Sun Pacific's Bob DiPiazza and Victoria Nuevo-Celeste Talk Mighties® Program and Demand for Kiwifruit
HOLLYWOOD, FL – With dynamic characteristics, super-fruit nutritional value, and a kid-friendly flavor profile, Mighties® brand kiwifruit is differentiating the school lunchbox this fall. And it doesn’t hurt that Mighties sales have risen 28 percent year-over-year, according to data reported by Nielsen through its Perishables Group FreshFacts® Service.
Now, Mighties is taking the kiwifruit category by storm, with retailers participating in the Mighties program revealing category sales increases of more than 25 percent year-over-year since the launch. Victoria Nuevo-Celeste, Vice President of Marketing, joined me to talk about the popular line and its continued impact as we countdown the days to PMA Fresh Summit.
“Since we launched the Mighties brand kiwifruit in the 2014-15 California season, we have seen demand in the category rise as consumers look for more unique and convenient snacking options. In order to compete with other eye-catching produce department brands, we are presenting Mighties’ display materials for optimal merchandizing that can be utilized in high-traffic areas of the produce department,” Victoria tells me. “These opportunities have proven to be a great success at retail.”
As the program's popularity skyrockets, Sun Pacific is continuing to invest in planting more kiwifruit as well, to meet consumer and retailer demand.
“In less than a decade, we will triple our supply from when we launched Mighties,” said President Bob DiPiazza. “Differentiation is key and Sun Pacific continues to provide that high level of service and quality that customers look for in a customer and a partner.”
Along with the vibrant, high-graphic, merchandising materials to draw the consumer eye, Sun Pacific is also supporting retailers with its ripening process which ensures Mighties arrive on retailers’ shelves ripe and ready-to-eat, taking the guesswork out of when to purchase the fruit. In addition, the packaging itself is designed to communicate the ease of eating kiwi—simply cut, scoop and eat.
“The Mighties brand has truly brought kiwifruit into the consumer fold,” Victoria says. “The flavor and versatility is on-trend to continue making waves at both retail and foodservice.”
Mighties are currently available in one-, two-, three- and four-pound clamshells. Check the program out for yourselves this October at PMA Fresh Summit booth 417 in Orlando, Florida.
See you all next month on the show floor!
