Dole becomes first produce brand to receive Nielsen Innovation Award

Dole Chopped Salad Kits have received a 2016 U.S. Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation Award.  The salad kits were selected for distinctiveness, relevance and endurance from close to 3,500 consumer products introduced to the market that year, according to a press release. It is the first time a produce brand has won the award in the eight-year history of the competition.

2016 Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation Award winners satisfied three requirements: a distinctive consumer product that delivered a new value proposition to the market in 2014; a minimum of $50 million in first-year U.S. sales; and a demonstrated ability to endure the market by achieving 90 percent of first-year sales during its second year.

CarrieAnn Arias, VP of marketing for Dole Fresh Vegetables, said, “Dole Chopped Salad Kits were launched in 2013 as the next wave in salad innovation: a taste-first chopped salad experience featuring layers of flavor, texture, color and crunch in every bite. The success of the initial line led to the introduction of two additional Chopped Salad varieties in 2015 to meet consumer demand.”

The seven Dole Chopped Salad Kits – with varieties that include Bacon and Bleu, BBQ Ranch, Chipotle & Cheddar, Pomegranate, Poppy Seed, Sesame Asian and Sunflower Crunch – are part of a larger line of packaged salad blends and kits, including conventional and family-size, sold under the Dole brand.

Other brands to receive a 2016 Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation Award include Arm & Hammer, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Kellogg’s and Chobani, among others.

For more information on the 2016 awards or to download a copy of the 2016 U.S. Nielsen Innovation Report visit Nielsen.com/breakthrough.