Small potatoes bigger than ever

Small potatoes are bigger than ever!

Nielsen FreshFacts reports that Petite potatoes posted double-digit growth: for the 52 weeks ending 6/28/15 versus the year-ago period, Petite potato dollar sales are ahead +10.8% and volume sales are up +10.7%.

Petite Potatoes now account for 11.1% of fresh potato category dollars at retail.

Side Delights Gourmet Petites have been a standout in this red-hot segment since the moment they were first introduced, earning the coveted PMA Impact Award for Excellence in Packaging in 2014 on their way to racking up record sales.

In response to growing consumer demand and widespread retailer requests, the Side Delights Gourmet Petites line is growing as well! Two exciting new offerings, Sweet Fingerlings and Choice Russets, will expand this powerhouse lineup to eight delicious options. Sweet Fingerlings are scrumptious baby sweet potatoes with moist orange flesh and thin, tender skin that eliminates the need to peel. Choice Russet petite potatoes have a classic, delicate potato flavor with a firm texture and thin brown skin that brings a rustic elegance to any meal, also without the need to peel.

Side Delights Gourmet Petites will continue to be available in their award-winning 1.5lb stand-up pouch bags with re-sealable zippers, but shoppers will now have four new packaging options to pick from! All eight varieties of Gourmet Petites will also be available packed in lay-down mesh pillow packs in both 1.5lb and 3lb sizes, as well as in mesh bags with sophisticated “wine labels”, also in 1.5lb and 3lb sizes. This unprecedented array of varieties and packaging choices allows retailers to stock the Side Delight Gourmet Petite items that best align with their store’s merchandising needs as well as create the greatest interest with their shoppers.

“But we didn’t stop there!” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “From research done by the United States Potato Board, we know that Petite potatoes have a higher incidence of unplanned purchases than any other form of potato. So we created a powerful merchandising tool for our Gourmet Petites line that our retail customers can use in driving incremental potato sales.”

The eye-catching new shipper display holds 18 packages of Side Delights Gourmet Petites, yet needs only 3.3 square feet of selling space to generate hundreds of dollars in fresh potato sales. The merchandiser is made with UV-coated, high-end Kemi-Lite board for durability, water resistance and stability, and is shipped pre-packed with two dozen Gourmet Petite packages in any assortment of varieties that the retailer chooses. Given the soaring interest in Petite potatoes and the compact nature of the Gourmet Petite shipper, retailers can easily merchandise the unit in high-traffic locations like the service deli, fresh meat case or dairy aisle to attract shopper attention, provide a meal solution and drive added profits.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our expanded lineup of varieties, package options and merchandising support” exclaimed Triou. “Side Delights Gourmet Petite potatoes have been an astounding sales success since day one, but now we can really bring a full arsenal of business-building offerings to our retail customers. We’ve got the most product options in the fastest-growing segment of the fresh potato category of any fresh potato shipper, so we’re ready for a real rocket ride!”

The new varieties and packages of Side Delights Gourmet Petites are ready to ship now. Retailers should contact their Fresh Solutions Network Partner for more information or to place an order.