Zespri Kicks Off The 2022 Planning Season at The SEPC Trade Show

    NEWPORT BEACH, CA, February 24, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Zespri is excited to meet with retailers at the SEPC Southern Exposure trade show in Florida March 3-5, 2022. Retailers can look forward to another successful season with the leader in kiwifruit as Zespri begins its promotional planning season before shipping its fruit in mid-May. Zespri's market development managers will be available to discuss customized programs tailored to each retailer's specific needs, and to reveal the new shipper displays with updated graphics that showcase Zespri's exciting new consumer digital marketing campaign.

"We are excited for retailers to visit our booth so we can thank them for a great season last year and start planning for 2022," states Susan Noritake, Zespri's head of sales for the North American market. "Zespri is the #1 selling kiwi brand and is the third fastest growing category in the fruit bowl; and Zespri SunGold Kiwi accounts for 61% of the category's growth.* Our goal is to help retailers grow their sales by utilizing our marketing resources, building bigger and more prominent displays, and to share our consumer campaign designed to drive shoppers to their stores."

Zespri will have merchandising displays at the booth featuring its customized, proprietary clamshell that stands out at shelf and is stackable and easier to merchandise. Consumers love the taste of Zespri SunGold Kiwi and making it easier to find at the store can help fuel sales. "Retailers can increase their sales up to 200 percent by placing these merchandisers in their produce section," explains Noritake.

The new shipper displays will feature updated graphics that highlight elements from their "Go Sweet. Be Bold" integrated consumer marketing campaign. The campaign encourages shoppers to break from the mundane and shake up the contents of their fruit bowl with Zespri's sweet and refreshing SunGold Kiwifruit. After months and months of working from home, Zespri wants to help health-conscious consumers ignite their zest for life and make the most of every day through a robust consumer campaign across the U.S.

The digital component will include social, email, online video, and display advertising in addition to driving trial with Ibotta, digital coupons and event activations. Zespri is also tapping into its growing online fan base and influencers by amplifying sweet and bold experiences on social media to drive awareness and excitement for Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit. The campaign will also highlight the nutritional value of the SunGold, providing 100% of daily vitamin C needs in just one fruit, to help consumers thrive on their health and wellness journey.

"We are looking forward to the SEPC live event to start planning with retailers ahead of the season start," states Noritake. "Building on the success of last season is even more promising with our exciting new programs and displays." In addition to planning, meeting the team, and learning more about all Zespri has to offer to help increase sales, retailers and industry leaders have a chance to win Apple AirPods Pro as an added bonus just for stopping by the booth.

*Source: IRI Total U.S MULO – Season to Date Weeks Ending 12/27/21

ABOUT ZESPRI GROUP, LTD.
Zespri is 100 percent owned by current and former kiwifruit growers and has a global team of 700 based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand and throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our purpose is to help people, communities and the environment thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit, and we work with 2,800 growers in New Zealand and 1,500 growers offshore to provide consumers with fresh, healthy and great-tasting Zespri Green, Zespri SunGold and Zespri Organic Kiwifruit. Zespri is committed to sustainability, with areas of improvement identified right through the supply chain including our pledge that by 2025 we will use 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging, do more to help the environment, and to become carbon positive by 2035.

# # #