Dole is convinced ambient potted fruit will become the next big trend in healthy eating, and is investing heavily in innovation and marketing to build brand recognition.
The company is looking for new ways to add a premium to fruit, and in September kicks off a press campaign with a ‘Potty about fruit’ strapline.
At the same time, it is adding mixed fruit in peach jelly and Sunny Fruits (pineapple, watermelon and cantaloupe) in
grape juice to its portfolio. The new products have an rsp of £1.89 for four 123g pots.
Dole has gained government approval to carry a 5-a-day logo on some products from the autumn, and is also putting health tick boxes on packaging.
Andy Coult, director of sales for Dole Packaged Foods Europe, said Dole’s potted fruit, sales were up 29.6% year-on-year [ACNielsen, 25 June].
He said future innovation would involve taste, indulgence and health and next year Dole would hit the market with an entirely new concept in indulgent fruit snacking.
Bio-synergy has reformulated its Liquid Energy sports drink to be free from artificial colours and flavours. The drink is available in Lemon & Lime and Orange variants.

Del Monte has launched a £1m Take a Fresh Look sampling campaign. The 10-week push, starting today (August 13), will allow more than 300,000 mothers of children aged four to 10 to try out new uses for its canned fruits, pure juices and Fruitini Squeezies.

Jus-Rol frozen pastry is running a promotion with Sainsbury stores giving consumers who buy a four-pack tray of Bramley apples and a 1kg pack of Jus-Rol puff or Jus-Rol shortcrust pastry a free copy of the recipe book, Tart Tatins, worth £8.

Soreen has agreed a four-year sponsorship deal with Chris Hoy, the Olympic, World and Commonwealth cycling champion. The five-figure deal, which runs until 2009, is designed to endorse the brand’s health and energy-giving credentials.

The Authentic Food Company is extending its Mediterranean range with Beef Stifado, a Greek dish including onions,
reformulated
a fresh look
bramley link
on yer bike
stifado launch