The salad was the first “Super Bowl.”
I mean, what other two words pair together perfectly to describe a creative combination of the beloved fruits and vegetables that make up our dear produce department? The Big Game ignites a steady stream of foot traffic and the chance to score big on produce-centric retail promotions. We all know the watch-party snacking spread plays almost as key of a role as the football game itself, and these supply-side mavens are leading you right into the end zone with their unique takes on Super Bowl merchandising…
“I’ll admit that I am a sucker for a good Super Bowl appetizer, especially when it uses Bako Sweet® products in a delicious dip such as our Simple Sweet Potato Hummus recipe! Shoppers feel the same about our sweet spuds—which is why we include enticing recipe shots on our colorful display bins, along with a QR code for shoppers to scan. This gives shoppers the inspiration they need to pick up a bag and try a new recipe. In one of our recent campaigns, we saw the sweet potato category lift 6.1 percent in retail sales if a store had one of our display bins. Take advantage of our display bins and bring business to your produce department, which will make a positive impact on your sales!”
“The Super Bowl is a great time to have a bunch of different foods to share with family and friends while enjoying the game, which means increased traffic to the produce department. Beyond just guacamole and chips, lots of items should be on the table to enjoy. One of our favorites is mango habanero wings—hot and spicy with a sweetness derived from honey is a must for us. Guacamole with mango chunks is another great way to dress up the guac to give it a tropical taste mid-winter and get ready for spring a bit early. Whatever you do, help shoppers enjoy the game with fresh produce items, along with your favorite proteins.”
“The Super Bowl gives retailers a great opportunity to increase potato sales by showcasing a stuffed potato skin recipe of their choice. Grocers can utilize cross-merchandising, placing all the necessary ingredients for these recipes right next to the potato section to inspire consumers to purchase and create this great Super Bowl dish at home—which is one of my favorites. Putting a recipe in front of shoppers will naturally drive sales for the potato category, especially for smaller-sized potatoes. Bagged Russets are ideal for this because they are hand-held and perfect for any stuffed potato recipe.”
“SUNSET® LolliPeppers™ are a game-changer for Super Bowl snacking! These bright red and orange mini peppers are sweeter than sweet and naturally seedless, meaning no prep is required for game-day hosts! Packaged in a convenient 1 lb carrier bag, LolliPeppers are easy to grab on the go and the perfect size for an appetizer. Retailers can highlight LolliPeppers as a fun and healthy snacking option for the whole family to enjoy alongside the traditional Super Bowl smörgåsbord. The packaging pops on the shelf and clearly communicates their sweet flavor, making LolliPeppers a clear winner for the Super Bowl season.”
“Football season is one of the best opportunities for promotions and creative merchandising—our Avocado Intel found that over 80 percent of fans say food and drinks are a ‘vital’ part of the Big Game, and I agree. Retailers can cross-promote avocados with chips and dips, or ingredients for salsa and guac to inspire shoppers to purchase more avocados. Mangos can also be added to the display to promote mango salsa and guacamole recipes. And don’t forget to lean into consumer health trends! More than one-third of football fans wish viewing parties offered healthier options—so avocados and mangos are an ideal addition to the mix. Pro tip: Consider promoting bagged avocados during the weeks leading up to the Big Game, then transitioning to ripe bulk avocados during game week to maximize sales for the biggest avocado holiday of the year. Mission Produce offers custom ripe programs on mangos and bulk and bagged avocados, so your shoppers can be game-time ready.”
“Cheering on your team for the Big Game is serious business that requires readily available refreshments to keep the crew engaged in the action. Grimmway and Cal-Organic Farms Carrots—available in orange, red, yellow, white, and purple—bring not only the crunch, flavor, and dippability, but also enable the sophisticated host to color-coordinate snacks with the colors of more than half of the NFL teams. Perhaps a little blue food coloring in the ranch dip will suffice until we perfect the blue carrot. Mix baby carrots and carrot chips, both available in an array of colors, to inspire the loyalty of the Super Bowl crowd.” 
