graze, the multichannel retailer of healthy snacks, announces its launch into more than 3,500 retail stores - representing the largest drug and grocery multi-national retailers operating in the US.
The online graze business has created over 1,700 products which are all free from artificial additives and preservatives, 100% GMO free with no trans fats or high fructose corn syrup. For the retail launch graze has customized a range of 17 healthy products, based in part on the 170 million US customer reviews received online from its grazers. Products in the new retail range include Sweet Memphis BBQ, Dark Chocolate Cherry Tart and Veggie Protein Power. When new food trends emerge, graze is placed to identify these changes and adapt quickly. Graze has the ability to bring new products on far more quickly than traditional food manufacturers. Turnaround of a new snack can take as little as 48 hours.
The retail launch comes on the back of graze’s successful entry into the United States via its online subscription model in December 2013. This generated a $34m run rate in its first year alone and evoked a further $50 million investment in the US operation to meet the phenomenal demand. In response to incoming requests from major US retailers, launching into retail and replicating the success of the UK multichannel strategy was the natural next step.
Commenting on the launch CEO Anthony Fletcher stated:
“graze starting online and going from clicks to bricks shows how technology can rapidly create brands and products which are relevant to the U.S. customer today. For the past two years we have been collaborating with our grazers to launch hundreds of products into the US market through online. Now it’s time to sell the winners in retail stores."
Reflecting wider wellness societal trends, popularity of healthy snacks is overtaking the traditional snacking market, which in the US alone is worth some $38 billion dollars.