Stemilt’s Lil Snappers line aims to put fruit into kids’ hands

Stemilt’s Lil Snappers line of small apples and pears offers parents a convenient, healthy fruit option for their kids, says the Wenatchee, Wash.-based company.

Retailers can shift focus from bulk apple promotions to include Lil Snappers 3-pound bag program in the regular apple and pear mix to move volume of smaller fruit this year, says Brianna Shales, Stemilt marketing director.  

“The decade-old Lil Snappers brand has been successful carving intent purchasing and providing a system for small, but great quality fruit,” said Shales in a release. “This year, we have more opportunities for smaller-size fruit that will lend to packing more Lil Snappers and reducing labor costs for bulk apples. Getting behind a branded item like Lil Snappers through regular promotion presents the perfect opportunity to leverage bag sales.”

 According to a study conducted by Deloitte Insights, there are two distinct customer personas: Contemporary (younger, well-off shoppers) and conventional (older, low-income shoppers). Stemilt says the study further found that 71% of contemporary shoppers and 54% of conventional shoppers said they would pay a premium for fresh food. Brand name remains more critical for contemporary consumers (55%) than conventional (35%.)

 “The fruit may be little, but the flavor and benefits are big when retailers carry Lil Snappers as an everyday item,” said Shales. “When retailers carry conventional and organic Lil Snappers apples and pears, you offer something for everyone and increase organic ring too. Lil Snappers can help move volume for core apple and pear varieties including Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith apples, and Bartlett and Starkrimson pears.”

Colorful, high-graphic Lil Snappers boxes instantly display at retail to capture the attention of parents and children looking for a healthy snack, says the company. Nine 3-pound bags will fit in one Lil Snappers euro box that doubly serves as a grab-and-go destination. Apples and conventional pears will come in a 3-pound bag, and organic pears in a 2 lb. bag.

Stemilt says that while many retailers will sell apples in a 2-pound bag to keep retail prices down, a 3-pound bag program will increase purchase size and move volume. 

“We’ve seen lots of retailers leverage the display-ready cartons to create a destination for Lil Snappers, or put these stand-up bags in refrigerated displays,” says Shales. “Families are seeking convenience in their lives, and there are big benefits of merchandising a premium item at retail intended for a specific audience. Lil Snappers is a great brand to leverage that is quality consistent and fulfills our goal to delight consumers with great-tasting fruit.”