Products that can help enhance retailers' avocado category

Retailers can add to the excitement of the Super Bowl by enhancing their avocado categories with some innovative product tie-ins.

Rhome, Texas-based Fresh Innovations LLC, which markets several Yo Quiero-brand guacamole and avocado products, has launched a new offering called Yo Quiero Avocado & Egg, said Tara Murray, vice president of marketing.

“It’s the perfect blend of real hass avocado mixed with chopped hard-boiled eggs and spices,” she said.

Yo Quiero Avocado & Egg comes in three flavors: Everything Seasoning, Crushed Red Pepper and Spinach, Tomato and Onion. It’s now available in the Southeast division of Costco and will roll out nationwide after the first of the year, she said.

The company also offers a number of offerings for retailers’ dip destinations, including better-for-you dips like salsa, creamy bean dips, queso, elote and more, said Jay Alley, co-owner and vice president of sales at Fresh Innovations.

Saginaw, Texas-based MegaMex Foods offers a wide selection of Wholly Guacamole products to liven up game day gatherings, said Chris Monahan, brand manager of Wholly products.

“We recommend Wholly Guacamole’s Classic, Chunky and Spicy varieties in the 7.5-ounce and 15-ounce bowl sizes,” he said.

For smaller get-togethers, mini sizes are perfect for individual servings, he added.

Wholly Guacamole’s new Restaurant Style Guacamole, available in bowls and minis, will also be available for order before the Big Game, Monahan said.

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Calavo Growers Inc. is promoting the use of its Ripe Now PLU stickers that offer varying stages of ripeness, said Peter Shore, vice president of product management.

“The PLUs help consumers to easily identify ripe avocados, and they’ll know their fruit will be ripe and ready to consume on game day,” he said.