The idea for Gator Eggs, from Shanley Farms, was born several years ago when realized that they primarily ate the small sizes in their home. The traditional size avocado is 8 ounces which feeds two or more people. Why not a 4 ounce avocado, just right for one serving? One salad ,one sandwich ,one snack seemed directly aimed at moms and millennials concerned about portion size and no waste. Historically, retailers had only wanted the medium and larger sizes, which started the family brainstorming as to how to market and sell the smaller sizes.
Shanley Farms has been offering Gator Eggs for the last two years and the name was born from old name that avocados used to be known by, Alligator Pears. After a lot of brainstorming and many different ideas, Megan came up with the name Gator Eggs and her father came up with the idea of putting them in egg cartons.
It took roughly a year to develop the egg carton because there was nothing existing on the market to fit a size 84 avocado.
"There was a ton of excitement when the product was launched, but old line retailers are so traditional in the way that they market avocados, they were hesitant to start with a new type. BJ's Wholesale Club located on the East Coast signed on from the beginning, with Fresh Direct (online retailer out of NYC) following suit. We have the most success in the big box format where customers have only been given a big bag of large avocados. This gives them half the total product in a size where half of each doesn’t get wasted. But we also have seen uptake from metro areas where portion size appeals to millennial shoppers. " said Megan Shanley, Director of Sales.
"We have been active through Instagram and social media, and consumers love the concept, but traditional, large chain buyers have not been willing to make the commitment to have the product on the shelf long enough for customers to get to know them and start buying them. We have had such good press, including Dr. Oz, and we expect the product to be most successful in trendier places trying to identify the right portion size for their customers.
Shanley Farms has been offering Gator Eggs for the last two years and the name was born from old name that avocados used to be known by, Alligator Pears. After a lot of brainstorming and many different ideas, Megan came up with the name Gator Eggs and her father came up with the idea of putting them in egg cartons.
It took roughly a year to develop the egg carton because there was nothing existing on the market to fit a size 84 avocado.
"There was a ton of excitement when the product was launched, but old line retailers are so traditional in the way that they market avocados, they were hesitant to start with a new type. BJ's Wholesale Club located on the East Coast signed on from the beginning, with Fresh Direct (online retailer out of NYC) following suit. We have the most success in the big box format where customers have only been given a big bag of large avocados. This gives them half the total product in a size where half of each doesn’t get wasted. But we also have seen uptake from metro areas where portion size appeals to millennial shoppers. " said Megan Shanley, Director of Sales.
"We have been active through Instagram and social media, and consumers love the concept, but traditional, large chain buyers have not been willing to make the commitment to have the product on the shelf long enough for customers to get to know them and start buying them. We have had such good press, including Dr. Oz, and we expect the product to be most successful in trendier places trying to identify the right portion size for their customers.
"As much as I wish it could be our avocados, it is really exciting to see it catching on in places like Marks and Spencers in the UK where they recently introduced six packs of small avocados." said Megan.
The company offers the Gator Eggs year round. They work with partners in other parts of California (San Diego) and Mexico in order keep the supply going during the company's down time. This year there was only an 8 week period where the company was shipping avocados that where not their own.
F
or more information:Megan Shanley
Shanley Farms
Tel: +1 805 234-8533
Fax: +1 559 408-5549
Email: info@shanleyfarms.com
www.shanleyfarms.com