Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards is highlighting Kanzi apples as a top choice for food enthusiasts in baked desserts and holiday treats.
Kanzi consistently wins as the best-tasting apple in blind apple pie taste tests, Rochelle Bohm, CMI’s vice president of marketing said in a news release.
“Its sweet, intensely tangy flavor and exceptional texture, which remains firm when baked and doesn’t become mushy like other apples, sets Kanzi apart from its competitors,” she said.
Kanzi apples are now the second-most popular variety in Europe and are rapidly gaining global traction, including among U.S. consumers, Bohm said. Production is expanding in key regions such as Italy, South Africa, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S., she said.
Bohm said U.S. consumers are particularly drawn to Kanzi’s intense flavor, a blend of extreme tartness and sweetness. Retailers capitalizing on Kanzi’s qualities as a baking apple during holiday seasons can anticipate a significant boost in sales across various departments, the release said.
Kanzi’s flavor garnered high ratings and positive feedback from U.S. consumers, based on data from 500 participants in an influencer mailout program, Danelle Huber, senior marketing manager, said in the release. Kanzi maintains an impressive 4.56 rating without any negative reviews, the release said.
“Shoppers consistently show their willingness to pay more for Kanzi,” Huber said. “Retailers can leverage marketing tools like our Flavogram program to educate shoppers, encouraging them to explore beyond their usual apple choices. This strategy boosts sales and cultivates repeat customers who’ll return time and again after experiencing Kanzi’s taste for themselves.”
CMI’s Flavogram program aids shoppers in comparing apples by providing detailed flavor profiles. The program’s high-impact POS materials not only attract attention, but also prompt shoppers to try new apple varieties, Huber said.
“By focusing on quality, taste and consumer education, Kanzi apples are more than just a product; they’re an experience, offering retailers and consumers alike a taste of something extraordinary,” Bohm said. “As we head into the holidays, Kanzi apples are poised to be the star ingredient in kitchens and stores worldwide.”
