Massachusetts-based controlled environment agriculture grower Little Leaf Farms can now add a new milestone to its list: top-selling packaged lettuce in New England.
The achievement marks the first time an indoor-grown leafy greens brand has surpassed traditional field-grown brands in any region, according to a news release.
According to the most recent Nielsen data available in the category, the brand has seen a 46% increase in total dollar sales year over year and is now capturing 20% of all packaged lettuce sales in the New England region, which includes field-grown greens.
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“The New England packaged salad category is highly competitive, so we’re pleased with this latest sales achievement,” Paul Sellew, Little Leaf Farms’ founder and CEO, said in the release. “As we continue to work towards our goal of 100 acres under glass by 2026, its clear that our model of fresh, local, greenhouse-grown lettuce is resonating with consumers, and we look forward to replicating this success in additional markets in the months to come.”
Expanding operations in Pennsylvania
The indoor lettuce grower has recently opened its fifth greenhouse in McAdoo, Pa. It is Little Leaf Farms’ second greenhouse in Pennsylvania, and it aims to increase the brand’s retail presence to nearly 5,000 grocery stores, which would expand Little Leaf Farms’ footprint to include retailers in the Midwest and Southeast.
One of the first products to be grown and packed at the newest Pennsylvania greenhouse is Sweet Baby Butter Leaf, which is to be introduced in a new 8-ounce size this fall, according to the release.
What’s more, Little Leaf Farms also recently broke ground on a third greenhouse on the McAdoo site in August, with an opening slated for the second half of 2024. The third greenhouse is projected to be operating at capacity by the close of 2024, bringing the total active acreage of Little Leaf Farms’ Pennsylvania site to 30 acres by the end of next year, the release said.
“We are excited to bring our exceptional lettuce to even more consumers with our expansion in Pennsylvania,” Chris Hill, Little Leaf Farms’ chief revenue officer, said in the release. “We believe that we are creating a better eating experience and that our industry leading freshness and quality, along with our ability to engage with new consumers, will continue to drive exciting growth for our customers as we enter new markets.”
