U.S.: Dole launches new partnership to expand fresh vegetable offerings
Dole Food Company's Fresh Vegetables division has entered into a new partnership that will expand the company's product line to include new ideas in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Partnering with New Jersey-based Safeway Fresh Foods, a leader in innovative fresh concepts, the two companies will co-develop new products for consumers looking for healthy and fresh food options.
Dole's Fresh Vegetables division is a North American leader in value-added salads and the market leader in salad kits.
“Through our collaboration, Dole Fresh Vegetables will expand our portfolio of offerings to include items such as a full line of ready-to-eat salads, snacks, fresh-cut platters, value-added vegetables and many other possibilities,” said Dole Fresh Vegetables president Michael Solomon.
“Safeway brings a tremendous strength in production that greatly complements Dole’s innovation strategy and product sales and marketing. There is a great synergy between our companies which will ultimately benefit our customers and consumers with new products that are being developed to satisfy needs not being met by current products in the marketplace.”
Safeway Group CEO Frank Tedesco said the two companies have "a great history, working together for many years on one-off projects."
"This partnership allows us to consistently tap each other’s resources, and leverage each other’s strengths in the co-development of new product ideas," he said.
Dole said it plans to also work closely with customers in both produce and deli to develop and offer these new product lines to stores during 2019.