NEW YORK — Materne North America’s GoGo squeeZ brand, the first squeezable, re-sealable, 100 percent fruit applesauce, can now add another first to its credit. Materne has begun domestic production for the first time through a partnership with Cherry Growers, Inc. fruit processor in Michigan, which will provide more than 120 jobs to residents in the surrounding Traverse City area. This new operation comes during a time when job creation is a vital need in the United States – particularly in the state of Michigan, which currently has the highest unemployment rate in America at 9.6%1.
“This new U.S. operation at Cherry Growers, Inc. is just the beginning of building a locally sustainable business for Materne North America”
.Headquartered in France, Materne is a leader in healthy fruit snacks. The popularity of the GoGo squeeZ brand in the U.S. inspired Materne to commit to expanding beyond France to international markets with the goal of offering locally produced products to consumers. This commitment to bringing nutritious and all natural snacks to kids around the world led to the partnership with Cherry Growers, Inc., a food producer based in Michigan where all of the apples used to produce GoGo squeeZ at the operation are sourced domestically with the majority coming from the Traverse City area.
GoGo squeeZ launched in the U.S. in June 2008 to offer American families the opportunity to enjoy a convenient no-spoon, no-mess, all natural, squeezable applesauce. GoGo squeeZ was originally founded in France where it is known as Pom’Potes. Since the brand’s U.S. expansion in 1998, Materne has sold more than 1.9 billion pouches to families around the world.
“This new U.S. operation at Cherry Growers, Inc. is just the beginning of building a locally sustainable business for Materne North America,” says North American Managing Director, Meena Mansharamani. She added, “Materne is completely committed to job creation and offering healthy snack solutions for busy families to foster a playful way for kids to be a little healthier each day.”
Each pouch of GoGo squeeZ provides three-fourths of a serving of fruit, and is gluten-free, dairy-free, and made with no refined sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives. Available in five flavors, AppleApple, AppleBanana, ApplePeach, AppleStrawberry and AppleCinnamon, GoGo squeeZ is available at major retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Target, Costco, Meijer, Whole Foods, for a suggested retail price of $2.49 per four-pack. GoGo squeeZ is also partners with upcycling and recycling pioneer TerraCycle®, Inc. – a global company that collects post-consumer waste and turns it into community playgrounds, affordable eco-friendly products, and much more – which creates a way for families to recycle used GoGo squeeZ pouches. Materne North America is headquartered out of New York City.
About Materne’s GoGo squeeZ
GoGo squeeZ all natural squeezable applesauce is simple, yummy fun, and it delights like a game of tag or a run through the sprinkler in the backyard. We believe in real fun foods that are easy, smart and fit into moms’ busy lives, giving them the freedom to say “yes” more often when their kids want a treat.
Since 1998, billions of Materne’s innovative pouches have been sold to families around the world to enjoy for breakfast, in lunchboxes, on the run, during errands, at games and always with a smile. It’s a happier way to get just a little bit healthier every day.
GoGo squeeZ is sold at Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart, Target, Publix and a growing list of other major retailers, and was recently featured on "Good Morning America", CHOW.com, and in Parents magazine as a top healthy snack for children.
For more information, please visit: www.gogosqueez.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
About TerraCycle
TerraCycle, Inc. is an international upcycling and recycling company that takes difficult-to-recycle packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products. Founded in 2001, TerraCycle is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with more than 30 major brands in the U.S. (and in a growing number of other countries) to collect used packaging and products (Lay’s chip bags, Skittle wrappers, Capri Sun pouches, Colgate toothbrushes, etc.) that would otherwise end up in the landfill. It repurposes that waste into new innovative materials and products that are available online and through major retailers. The waste is collected through TerraCycle’s Brigade Programs, which are free fundraisers that award two points for every piece of waste collected and returned. For more information on how to join a TerraCycle Brigade and on purchasing TerraCycle products please visit www.terracycle.net.
Source: Materne North America
