EMMAUS, August 15, 2024 – In a crowded apple market, it’s now retailers’ chance to impress shoppers with the most exciting apple—SweeTango®. This harvest, growers forecast a longer season, with 20% more apples compared to prior years. Growers also report that apples will be bigger, juicier, and better in bulk. Whether supplying in bags or stacking them on the shelves, they’ll have a selection for any retailer’s needs.
“We’re harvesting and packing SweeTango apples in Washington State, and excited about the volume and quality we are seeing so far in the new crop. SweeTango consistently ranks in the top 10 apple varieties in October, which is one of the biggest apple promotion months each year,” reports Brianna Shales of Stemilt Growers. “With increased volumes of SweeTango, we can delight SweeTango fans even longer with additional promotions and activity at the point of sale into the winter months that will highlight its fantastic crunch and honey-sweet flavor.”
One is never enough—SweeTango’s “superfan” base can’t resist the sweet, citrusy, and honey-spiced flavor, plus the apple’s award-winning crunch. Whether eaten fresh and whole, sliced and spread with almond butter, or to elevate a charcuterie plate, SweeTango meets any occasion. Dedicated shoppers have affirmed the apple as a proven winner for retailers and will be rushing for more this season.
“SweeTango is an apple that sells itself. It hits all 5 senses, from premium taste to strong shelf appeal, it is that consistency consumers look forward to year after year,” says Shelby Miller of Applewood Fresh.
Kaari Stannard of New York’s Yes! Apples shares her insight,
“Especially now that school’s back in session, SweeTangos are in high demand as the perfect snack for kid’s lunches. Parents always come back for more because their kids actually finish them. Everyone will be filling their carts with crisp, sweet, and zesty, so stock up to keep customers smiling.”
Retailers should place orders now with their SweeTango sales desks to make sure they have fruit when fans come knocking. According to growers, they will start shipping from across the country shortly after Labor Day. There’s no better time to supply shoppers with their favorite—in tandem with the brand’s coordinated, coast-to-coast marketing and sales support.
Coordinated National, Regional Marketing for No Ordinary Apple
SweeTango’s top priority is to reach new consumers with in-store activations.
“Our season is starting earlier and sticking around longer, and we’ve been growing to match that demand. We are here to help retail create excitement around SweeTango to drive sales and build customer loyalty,” says Brian Coates, Vice President at Applewood Fresh.
To alert long-time fans that SweeTangos are back in the market, while also creating awareness among new fans, the brand invests in digital video advertisements geo-targeted to SweeTango retailers’ markets. A store locator on the brand’s website, SweeTango.com, helps consumers find SweeTango retailers near them.
SweeTango boasts a strong social media presence across platforms, which the brand uses to activate its loyal fanbase. Efforts are aligned to activate a wider range audience, including Millennial and Gen Z consumers who love consistent and exceptional apples and are known to remain dedicated to brands they believe in.
Each respective sales desk will layer on its own regional marketing activities, including Apple of the Month in-store promotions from the West, influencer outreach in the Midwest, and from the East cross-merchandising, e-commerce highlights, sampling, coupons, visibility in a pop-up grocery store, and online ordering. SweeTango’s new, eye-catching packaging will also be showcased this season on high-engagement social media platforms, so shoppers know exactly what to look for in stores.
“We’re excited about our new packaging design that will absolutely engage shoppers. Our range of package options meets any of your store’s needs for both conventional and organic apples,” shares Next Big Thing executive director Jen Miller, “Even more exciting, we’ll be launching a new packaging-focused social campaign this season to promote engagement with our brand in stores, making sure that all SweeTango fans stay in-the-know about where to find and buy their favorite apple. That means your stores can anticipate more demand than ever.”
Retailers can locate their region’s SweeTango sales desks at SweeTango.com/about/for-retailers. In addition to the regional U.S. sales desks, SweeTango sales in Canada are handled by Scotian Gold and Quebec’s Jean-Yves Boileau et Fils.
Editors, Download High-Resolution Artwork Here to Accompany Your Coverage of This News:
- SweeTango® logo and fruit “glamour” shots (source: Next Big Thing)
- SweeTango orchard and field bin pics (sources: various, see image file names)
- SweeTango growers Michael, Jim, and Brandt Swindeman (source: Applewood Fresh)
- SweeTango in-store display (source: Applewood Fresh)
About Next Big Thing, A Growers’ Cooperative
Next Big Thing, A Growers’ Cooperative is a member cooperative of more than 60 family growers, spread over five time zones from Nova Scotia to Washington state. The co-op licenses, grows, and markets premium, managed varieties of apples, beginning with SweeTango®.
About SweeTango® Apples
SweeTango’s signature taste, texture, and quality stem from careful breeding, meticulously-selected growing locations, and expert horticultural practices. Expert apple breeders at the University of Minnesota crossed the sweet Honeycrisp and the tangy Zestar! varieties to create SweeTango’s more complex, crowd-pleasing flavor profile: sweet, with a touch of citrus, honey, and spice. First introduced at retail in the United States and Canada in 2009 and supported by coordinated strategic marketing, this brand has grown into a perennial top-5 trademark apple. SweeTango is a registered trademark of Regents of the University of Minnesota. More information on SweeTango can be found at www.sweetango.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sweetango, @SweeTango on X (formerly known as Twitter), and sweetango_apple on Instagram.