Sundia Corp. begins shipping new cut fruit line
Sundia Corp. begins shipping new cut fruit line
Looking to add the same fresh ideas and innovation that it has brought to the watermelon category, Sundia Corp. has begun shipping its new "True Fruit" line of cut fruit to retailers nationwide.
Merchandised in the produce department, "True Fruit" is available in five varieties: Perfect Peach, Mandarin Orange, Ruby Grapefruit, Purely Pineapple and Tropical Medley.
"The first shipment should ship on July 11, and within four to six weeks we expect 'True Fruit' to be in 3,500 stores in 40 major retail chains across the country," Dan Hoskins, Sundia's chief operating officer, told The Produce News July 10.
"True Fruit" is packaged in eight-ounce cups and 20-ounce, multi-serve packages that "convey freshness and allow for better visibility of the fruit, which should translate to more rings for retailers," according to Sundia executives.
"We packaged perfectly ripened fruit in clear, bright, easy-to-see cups," Brad Oberwager, chief executive officer and founder of Sundia Corp., said in a statement, "The multi-serve packaging in particular was designed to convey freshness to health-conscious consumers."
Mr. Oberwager noted that a number of promotional marketing tactics have been developed to support retailers in launching "True Fruit," including cross-marketing opportunities with other "Sundia" brand products like watermelon, honeydew, tomatoes and the company's line of watermelon juices.
"True Fruit," which contains no artificial preservatives or high fructose corn syrup -- a factor that is increasingly important to consumers -- and is also pasteurized to ensure food safety.
Mr. Hoskins said that "due to a very complicated matrix" of finding a supply of the freshest fruit possible all year round for its new line, it is sourcing product from all over the world, including the United States, Mexico, Chile, Thailand, Turkey, China and Vietnam.
"This is a very exciting product and the response has been fantastic from both retailers and consumers," Mr. Hoskins said, noting that that the new line would also be available in Canada later this year, possibly as soon as September, with a bilingual label in English and French.
Not content to rest on its laurels, Sundia is already looking into expanding the line to include organic fruit as well as a 10.75-ounce cup with a spork (a cross between a spoon and a fork) built into the top of the package that will be sweetened with the artificial sweetener sucralose that is "designed for the diabetic and calorie-conscious consumer," Mr. Hoskins said.
"Consumers know they need to eat more fruit, and we aim to make that more convenient and that's what led us to this category," Mr. Hoskins said. "Retailers have told us that they want a partnership that will grow this category and not just take up space. We are really focused on growing the category through innovation."
Merchandised in the produce department, "True Fruit" is available in five varieties: Perfect Peach, Mandarin Orange, Ruby Grapefruit, Purely Pineapple and Tropical Medley.
"The first shipment should ship on July 11, and within four to six weeks we expect 'True Fruit' to be in 3,500 stores in 40 major retail chains across the country," Dan Hoskins, Sundia's chief operating officer, told The Produce News July 10.
"True Fruit" is packaged in eight-ounce cups and 20-ounce, multi-serve packages that "convey freshness and allow for better visibility of the fruit, which should translate to more rings for retailers," according to Sundia executives.
"We packaged perfectly ripened fruit in clear, bright, easy-to-see cups," Brad Oberwager, chief executive officer and founder of Sundia Corp., said in a statement, "The multi-serve packaging in particular was designed to convey freshness to health-conscious consumers."
Mr. Oberwager noted that a number of promotional marketing tactics have been developed to support retailers in launching "True Fruit," including cross-marketing opportunities with other "Sundia" brand products like watermelon, honeydew, tomatoes and the company's line of watermelon juices.
"True Fruit," which contains no artificial preservatives or high fructose corn syrup -- a factor that is increasingly important to consumers -- and is also pasteurized to ensure food safety.
Mr. Hoskins said that "due to a very complicated matrix" of finding a supply of the freshest fruit possible all year round for its new line, it is sourcing product from all over the world, including the United States, Mexico, Chile, Thailand, Turkey, China and Vietnam.
"This is a very exciting product and the response has been fantastic from both retailers and consumers," Mr. Hoskins said, noting that that the new line would also be available in Canada later this year, possibly as soon as September, with a bilingual label in English and French.
Not content to rest on its laurels, Sundia is already looking into expanding the line to include organic fruit as well as a 10.75-ounce cup with a spork (a cross between a spoon and a fork) built into the top of the package that will be sweetened with the artificial sweetener sucralose that is "designed for the diabetic and calorie-conscious consumer," Mr. Hoskins said.
"Consumers know they need to eat more fruit, and we aim to make that more convenient and that's what led us to this category," Mr. Hoskins said. "Retailers have told us that they want a partnership that will grow this category and not just take up space. We are really focused on growing the category through innovation."
