Overseas retail a growing opportunity for frozen U.S. potato products

Farm and Ranch August 4, 2010 Sales of U.S. frozen potato products at retail in the international market are currently small compared to those in fast-food and food service. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for growth.

Weller: “Even though retail is a small portion of the frozen potatoes I expect that in the future we are going to see more and more different types of U.S. frozen potato products in the retail sector.”

That is Susan Weller who manages frozen products in the U.S. Potato Board’s International Marketing program.

Weller: “So, what we try to do, we try to do some promotions that are either going to launch a new product or gain a new retailer.”

And its working.

Weller: “For example, we are just tallying the results for the year-to-date for fiscal year 10, which goes July of 09 to June of 10. We had a total of 18 retailers carrying 38 new products. We are doing really well. You know some of them are smaller retailers but for the majority of them they are actually nationwide.”

Some of the frozen products finding success overseas in addition to just fries are frozen potato peels in Mexico and potato wedges in Malaysia. It is all part of the Potato Board’s work to increase demand for U.S. potatoes.

Weller: “It follows our strategy of expanding the sales of frozen potato products through new products and alternative channels.”

That’s the U.S. Potato Update. Brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m Bob Hoff for Northwest Aginfo Net.

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