Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/586335
P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y 1 1 F r i d a y, O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 LACERTA OFFERS UNIQUE PACKAGING An Interview with Ali Lotfi, President and Co-owner of Lacerta Group, Inc. PSD: Tell us a bit about Lacerta. AL: We are a family-owned business, started over 20 years ago. We have two facilities: one in Massachusetts with design, mold-making and thermoforming capabilities, and one in Mexico with ther- moforming and injection molding capa- bilities. We manufacture packaging for a variety of industries, with a focus on food. PSD: What would you say makes your business unique? AL: Our ability to get our customers to market much faster than our competitors, with a lower capital investment. Customers are often surprised at how quickly we can get their product to shelves. Customer service is core to our culture, our flexibility and ease of doing business, and makes us unique. PSD: Are you introducing any new prod- ucts at the show? AL: We are expanding our new tamper- evident line, Fresh n' Sealed. We are introducing smaller sizes from 1.5 to eight ounces, multi-compartment con- tainers, and direct print on the packages (e.g. logo, labels and other graphics). We are also introducing a two-piece tamper- evident produce tray with multiple com- partments for cut produce; it is the per- fect party platter for any event. PSD: What products do you see as being hottest this year? AL: We have a tamper-evident two-com- partment container that I think people will really love. It has two 12-ounce compartments that are perfect for offering two types of fruits or veggies; it's a unique package and offers consumers variety. We also have tamper-evi- dent round bowls that can dis- play face-up or on its side to cre- ate multiple options for merchandising. PSD: How do you adapt your products to your customers' needs? AL: There are many ways. Sometimes we have a stock container a customer loves but needs a different capacity or lid. We are able to design a new package to fit the product and our customer's needs. Also, because we work with a wide range of materials, we can provide our cus- tomers many options to fit the application and the price point they need. PSD: How do you see your company's future in terms of economy, sales, tech- nology and product evolution? AL: In terms of growth, we are expecting double-digit growth for the next three to five years. We plan to con- tinue investing in technolo- gy, with automation to improve efficiency and capabilities and to maintain our speed to market and flexibility. We are going to continue to develop pack- ages that differentiate our customers' products and meet the needs of the mar- ket. PSD: What will be your greatest chal- lenges in the industry? AL: Maintaining our flexibility and understanding our customers' needs and the different trends in the market. Also, building our infrastructure so we can maintain our growth. For more information, go to www.Lacerta.com, call 508.339.3312 or visit booth # 5333. THE LITTLE POTATO COMPANY INNOVATES AND INVESTS Creamer potatoes are the fastest-growing segment in the potato category across North America, and The Little Potato Company focuses exclusively on these popular and tasty little nuggets. It is the largest creamer potato company in the world and, quite simply, the go-to experts. The Little Potato team knows how to breed, select, grow and sell creamer pota- toes. In fact, the company has been so successful that, over the past two years, it has increased its listing base across North America to include all 50 states in the U.S. and all provinces in Canada. To make sure the company continues to be creamer leaders, the Little Potato Company has invested significantly to expand its team and infrastructure to pro- vide even better support for customers across North America. This includes three newly expanded distribution centers in Quebec, Pennsylvania and California to facilitate consistently reliable, fresh and on-time delivery, adding to the two previous dis- tribution points for a total of five. The company also built a new washing, sort- ing and packing facility in 2014 that has tripled flow-through capacity, bringing its production facilities to two. The company increased field pro- duction 30 percent by expanding the team of carefully selected growers and the total number of acres dedicated to growing creamer potatoes. The Little Potato Company is now growing cream- er potatoes throughout Canada and the U.S. to strategically support its produc- tion facilities for a continuous supply throughout the year. The Little Potato Company also recruited 25 passionate potato profes- sionals over the past year to ensure ongo- ing product quality, efficient supply chain management, reliable and seamless service and effective sales and marketing support to help move creamers from your shelves to consumers' kitchens and plates. Just this fall, The Little Potato Company launched an engaging, interactive new website that allows consumers to learn more about creamers and the company, find recipes and nutri- tional information that supports parents in helping their kids learn to cook through The Little Chef Program and Little Chef Approved, kid-friendly recipes. The new website is complement- ed by a robust and very successful social media program that covers Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube, along with a highly targeted digital advertising campaign. And it's not done growing yet. To support continued expansion, the compa- ny is looking at more infrastructure growth opportunities in the U.S. and expects to announce new distribution center and a new packing facility some- time over the next year – with even more investment beyond that. This is a team with a long-term vision and view, dedicated to spread- ing the word and demand for cream- ers. The Little Potato Company is com- mitted to helping more and more people discover the taste, nutrition and conven- ience of creamer potatoes and to provid- ing industry-leading sales and marketing support to the retail partners who help make this goal a reality every day. The Little Potato Company has big plans for creamer potatoes and bringing the potato back to its original glory. It has proven that it can deliver. For more information, visit booth # 4821, or go to littlepotatoes.com. The Little Potato Company can be contacted at 604.551.9074 or emailed at karen@cookpublicrelations.com. USA ONIONS/IDAHO-EASTERN OREGON OFFERS TIPS TO RETAILERS When merchandising onions, USA Onions believes that retailers can benefit from providing customers with informa- tion about their various uses. USA Onions are versatile onions that may be used at any meal or in any favorite onion recipe. The appeal of USA Onions is their golden globe shape and their remarkably mild flavor. USA Onions retain their texture when cooked, adding flavor and consistency to any dish. In the last several years, grilling has seemed to be gaining popularity, and onions from this region are a great choice for grilling since they have less water and higher solids. Retailers can make quick-idea recipes available near the onion section to encourage impulse purchases. To help consumers decide which onion to pur- chase, display brief information about USA Onions that can be accessed from the USAOnions.com website, which lists sizing and onion variety information. For example, large-size onions reduce prepa- ration time while their firm flesh makes them ideal for blooms, ringing, slicing and dicing. USA Onions offers Spanish Sweet varieties that are a staple to retailers. Shippers in the area are available in yel- low, red and white Spanish varieties. The harvest begins in August, with onion availability lasting from August through May. During the growing season, the Idaho and Eastern Oregon Onion region provides approximately 30 percent of the bulb onions consumed in the U.S. USA Onions also suggests that retailers make the most of their onion promotion programs with in-store sam- pling to drive sales and product aware- ness. For example, the aroma of onion rings sampled in the produce department is sure to draw a crowd. Also, merchandising USA Onions with products like grill seasonings or hamburger fixings encourages con- sumers to include them as an ingredient. Retailers can contact the USA Onions office to learn about more the promotion- al materials that are available. Retailers should also remember that, if handled improperly, onions can go bad rather quickly, so they should take steps to properly display care and store them. USA Onions/Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onions are known for their long shelf life. Retailers can increase profitability by reducing shrink if they follow these simple steps. Onions should be kept dry and unrefrigerated at retail. Good air circulation is critical for onions. Product should be rotated and separated, and loose skins should be removed from the display bin. When onions are received, they should be placed one foot away from the wall for proper air circulation. Air circulation is crucial for long-term storage of onions. Retailers need to remember not to use plastic pal- let wrap on onions in storage, as the plas- tic wrap limits air movement. Onions should also be kept cool and dry, ideally at 34 degrees to 45 degrees F with about 65 percent to 70 percent humidity. Furthermore, onions should not be stored with other produce that gives off mois- ture, such as potatoes. For more information, visit booth #1239, visit www.USAONIONS.com or call the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee at 208.722.5111.