Aunt Mid Produce finds great success with dressing line
Aunt Mid Produce finds great success with dressing line
Aunt Mid Produce Co., based on the Detroit Union Produce Terminal, has enjoyed great success with the dressing line it debuted in 2005. The six-flavor line of all-natural dressings complement Aunt Mid's extensive cut product offerings, which can be customized to the firm's clients' requests for cut size and style and for the blends of products such as in mixed lettuce salad items.
When it launched the dressing line, Aunt Mid introduced four vinaigrette dressings -- house vinaigrette, house garlic, sun-dried tomato and asiago garlic -- and two sweeter dressing varieties -- raspberry and tropical poppy. The dressings are available in 12.7-ounce bottles, and the recipes for the dressings were all developed in-house by Aunt Mid.
The distribution is primarily in the metro-Detroit area, according to Phil and Dominic Riggio, who spoke with The Produce News April 17. However, other important markets for the dressing line include Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago and Memphis, TN. "Being not even a year old, the growth has been good and the response has been real good," said Dominic Riggio. "They are good dressings and they are healthy. People like that. The all-natural is a big selling point."
Backing up the appealing all-natural element of the dressing line is an endorsement by nutrition expert Peter Nielsen, who hosts the syndicated television program "Peter's Principles."
In promoting the dressing line, Aunt Mid conducts in-store demonstrations and samplings and has enjoyed great success and remarkable sales boosts. The promotions are conducted only in the Detroit area so far, and the sampling team holds demonstrations at between four and eight stores per week, primarily on weekends.
Asked if the dressings see a notable sales boost following the samplings, Phil Riggio said, "Oh, yeah. Real notable. Somewhere around a 500 percent increase. Demo is the key. That is what really gets the product out there -- having people taste it and try it and find themselves buying two, three and four bottles at a time."
Phil Riggio credited his three sons with the highly successful dressing line. "It was my sons that came up with the dressing line," he said. "That is what youth in the company is doing for us."
In addition to its dressing line and its wholesale offerings, Aunt Mid has an extensive line of value-added cut products ranging from single-item offerings available in numerous cut configurations to customer-specific salad blends. Also in the cut product line are fruit options, which are growing in popularity. Dominic Riggio listed dozens of lettuce and vegetable cuts and blends including carrots, peppers, onions, Romaine, Iceberg, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes (seeded and seedless), mangos, papayas and pineapples.
Looking ahead, Phil Riggio said, "In the very near future, you can look forward to a new product line that is still on the burner that will be available in the near future."
When it launched the dressing line, Aunt Mid introduced four vinaigrette dressings -- house vinaigrette, house garlic, sun-dried tomato and asiago garlic -- and two sweeter dressing varieties -- raspberry and tropical poppy. The dressings are available in 12.7-ounce bottles, and the recipes for the dressings were all developed in-house by Aunt Mid.
The distribution is primarily in the metro-Detroit area, according to Phil and Dominic Riggio, who spoke with The Produce News April 17. However, other important markets for the dressing line include Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago and Memphis, TN. "Being not even a year old, the growth has been good and the response has been real good," said Dominic Riggio. "They are good dressings and they are healthy. People like that. The all-natural is a big selling point."
Backing up the appealing all-natural element of the dressing line is an endorsement by nutrition expert Peter Nielsen, who hosts the syndicated television program "Peter's Principles."
In promoting the dressing line, Aunt Mid conducts in-store demonstrations and samplings and has enjoyed great success and remarkable sales boosts. The promotions are conducted only in the Detroit area so far, and the sampling team holds demonstrations at between four and eight stores per week, primarily on weekends.
Asked if the dressings see a notable sales boost following the samplings, Phil Riggio said, "Oh, yeah. Real notable. Somewhere around a 500 percent increase. Demo is the key. That is what really gets the product out there -- having people taste it and try it and find themselves buying two, three and four bottles at a time."
Phil Riggio credited his three sons with the highly successful dressing line. "It was my sons that came up with the dressing line," he said. "That is what youth in the company is doing for us."
In addition to its dressing line and its wholesale offerings, Aunt Mid has an extensive line of value-added cut products ranging from single-item offerings available in numerous cut configurations to customer-specific salad blends. Also in the cut product line are fruit options, which are growing in popularity. Dominic Riggio listed dozens of lettuce and vegetable cuts and blends including carrots, peppers, onions, Romaine, Iceberg, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes (seeded and seedless), mangos, papayas and pineapples.
Looking ahead, Phil Riggio said, "In the very near future, you can look forward to a new product line that is still on the burner that will be available in the near future."
