WENATCHEE, Wash. – As hot summer temperatures drop into to more tolerant conditions around the country, retailers can expect their pear category to heat up significantly this fall with a larger pear crop coming off the tree in a range of sizes. Stemilt Growers is encouraging retailers to boost their pear category now by using branded products, like Lil Snappers® kid size fruit, to increase sales and rate of pear consumption.
“Harvest is underway on the 2018-19 pear crop and the new season is already presenting itself with great promotion opportunities,” states Brianna Shales, communications manager at Stemilt. “Pear volumes are up significantly over last year’s crop, with a great range of sizing to fuel both bulk and bag promotions. Retailers who carry Lil Snappers® pears can boost category performance by selling more volume and marketing intent to a key shopper group in their stores.”
Stemilt’s Lil Snappers® kid-size fruit program has grown tremendously since its launch in 2011 and continues to do so with its wide variety of pears available today. Available in an organic 2lb. and conventional 3lb. pouch bag, retailers can currently promote conventional or organic Lil Snappers® pears in both the Bartlett and Starkrimson varieties. D’Anjou and Bosc will come into the mix following harvest this month.
“These popular summer varieties are eating exceptional this year, and Lil Snappers® focus on kids can help retailers promote healthy kids snacks throughout the school year,” said Shales.
Shales also suggests that carrying pouch bags in store will help boost impulse purchases and purchase size by selling more volume. The average pear consumer purchases less than 3lbs in bulk during a store visit, making the 3lb. pouch bag larger than the average bulk purchase size. The Lil Snappers® brand is also nationally recognized and supported by various public relation efforts, including influencers, bloggers and targeted social media ads.
“Tapping into the power of influencers and bloggers in key markets is extremely beneficial for the brand,” says Shales. “Those influencers reach parents via authentic, word-of-mouth recommendations, helping us create brand awareness around Lil Snappers® and giving parents another healthy snack option for their kids.”
Lil Snappers® kid-size pears aim to please the parent consumer thanks to their convenient packaging and resealable press-to-close bag. They have the capability to stand up on their own in the refrigerator and designed to catch the eye of the consumer – no matter how young or old. The bright colors, playful characters and wide variety of flavors encourage consumers to grab a pear for a healthy treat.
Lil Snappers® bags come packed in Lil Snappers® DRCs, making display building instant and effective for retailers. Shales suggests that retailers should place these easy-to-make displays in high traffic areas to encourage impulse purchases and increase brand recognition in store. Retailers also have the option to use Stemilt’s display bin or lane table, both of which create a high graphic, visually stimulating display within the product department.
“Lil Snappers® pears are the perfect item to carry this fall,” states Shales. “The retailer will push volumes and increase pear sales, while parent consumers can offer another healthy snack option for their kids. How can you go wrong with that?”
For more information about Lil Snappers® kid-size pears or how to boost your pear category this fall, contact your Stemilt Representative today.
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About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and one of the nation’s largest suppliers of organic tree fruits. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program. For more information about Stemilt, visit www.stemilt.com and follow Stemilt on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and You Tube.
Source: Stemilt Growers
