Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022 - 43

" Being able to offer greater variety of case-ready options to shoppers
in the age of no-touch preferences is critical to long term prosperity, "
he said. " The pandemic has also forced supermarkets to expand caseready
offerings as fresh meat service cases have been shut down or
parsed back due to labor. "
Due to current labor constraints caused by pandemic-related
challenges, many meat manufacturers have seen increased interest
from retail customers in converting to a case-ready program. This
would reduce labor at grocery stores, while maintaining the high level
of quality product consumers expect. It would also allow grocers to
concentrate on their service cases to provide differentiated experience
for their consumers.
" Convenience is paramount for consumers today, so anything that
makes a consumer's experience in the kitchen better is top of mind for
us today, " said WendyJean Bennett, vice president of sales, portioned
protein innovations for fresh meats with Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson
Foods. " This includes easier prep, authentic inspiration and an enjoyable
eating experience. We have seen increases in trial of meal kits, seasoned
and marinated, and additional value-add innovation products we have
launched. "
The retail demand across all proteins was and remains strong and
retailers are turning to case-ready to help fill their meat case.
" We've also seen an incredible demand for case-ready products as
consumers increasingly use online methods such as click and collect to
shop for meat, " Bennett said. " I think we have seen a fundamental shift
in how consumers have learned to shop and cook. Consumers have
found new ways to enjoy meals together as never before, and people
drew on these family/friend small gathering moments to help get them
through uncertain times. "
Companies respond
In response to the latest trends, Tyson Foods opened two new
dedicated case-ready plants last year. One was a retrofit of an existing
facility in Columbia, S.C., and the other is a new state-of-the-art build
near Salt Lake City.
" Both plants will help us expand and allow for increased capacity
for retail and foodservice customers across the country, " Bennett said.
" We know that skilled labor is an ongoing issue for many of our retail
customers, so offering solutions for time-consuming items like sausage,
diced and thin-sliced meats are key. "
Tyson Foods has also rolled out new case-ready product lines at
every price point. This includes branded products like Open Prairie
Natural Meats, Chairman's Reserve Meats and Dickey's Barbecue Pit
Seasoned Spare Ribs, as well as new flavors in its Instant Pot kits.
" These have all performed well with consumers when we look at
both trials and repeat purchases, " Bennett said. " We will continue to
invest in innovation so that all consumers have access to wholesome,
quality protein. "
Kathryn Tuttle, CMO for Harrisonburg, Va.-based Farmer Focus, noted
that case-ready products attractively presented on retail shelves can
move a portion of the labor from the back of the house at retail into an
efficient packaging facility.
" Farmer Focus recently worked with a large natural retail chain to
move from bulk supply behind a butcher case to a pre-packaged,
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JANUARY 2022 - 43
mid-store display and the results have been very encouraging for both
us and the retailer, " she said.
Protecting the product
From shrink bags to vacuum skin packaging and everything in between,
protecting the product for food safety and shelf life continue to be
instrumental in how many meat manufacturers approach the business.
" While protecting the product is paramount, sustainable packaging
is becoming more critical as we address the global climate crisis, "
Couch said. " Sealed Air has pledged to design and advance packaging
solutions to be 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. As we sprint to
that challenge, it entails everything from light-weighting products,
to developing non-plastic solutions, to partnering with Advanced
Recycling to develop infrastructure to better handle complex
flexible films. "
Sarah Findle, director of marketing and communications for Golden,
Colo.-based Coleman Natural Foods, noted packaging plays a big role in
the success of case-ready meat products.
" Our case-ready fresh pork selection was recently enhanced with
vacuum skin packaging that provides benefits to both the consumer
and the retailer, " she said. " Less labor, longer shelf life and a cleaner
display puts a competitive price point in front of the consumer looking
for easy-peel, mess-free packaging in freezer-ready formats. "
Niman Ranch has embraced the case-ready transformation by
rolling out state-of-the-art Darfresh Cryovac packaging solutions in its
premium line of fresh pork.
" Our Darfresh program offers shoppers a variety of grab & go
selections that are ready-to-cook and serve with little raw handling
preparation needed, " Rubin said. " The program has enabled our
partners to level up on premium offerings rather than just filling cases
with everyday conventional products, which creates a differential
advantage in their marketplaces. Darfresh packaging extends product
shelf-life, a boon for both short-staffed retailers and consumers with
larger basket sizes to stock the fridge and reduce store visit frequency. "
Companies like
Niman Ranch see
benefits in using
packaging on caseready
products to
educate consumers.
MIDAN MARKETING, NIMAN RANCH
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Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022

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