LOS ALAMITOS, CA – When it comes to holiday cooking, it is important to remind consumers how to incorporate fresh produce into their menus, and also provide them with new ways to enjoy their holiday favorites. The produce experts at Kroger Central Division eagerly shared their knowledge with shoppers during their first Frieda’s Produce University® event on Saturday, November 12. Produce team members were on-hand throughout the day to offer samples and helpful information about specialty produce that consumers can add to their holiday menu this season.
Taking place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at select Kroger locations in Indiana and Illinois, the open-house style event provided an opportunity for customers to see, touch, taste and ask questions about a variety of fall produce items in the store.
Featured produce included: Asian Pears, Fuyu Persimmons, Jicama, Frieda’s French Style Crêpes, Pine Nuts, Tomato Toss™, and Zululand Queen Baby Pineapples. Kroger’s produce managers showed shoppers how easy it is to use these items in their holiday, and everyday, cooking.
“This session, ‘Fresh Twist on Holiday Cooking,’ is a great way to show Kroger shoppers how to give their traditional holiday dishes a new flavor while also putting more fruits and vegetables on the table,” said Karen Caplan, CEO of Frieda’s Inc. “Kroger’s passion and dedication in giving their customers a hands-on experience led to a very successful Produce University® event.”
Kroger’s excitement for their first Produce University® showed throughout the company. “Produce University® gives our produce teams the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise while encouraging our customers to try something new,” said Gregg Proctor, Produce Merchandiser for Kroger Central Division.
Each Frieda’s Produce University® session begins weeks in advance with produce manager training seminars, prior to the in-store event, to familiarize the teams with the featured products. Frieda’s marketing team provides in-depth information on each item, in addition to point-of-sale signage and informational brochures.
Since 1989, Frieda's Produce University® has helped educate consumers with in-depth product information, preparation ideas and samples of the latest specialty fruits and vegetables within grocers’ produce departments.
About The Kroger Company
Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 334,000 associates who serve customers in 2,468 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.
The Company also operates 777 convenience stores, 374 fine jewelry stores, 893
supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Inc. celebrates 50 years of innovation in fresh produce. Founded in 1962 by Frieda Caplan, Frieda's was the first wholesale produce company in the U.S. to be founded, owned and operated by a woman, and is still a family- and women-owned business today. With the mission of changing the way America eats fruits and vegetables, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 specialty items to U.S. produce departments, including Kiwifruit, Spaghetti Squash, Habanero Peppers, Black Garlic and many more. Learn more at www.friedas.com
Source: Frieda’s Inc.
