The United States Potato Board (USPB) increases demand for US frozen potato products in Mexico by reaching both trade and consumers. Trade is targeted through restaurant chain training and tailored seminars held in conjunction with the importer/distributors. Consumers are reached through restaurant and retail promotions, while both sectors benefit from the positive potato profile information distributed through the USPB public relations program. In August alone, USPB engineers conducted 49 restaurant chain training sessions in Mexico City and Monterrey for quick service, family dining and pub style restaurants. Ten tailored seminars were also held in Mexico City, Toluca and Monterrey for the El Arrabal, Piccolo Mondo and Papalote restaurant chains. Piccolo Mondo is a chain just starting to serve US frozen potatoes.
Retail promotions and tasting were conducted with Wal-Mart, Bodega Aurrera and HEB supermarkets. A total of 84 sampling days was achieved with these three retailers at their stores in northern Mexico.
