Supermarket Perimeter - December 2021 - 44

Produce
Specialties
BY ANDY NELSON
D
emand for fresh produce specialties has remained high
during the pandemic, thanks to more people trying out new
foods at home.
And with fall here and winter around the corner, that demand should
only increase, said Robert Schueller, director of media relations for
Los Angeles-based specialties shipper World Variety Produce, which
markets product under the Melissa's label.
" We're getting into our strongest time of the year, with the 'cooking
holidays' coming up, " he said. " And I don't see anything on the horizon
to slow the growth of our category. "
Slower growth, maybe not. But Melissa's and other specialty produce
shippers are feeling the impact of slower movement of product, thanks
to the logistics headaches that were plaguing the entire economy in the
last quarter of 2021.
Some commodities, like blood oranges, were held up in Southern
California's Long Beach port. Others, like figs from New Zealand,
Melissa's doesn't expect to have any of this season.
" I live near the port, so I see all the boats waiting out there, " Schueller
said. " We're becoming a little more careful about what we bring in. If
you decide to air freight it instead, that can double the price. "
Melissa's expects to be more reliant on domestic production and
specialties from Mexico, Central America and Canada this winter to
compensate for the container shipments it can't wait for.
Q & A with J.R. Kelly's Matt McMillin
Supermarket Perimeter: What are you excited about heading
into winter?
Matt McMillin: December means fresh root. It's harvest season in
the world of horseradish, and winter is a great time to stock up on
horseradish roots. We've seen an uptick in demand for our shrinkwrapped
root. Around the June or July timeframe our shrink-wrap
line gained momentum. It could point to more retailers looking
for a retail-ready product, as it adds a modern packaging element
to the root vegetable space. We're excited because this packaging
line goes hand in hand with our retailer marketing efforts. Shrinkwrapped
horseradish might be our most " retail friendly " line of
packaging because of its smooth wrap, PLU display, and private
label options. J.R. Kelly Company is hoping this trend continues
into 2022 and beyond.
SP: As COVID continues to cast a shadow, how have consumers'
attitudes toward their health and using foods to boost health changed?
MM: Probably the most natural and common way to boost health
is to move to a healthier diet. COVID brought health from the
back of mind to the front. Whether we loved or hated thinking
44 - DECEMBER 2021
about health, COVID changed the game and made everyone
consider it. It's definitely changed some people's mindset to be
more thoughtful about what they put in their body.
SP: How do you get the word out to customers and consumers
about the appeal and benefits of fresh horseradish?
MM: We get it -we know horseradish is a niche item. It looks
and tastes different than most produce items on the shelves.
Niche items are less well-known than the staples, so this year
we've put much more of a focus on not just communicating with
our wholesale customers, but also trying to dive a layer deeper by
educating retailers on some of the talking points of horseradish.
This additional layer just guarantees more eyes on horseradish
information, giving it a better chance of reaching a wider range of
consumers. Keep an eye out for more horseradish information,
content, and recipe videos in 2022.
Matt McMillin is the business development specialist for Collinsville, Ill.based
J.R. Kelly Co., the country's largest supplier of horseradish root.
supermarketperimeter.com
MELISSA'S, J.R. KELLY'S
http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
Supermarket Perimeter - December 2021

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