DENVER — The United States Potato Board (USPB) presented the versatility, efficiency and ease of US frozen and dehydrated (dehy) potato products to visitors attending the 45th Supermarket Trade Show. This event, held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, February 8-11, 2011, and attracted supermarket purchasing agents, and retailers representing department stores, convenience stores and drugstores, as well as menu developers from hotels and food manufacturers.
The USPB is seeking new channels for US non-fry products for both the frozen and dehy sectors. The versatility, efficiency and ease of US potato products were demonstrated with side-dish deli menu items. Thirteen non-edible items were on display, and 10 of these menu items were made daily on site for visitor tasting. Close to 2,000 taste-testing menu samples were served during the 2011 Supermarket Trade Show.
“The number of visitors who were interested in tasting, getting samples and wanting to know more about US frozen and dehy potato products was very high,” said Susan Weller, USPB International Marketing Manager—Frozen. “This trade show had excellent attendance with very serious visitors. Due to a poor Japanese potato harvest, they were looking for alternatives in both manufacturing and foodservice.”
There were 83,241 people in attendance at the 2011 Supermarket Trade Show, and the USPB booth had 89 very interested visitors. This trade show should assist in the creation of new opportunities for US potatoes in the new channel of deli side dishes. At the conclusion of this event, 10 companies were in the process of developing new items with US frozen or dehy potato products. Seven food manufacturers and three supermarkets are working to produce retort food, deli menus, pickled items, lunch box menus and snacks with US potatoes.
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David Fairbourn is Manager, Industry Communications & Policy, at the United States Potato Board in Denver. The mission of the USPB is to increase demand for potatoes and potato products through an integrated promotion program, thereby providing US producers with expanding markets for their production. David can be contacted at 303-369-7783 or david.fairbourn@uspotatoes.com. For complete information about the programs, ROI results, resources and tools available to all members of the industry through the USPB, please visit www.uspotatoes.com. The United States Potato Board—Maximizing Return on Grower Investment.
Source: The United States Potato Board
