Meat&Poultry - March 2014 - 66

case-ready update

Beef tongue may not be enjoyed by
the masses, but a growing population
consisting of various ethnic groups will
ensure the demand for such products
will continue to grow. (Photo courtesy of
Rumba, a Cargill brand).

variety meats have seen the benefits of doing so, such as
less shrinkage and branded programs.
JBS USA has produced fresh variety meats for more
than 25 years, but decided to change its focus and deliver
them in a case-ready format. Also, JBS' customer needs
have changed in terms of meeting their consumers' needs.
"Our shift in focus is matched with evolving category demands for consumer-ready fresh offal," Flynn says.
"Smaller packaging, improved labeling and a shelf-life of
28 days all better fit the needs of our customers, as well
as the needs of today's busy consumer."
Freshness is also a key purchase influencer, Flynn says.
"Our products are made-to-order so our customers can
be assured they're offering fresh products that meet consumers' expectations," he adds.
Cargill introduced its Rumba line of case-ready vari-

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ety meats in 2007. It includes 30 fresh beef and pork meat
cuts the company says "are an integral part of the traditions and cultures of multicultural consumers."
"We saw a huge opportunity based on the Hispanic
population growth and knew that our [retail] customers

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protein needs," says Jackie Lopez, marketing head for the
velopment, we merged an existing product line with the
resonates with the ethnic consumer."
Cargill's research shows that ethnic consumers prefer
the Rumba case-ready line when compared to traditional tray overwrap, Lopez adds. "One of the top reasons is
that our packaging allows for visibility of the product," she
says. "And that's a huge benefit for the consumer in terms
of communicating the quality of the product."
It's important to understand that consumers who desire variety meats are just as concerned about quality as
consumers who want steak, Lopez notes.
"In times of economic uncertainty, it has to be of value
to the consumer, so, we strive to provide our retailer customers a product that delivers on both aspects," she adds.
Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods introduced caseready variety meats for many of the same reasons Cargill

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Meat&Poultry - March 2014

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