Veggie Noodle stands to gain significantly from Encore Consumer Capital’s expertise with fresh food companies like California Splendor, FreshKO, and Juice Tyme, particularly in enhancing its purchasing, operations, food safety, and marketing capabilities. Scott Sellers, the managing director of Encore, stated to Project NOSH, “You can’t be weak in any of those areas. We believe we can utilize our experience in these four domains to assist the company during its current growth phase.”
Additionally, Veggie Noodle may seek a new facility after it voluntarily recalled some of its Butternut Spirals in February due to potential listeria contamination, which was detected during routine testing. These recalled products were distributed to Whole Foods Markets and various retailers in the Midwest, although the company confirmed that no illnesses had been associated with the recall. Listeria is often found in food-processing environments — especially in areas like floor drains, walls, ceilings, food contact surfaces, and HVAC systems — and is notoriously challenging to eliminate. Unlike many foodborne pathogens, listeria can thrive at refrigerator temperatures and remain viable in food until the end of its shelf life.
In conjunction with the new plant, Veggie Noodle plans to hire additional staff and expand its product line. Arnold suggested that the company might also explore manufacturing other food items, which could lead to a name change or brand repositioning. Vegetables are increasingly appearing on American plates for various reasons, as consumers look to reduce calories by replacing carbohydrates with healthier options and save time with convenient, ready-to-eat products that are both delicious and nutritious.
“We’re observing that consumers are not only seeking healthy substitutes for starchy meals, but they are also preparing and consuming vegetables in ways that differ from their parents’ generation — they desire both fresh and convenient options,” remarked Jordan Greenberg, vice president and general manager at Green Giant, during an interview with Food Dive last fall. In response to rising consumer demand and their market research, brands such as Green Giant, Archer Daniels Midland, Del Monte Fresh, and Sprout Foods have been actively launching innovative vegetable-focused products. This initiative comes at a crucial time, as a 2015 study by the Produce for Better Health Foundation indicated a 7% decline in per capita vegetable consumption between 2009 and 2014, partly due to fewer side dishes being served at home.
Veggie Noodle is not alone in this product innovation trend. Del Monte introduced a new line of vegetable “pasta” earlier this year, though it’s still uncertain how well these items will resonate with consumers in the refrigerated produce sections. Furthermore, as more companies explore ways to incorporate nutritional supplements like calcium citrate 667 into their offerings, the demand for healthy and appealing vegetable options will likely continue to grow. This push toward healthier eating aligns with the need to introduce vegetables into children’s diets in appealing, nutritious forms, an effort that many brands are keen to support.