At the October 2018 Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in Orlando, FL, Mann Packing Co. introduced its newest items under its Nourish Bowls category. The additions to the line focus on breakfast eating occasions.
Following the introduction of the concept in October, the Salinas, CA-based company began its marketing campaign and the product line began hitting stores in January. Loree Dowsee, director of creative marketing, told The Produce News in mid-January that, “our customers have all been extremely responsive to it,” and noted that one major national retailer already has the line in the distribution channel.
The two newest flavors are the Denver Scramble and the Fiesta Scramble. Like all of Mann’s two-dozen flavors, the product comes in a microwavable bowl complete with an assortment of veggies and ingredient packs. The product calls for ripping off the plastic cover, emptying the packets, adding an item when appropriate, mixing the contents and microwaving for a few minutes to create a healthy and warm vegetable-laden meal.
The two breakfast bowls instruct the consumer to add one to two fresh eggs, microwave for four minutes and enjoy. According to Mann officials, “at 330 calories or less and up to 25 grams of protein, these new bowls bring to the breakfast table all the convenience, nutrition and freshness of Mann’s other Nourish Bowl brand offerings.” The Denver Scramble features kale, sweet potato, cauliflower and broccoli with a Bell pepper sauce with diced ham and onion and comes with a cheddar cheese topping. The Fiesta Scramble has kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi and butternut squash with a salsa featuring chicken chorizo and comes with a Mexican cheese blend topping.
Mann officials noted that it is capitalizing on both the success of its Nourish Bowls product line and significant growth in the breakfast meal category. The company has research noting that 93 percent of Americans think that breakfast is the most important meal but only 44 percent eat it daily; 83 percent of foodservice operators have increased breakfast hours in the past three years; 80 percent of consumers said it’s important to eat a healthy breakfast; and 51 percent of consumers reported in a recent survey that they have eaten traditional breakfast foods for lunch within the past two weeks.
The two new Nourish Bowls join an array of flavors, including Monterey Risotto, Southwest Chipotle, Smokehouse Brussels, Spicy Thai, Basil Pesto, Tomato Bolognese and Cauli Rice Curry.
Mann Packing Co. was acquired by Del Monte Fresh Produce in 2018. Today it operates as the Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable division.
