Dole Food Company claims to have introduced the industry’s first “all natural” chopped salad line as it seeks to extend its position of leadership in packaged salad innovation and new product development.
The range, which comprises three salad kits (formulated with kale) and two blends, will arrive in US stores in mid-September 2013, according to a press release from the company.
Dole says the range delivers exactly what consumers say they want in a chopped salad, with flavour, texture, colour and crunch in every bite, and allows salad lovers to create and customise some of their favourite, restaurant-inspired salads at home.
“Consumers tell us they want chopped salad varieties that combine the health benefits of a salad with craveable, on-trend taste profiles that can’t easily be recreated at home,” explained Chris Mayhew, vice-president of marketing at Dole Fresh Vegetables.
“They say they expect their chopped salads to be a taste-first experience; be more filling than regular salad kits and blends, offer unique ingredients and bite-sized pieces, and be ‘green enough’ to be considered guiltless.”
“All Natural Dole Chopped Salad Kits simultaneously deliver on all of these consumer wishes. Plus, the new chopped salad blends offer the opportunity for salad lovers to add their own lean protein, toppings, dressings and other extras to produce inspired new culinary creations that they can call their own.”
Dole’s three new chopped salad kits include:
• Chipotle & Cheddar Chopped Salad Kit; combining cheddar cheese and cheddar tortilla strips with crunchy green and red cabbage, crisp Romaine, kale, sweet carrots, green onions and Dole’s Chipotle Ranch dressing.
• Bacon & Bleu Chopped Salad Kit; featuring Applewood smoked bacon mixed with crunchy green and red cabbage, crisp Romaine, kale, sweet carrots, green onions and Dole’s original Blue Cheese dressing.
• BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad Kit; containing crispy fried onions, cheddar tortilla chips, crunchy green and red cabbage, crisp Romaine, kale, sweet carrots and green onions, plus Dole’s tangy BBQ Ranch dressing.
In addition, Dole’s two new chopped salad blends include:
• Asian Chopped Salad Blend; boasting green and red cabbage, kale, broccoli slaw, snap peas and sweet carrots.
• Summer Garden Chopped Salad Blend; mixing green and red cabbage with crisp Romaine, radishes, green onions and sweet carrots.
