Packaged Salads, Refrigerated Dressings Are A Hit With Consumers

Packaged grocery store salads, unheard of 20 years ago, are now a $3 billion a year business thanks to health- and convenience-conscious shoppers looking for value. Refrigerated dressings are also a hit, partly because producers have come up with innovative ways to link dressings with other grocery store sections. Besides fresh produce and salad packages, they can be placed near potatoes and cut vegetables, for example. Companies are cross-merchandising dressings, packaged salads and salad kits using coupons and other promotional methods. Salad producers are also doing their best to meet consumer preferences for all natural and even organic ingredients in salad kits and refrigerated dressings. According to Craig Hope of Calif.-based Earthbound Farm, organic options comprise 16 percent of the salad category, but only 3.7 percent in total food.