New Fall 2025 Salad Kits from Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle Explore Unexpected Flavor Territories
August 20, 2025 | 5 min to read
Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle has launched three new DOLE® salad kits that reflect current culinary trends and appeal to Millennials and Gen Z consumers. These include the Caprese Chopped Salad Kit, the Pesto Ranch Chopped Salad Kit, and the Apple Harvest Premium Salad Kit, all designed with bold, innovative flavors. According to VP of Marketing David Austin, the kits aim to engage a wider audience and enhance vegetable consumption, reinforcing DOLE®'s position as a trusted brand in salad kits.
Flavor-forward new varieties appeal to both salad loyalists and the growing number of Millennial and Gen Z users
MONTEREY, Calif. – Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle, manufacturer of DOLE® Brand packaged salads, continues to redefine what consumers expect from packaged salads with three intriguing new DOLE® salad kit varieties that tap the very latest taste preferences, consumer research findings and restaurant and culinary trends.
The produce and salad leader is using global flavors, reimagined classics and fresh new pairings to target both salad kit loyalists and the growing number of Millennial and Gen Z salad users.
Thanks to the work of the company’s salad innovation team, America’s expanding salad consumer base will be the first to experience the mozzarella-based richness of Italian caprese, the unexpected blend of classic ranch and herby pesto, and the tangy-but-sweet indulgence of apple cider in minutes-to-make salad kits featuring farm-fresh lettuces, vegetables, toppings and original dressings.
According to David Austin, Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle’s VP of Marketing & Innovation, the new kits are the direct result of expanded research by the Company into the latest taste trends ranging from fruits, herbs and spices to low-sugar, smoke and char preferences. They also directly leverage 12-month shopper grocery sales and preferences
“By working closely with taste influencers, researchers and salad consumers, DOLE® brand is able to stay ahead of ever-changing flavor trends to deliver bold flavor experiences that consumers crave—sometimes before they even know they crave them,” said Austin. “Our goal is to use consumer insights, culinary partnerships and other R&D tools to continually create new salad enthusiasts including both long-time loyalists and the growing number of Millennials and Gen Zers experiencing packaged salads for the first time.”
The three new kits bring the total number of DOLE® Salad offerings to 70, including 31 separate salad kit SKUs, and strengthen the brand’s reputation for pairing DOLE®lettuces and vegetables with differentiated toppings and dressings in new, inspired ways to encourage healthier eating and increased vegetable consumption.
“Our Fall 2025 extension further strengthens U.S. shopper confidence in the DOLE® brand, which was ranked the most-trusted in Salad Kits in the 2025 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards Presented by Newsweek,” said Austin.
Now shipping to retail throughout U.S. the new SKUs will join the DOLE® refrigerated salad sets at supermarkets in September.
- DOLE® Caprese Chopped Salad Kit: Salad kit lovers will be saying “Ciao bella!” with this globally inspired, classically Italian indulgence. Our salad experts have combined the freshest DOLE® Romaine Lettuce, Green Cabbage, Kale and Carrots with creamy mozzarella, brioche croutons and savory tomato-basil seasoning and vinaigrette dressing for an unmistakable “Mangia! Mangia!” experience.
- DOLE® Pesto Ranch Chopped Salad Kit: Two classic tastes – rich creamy ranch and bright herby basil pesto – come together in a perfectly blended salad experience that’s both familiar and unexpectedly craveable. Crisp DOLE® Romaine Lettuce is topped with nutty shredded Parmesan, golden garlic crouton crumbles and a house Pesto Ranch dressing for an easy upgrade to the everyday salad—comforting, elevated, and sure-to-please ranch lovers and picky eaters alike.
- DOLE® Apple Harvest Premium Salad Kit: This hearty and flavorful salad features a bed of tender spring mix baby leaf lettuces, topped with savory and creamy aged cheddar cheese, crunchy brown sugar pecans, and our house Apple Cider Vinaigrette. The dressing is a secret blend of tangy and sweet apple cider, real Dijon mustard, and a blend of spices that celebrates a comforting flavor experience.
For the Caprese and Pesto Ranch kits, Austin said his team is leveraging the phenomenal popularity of these flavored grocery items – which are up 118% and 93% in related grocery component sales over the past year, respectively. Similarly, the Apple Harvest kit taps into increasing consumer appeal of apple cider vinaigrette, especially as a pairing during the fall and winter holidays.
“We’re especially excited that all three new DOLE® Salad Kits scored an ‘always’ or ‘often’ intent-to-purchase score of at least 75% among the general population — meaning that at least three-fourths of consumers who tried our newest salads would buy them often or always,” said Austin.
The DOLE® Brand’s latest salad kit debut is being supported by a national marketing program encompassing advertising, PR and at-retail POS.
To place an order, contact your Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle sales rep.
About Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle
Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle is one of the largest fresh and cut vegetable producers and distributors in North America. The Monterey/Salinas, Calif.-based Company markets a wide range of value-added salads, and farm-packed vegetables throughout the U.S. and Canada under the DOLE® Brand, through three geographically diverse, state-of-the-art U.S. salad processing plants able to supply its broad retail and foodservice customer base.
In the U.S., DOLE® was ranked as the most-trusted brand in Salad Kits in the 2025 BrandSpark Most-Trusted Brand Awards Presented by Newsweek. The rankings were determined by 29,000 American shoppers who shared their insights on which brands they trust most and why.