “show off” their skills with innovative dishes. This gathering among friends means the Thanksgiving holiday has transformed into multiple meals. Sixty-five percent of people plan to attend multiple holiday celebrations,3 so shoppers will have more opportunities to buy and cook and will seek out veg variety when they shop.

Add signage and recipe cards to round out a full-scale display of plant-based main dish ideas in your produce department—it’s a sure way to inspire shoppers.

Contact your Frieda’s sales manager for more ways to maximize your plant-based opportunities in stores this holiday season!

  1. Gervis, Zoya. “One Third of Americans Consider Themselves ‘Flexitarian’.” New York Post, 26 Oct. 2018, https://nypost.com/2018/10/26/one-third-of-americans-consider-themselves-flexitarian/.
  2. C+R research, 2019
  3. Wakefield research, Sept. 2018

 

About Frieda’s Inc.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.

Los Alamitos, CA (October 2019) – PMA Fresh Summit 2019 is here, which means making connections, spotting innovation and having fun. But it can also mean the onset of hangovers, headaches and foot blisters. While you’re out walking the convention floor, look for your friends in purple. Frieda’s team will be in and around the convention center at the ready with aids to help you “survive” the nation’s largest produce convention.

“Part of our culture is going above and beyond, and we want to bring that to PMA with us this year,” says Alex Berkley, Frieda’s director of sales. For years we have been saying, “What if we can equip our clients with a trade show survival kit, to help them get the most out of the show?”

Well this year, it’s happening! Frieda’s on-site teams will be armed to address survival needs for PMA attendees. Have a headache from that extra cocktail last night? Got some heartburn from the guacamole you just sampled? Is a blister from those new shoes holding you back? Just look for the folks in purple. “It will be easy to spot our teams,” Berkley says. “We’ll be the ones in purple shirts that say ‘Got your back’ because Frieda’s always has your back.” We’ll see you at the show.

 

About Frieda’s Inc.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.

Los Alamitos, CA (October 2019) – Across the store, shoppers are looking for ways to add more festive cheer into their everyday items during the holiday season—from peppermint-flavored drinks to snowman-themed tissue boxes. It’s time for the produce department to join in on the festive fun!

For the first time, Frieda’s is offering a collection of limited-time offer (LTO) holiday alliums, including pearl onions, cipolline onions and a special edition of 6-ounce shallots, all featuring festive labels and packaging in easy-to-open clamshells that showcase the product. The holiday labels are decked out with red and gold ornaments that are sure to grab your shoppers’ attention and drive Q4 sales for your store.

Research shows that shoppers are more willing than ever to spend additional money on the best ingredients. In fact, 69% of shoppers agree that it is worth splurging on better ingredients during the holidays1, according to research done in partnership with C+R in 2019. Surveys reveal that 63% of consumers say they are likely to trade up to shallots and 48% of consumers are likely to trade up to cipollines1 from traditional onions.

Use Frieda’s eye-catching LTO holiday packaging to sway shoppers to switch!

“We know that the fourth quarter is a great time to inspire shoppers and make the most of the holidays,” says Cindy Sherman, director of marketing and innovation at Frieda’s. “Consumers are more likely to leave these décor-worthy items out on their countertops, leading them to use these up faster and come back to your store to repurchase.”

Call your account manager today for helping making your produce department a holiday destination!

 

About Frieda’s Inc.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.

Los Alamitos, CA (September 2019) – Today’s shopper craves more plant-based meals than ever before (hello meatless Monday!). Be sure your produce section has everything your shoppers need to make produce the center of the plate this October 1—World Vegetarian Day.

Consumers want options, like meatless main dishes. In fact, a third of Americans consider themselves to be “flexitarians”—someone who fluctuates between enjoying a plant-based and a nonplant-based diet1.

“Shoppers are becoming more aware of their health and the positive impacts of having a more plant-centric diet,” says Karen Caplan, CEO of Frieda’s. “I have been vegan for about 9 months now and have experienced more energy, lower cholesterol and a lower overall body mass index (BMI). One of my favorite guilty pleasures is using Frieda’s jackfruit as a meat substitute for an amazing meatless stew, which is perfect for fall!”

Jackfruit, a.k.a. the world’s largest tree fruit, is a staple in plant-based cooking because of its ability to absorb flavor when cooked. Plus, it shreds like pulled pork! Shoppers also love Frieda’s Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, a complete plant-based meal option that works well in curries, power bowls and vegetarian enchiladas!

Add signage to round out a full-scale display of plant-based meal ideas in your produce department—it’s a sure way to inspire shoppers. Visit www.www.friedas.com/recipes for ideas on ways to celebrate World Vegetarian Day and beyond!

  1. Gervis, Zoya. “One Third of Americans Consider Themselves ‘Flexitarian’.” New York Post, 26 Oct. 2018, https://nypost.com/2018/10/26/one-third-of-americans-consider-themselves-flexitarian/.

 

About Frieda’s Inc.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.