El Sol Brands introduces new plantain chips
El Sol Brands introduces new plantain chips
As a premiere and leading importer and distributor of tropical roots, fruits and ginger across the United States, officials at El Sol Brands feel it is their obligation to the industry to take the lead when necessary and the opportunity presents itself.
With that in mind, the Miami-based company recently announced that it was introducing plantain chips in four flavors (sweet, salty, garlic and habanero hot) and two different packaging options: a 16.9-ounce jar in a display ready box and a 36-unit shipper and a three-ounce bag that comes in a clip strip so retailers can place it throughout the store.
“El Sol Brands has a commitment to quality, dedication to improving the sales and margins of our retail partners,” said Luis Perez, a longtime employee of the company and currently its vice president of sales. “The loyalty to our shipper partners has propelled El Sol Brands to the leadership position of the category we serve. As we take this approach into the future and applying these basic principles to innovate new items and bring the tropics to our retailer partners’ shelves, the future looks mighty promising for us right now. We believe that the plantain chips have been teed up and are ready to take the limelight. Using a proprietary method of kettle frying our chips gives consumers a taste that keeps them coming back for more.”
Perez said that El Sol’s marketing strategy is simple. Consumers, he noted, are tired of the same old chips that have been on the market for decades. “Plantain chips are a healthy alternative to the center aisle snack,” he added. “As the Hispanic demographic continues to grow in numbers, so does its influence on the mainstream eating habits. Just as other groups forged their culture onto the American flavor, so will these new flavors. We really think that today’s consumer is ready for these items. There is really all upside for the industry as these items are totally new.”
Still, he said that retailers are going to have to make consumers aware of the new items and El Sol, which also has its largest warehouse in Port Washington on Long Island, is prepared to help get the message out to shoppers.
“My suggestion is to let your customers know you mean business,” he said. “It is very important to set the stage to welcome the ever-growing Hispanic consumer into your department with shipper displays. These are easy in and easy out displays that are consumer friendly. The goal is to create impulse sales with consumers which will quickly increase sales and profits. We also think it will catch on with all consumers across demographics, not just Hispanic shoppers.”
El Sol is also active on other fronts. The company is introducing a line of bagged items such as Baby Bok Choy, which is also called Shanghai, Turmeric from Fiji in a six-ounce bag. “Our goal is to continue to innovate and introduce more of these Asian and tropical flavors in a grab and go format,” Perez said.
This is not going to be the end of expansion either as the company continues to look for new opportunities for growth and to satisfy a changing and expanding demographic base, Perez said. “Our footprint continues to expand as does the demographic,” he said. “The leadership at El Sol Brands continues to invest the necessary resources both in our vision for innovating and introducing new products. They are also committed to investing with our grower and shipper partners in developing better technology and more sustainable agricultural practices. We listen to our customers when it comes to quality, everything else is just noise.”
