Supermarket Perimeter - May 2023 - 80

Produce: Sweet potatoes
Multiple sources, growing demand
Demand continues to grow for sweet potatoes marketed by Rocky
Mount, N.C.-based Sand Candy Produce LLC - a partnership formed in
2021 by Bland Farms LLC, Battleboro Produce, Boyette Brothers Produce
LLC, and Sandyland Produce - said Troy Bland, CEO of Bland Farms.
" Quality has been excellent this season, and the Sand Candy
partnership continues to grow, " he said. " What's really exciting is the
increased interest from various sources, retailers, and foodservice. "
Holidays are of course central to Sand Candy's success, as they are
for all sweet potato shippers. Sand Candy's holiday bin is " always a huge
success, " Bland said - a great way for retailers to display not only sweet
potatoes but also sweet onions and other consumer fall favorites.
But Sand Candy is also focused on boosting sales no matter what
the season, Bland said. The company's eye-catching packaging and
its promotions support the sale of sweet potatoes for its retail partners
year-round, he said.
There are other things retailers can do to boost sales year-round,
he said. Promoting sweet potatoes' value proposition, for instance, is
crucial.
" With increasing food costs, sweet potatoes remain an affordable
and healthy pantry staple, " Bland said. " Allocating size and space gives
shoppers more opportunities, and promoting sweet potatoes on social
media and in-store recipe cards to inspire customers to cook with sweet
potatoes. "
Sweet potatoes are having a " moment, " Bland said. The more
consumers learn about the nutritionally dense superfood, the more
they incorporate them into their everyday diets.
Sweet potatoes have many benefits-they're a great source of healthy
carbs, Vitamins A, C, B6, manganese, and potassium. They boost
immunity, give skin a glow, are great for gut health, and are loaded with
beta-carotene which helps lower inflammation.
Another boon for the category: people are finding more ways to
include them in meals, from slicing and baking them to adding them to
salads and acai bowls.
In fact, Consumer demand is expected to grow at 5.5% CAGR through
2028, according to Data Bridge Market Research cited by Bland.
Sand Candy has been doing its part by working hard " behind the
scenes " to drive its new brand, Bland said.
In October, the company rolled out new packaging, which has
proved to be a great way to keep sweet potatoes on customers' radars
year-round.
" Because our Sand Candy brand has a modern, fresh feel, it grabs
customers' attention, " Bland said.
The company has many packing options available for its customers'
merchandising needs. And as the Sand Candy label gains traction in the
marketplace, the company is quickly gaining brand recognition.
" It's exciting, " Bland said. " Last year we were packing in members'
brands. This year we will pack in the Sand Candy brand and still have
members' brands available on request. "
The whole idea of the Sand Candy partnership, Bland said, was to
provide the individual shippers' customers with a secure and consistent
supply of sweet potatoes and ensure fresher products for a more
extended period, thanks to its diversified growing areas in two states.
" Having farms in North Carolina and Georgia helps us mitigate those
costs more than most of our competitors, " Bland said.
In addition, Sand Candy adds value by offering programs that
combine sweet potato and sweet onion deliveries on the same truck to
lower costs and increase delivery frequencies.
80 - MAY 2023
supermarketperimeter.com
Sand Candy
Sand Candy
sources its sweet
potatoes from
muiltiple regions,
ensuring year-round
coverage for its
retail partners.
http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
Supermarket Perimeter - May 2023

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