The SweeTango® apple harvest is in full swing, and growers with Next Big Thing, A Growers’ Cooperative (NBT) are encouraging retailers to stock up.
“SweeTango was the top-selling club apple from late September through the end of October last fall, in both dollars and volume sold – by far,” said Brianna Shales with SweeTango Western Region sales desk Stemilt Growers, who reported that region’s SweeTango crop is up 30 percent.
The season is already off to a fast start, reports Dennis MacPherson with Canadian sales desk Scotian Gold. “This year has been the quickest we’ve gotten out of the gates, ever,” he said. “We are beyond excited to get started again.”
SweeTango production in the western region is reported to be up 30 percent.
Growers in all regions report this year’s fruit quality is outstanding and color is up, overcoming localized weather challenges to deliver “that trademark SweeTango flavor and crunch,” said Scott Swindeman with Midwest Region sales desk Applewood Fresh. “We’re getting that nice SweeTango background indicative of high sugars,” said Austin Fowler of Eastern Region sales desk Fowler Farms.
“Mother Nature presented us with a few challenges. But for every curve ball thrown we’re making it work, delivering quality fruit to consumers,” said Angela Sommers with Midwest Region sales desk BelleHarvest Sales.
SweeTango sales desks can help retailers capitalize on the new season’s sales opportunities as pandemic shopping and eating continues, offering new marketing tools for in-store and online use to push consumers to purchase. Meanwhile, the brand and its sales desks are coordinating a B2C strategy across North America, with unified consumer-facing messaging to pull in long-time fans and new consumers alike.
"We’ve re-energized our branding, and streamlined messaging across all sales desks. For the marketplace, we’re concentrating on direct-to-consumer channels, both digital and in-person,” said John Cushing with Eastern Region sales desk New York Apple Sales
The cooperative unveiled new point-of-sale materials with a cool-toned, contemporary design, including an eye-catching display bin.
To support retailers, the cooperative unveiled new point-of-sale materials with a contemporary design, including an eye-catching display bin. Sales desks will again offer SweeTangos in a range of options, including bulk, 2- and 3-pound pouches and totes.
Retailers can download SweeTango-branded sales tools through their sales desk’s web portal.
To alert consumers that SweeTangos are in stores across all markets, while also creating awareness among potential new fans, the cooperative is running online video ads with family-friendly stories. A national radio and streaming audio campaign is running this fall and NBT is also partnering with national influencers.
Regionally, sales desks are deploying marketing tools to reach consumers, from outdoor billboards to geofenced Facebook ads to local influencers.
Retailers can link to SweeTango sales desks.
For more information:
Julia Stewart
Next Big Thing
Tel: +1 (703) 727-8808
jstewart@prclarity.com
https://sweetango.com/