MountainKing Potatoes Promotes Outdoor Grilling Experiences

Texas-based MountainKing Potatoes has launched its 2015 summer merchandising program aimed at encouraging retailers to create eye-catching displays capturing the experience of summer grilling featuring the company’s Steakhouse Roasters.

MountainKing’s American Roaster Grilling Sale, available through Labor Day, includes high-graphic header cards and exclusive recipes from Houston’s finest chefs. Retailers also will receive sales starter kits and allowances for display sleeve merchandising to promote backyard grilling experiences with MountainKing’s Steakhouse Roasters, a fresh alternative to saturated, fat-ridden frozen French Fries.

The Steakhouse Roasters are packaged in 1.5-pound bags with a suggested retail price of $1.99. Each package includes at least two varieties of the slender, tubular-shaped potato.

“Our new displays engage today’s consumer who shops with a mindset of a cooking experience,” notes John Pope, MountainKing’s vice president sales & marketing. “We’re looking to own the backyard grilling experience when it comes to fresh produce.”

The specialty Steakhouse Roasters are particularly popular with health-conscious consumers looking to re-create a dish popular in high-end steakhouses. Research shows consumers age 20 - 40 are twice as likely to have the Steakhouse Roasters on hand than any other demographic group. The flavor-filled variety offers an ease of preparation with no peeling that cooks up right on the grill when foil bundled. Roasters are ready to eat in minutes once a steak, chop, chicken or burger has been grilled to perfection.

In addition to driving incremental potato sales, MountainKing Steakhouse Roasters generate more than $50,000 in incremental sales per load, according to Pope.

MountainKing’s American Roaster Grilling Sale follows the company’s successful strategy for embracing another popular cooking experience – springtime crawfish boils – to merchandise its Red Potatoes.

“The sales figures were off the charts,” adds Pope. “We see the same possibility with outdoor grilling experiences.”

As part of their participation in MountainKing’s American Roaster Grilling Sale, retailers can send photos of their merchandising display for the chance to win a personalized grilling kit. All entries will receive an official “King of the Grill” t-shirt. Entries must be submitted to atrettin@mtnking.com by August 31, 2015.

MountainKing Potatoes is one of the world’s largest growers of high-flavor potato varieties. Currently, about one million U.S. households enjoy MountainKing products every week.

For other great-tasting summer recipes, cooking demonstration videos and more, go to www.MountainKing.com. Also, “like” MountainKing Potatoes at www.Facebook.com/MountainKing-Potatoes and “follow” on Twitter @MKPotatoes.