Q2 5% sales increase for eat brighter!™ participants

Quarterly research surveys administered by Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Research Center show positive results for eat brighter! sales in Q2, including a 3 percent average increase in sales year-over-year as reported by participants. Some participants reported increases as high as 11 percent. eat brighter!, the initiative that grants produce industry members access to Sesame Street character images royalty free in their go-to-market strategies, has been extended through 2018 largely due to the success created by the 110 participants.

Since the launch of the program, the PMA Research Center has conducted 3 quarterly surveys; a compilation of results include the following additional insights:

Of the suppliers in market, 75% have reported an increase in year-over-year sales.
Of the suppliers who have been in market for three quarters, the average increase is 5.3 percent.

PMA President Cathy Burns commented in a letter to members, “This is an encouraging sign, and we’re thrilled that participants are able to take the eat brighter! assets, available through an unprecedented program agreement with Sesame Workshop, and turn it into results like these. Now that the program has been extended through 2018, we look forward to seeing positive growth in this trend as more kids and families experience eat brighter! in stores.”
The movement’s success also led to the expansion of the program in Mexico, allowing produce marketers, retailers, school foodservice and promotional organizations who sell product there to participate. The announcement was made at the PMA Fresh Connections: Mexico Conference and Expo in May.

Several eat brighter!™ champions, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Sesame Street’s Big Bird and NBC Parks and Recreation comedian and FunnyOrDie.com regular Billy Eichner of Billy on the Street, were recognized with an Emmy nomination for their work on the eat brighter! comedic video launched in February. From the time the Emmy nomination was announced, the video garnered tens of thousands of additional views.

“Healthier options are now trending in the United States,” said Lawrence A. Soler, PHA CEO. “PHA partners like PMA and Sesame Workshop are leading the way by making fruits and vegetables more fun for kids, and increasing consumer demand for these healthier options.”

For more information, visit www.pma.com.