Sun-Maid and Lil' Drug Announce Partnership to Grow C-Store Sales
CEDAR RAPIDS (August 5, 2019): Lil’ Drug Store Products and Sun-Maid Growers of California have reached an agreement that makes Lil’ Drug the exclusive marketer of the Sun-Maid brand in the convenience channel. The deal further expands Lil’ Drug’s portfolio of “better-for-you” (BFY) snacks to help convenience retailers meet the increasing consumer demand for healthy snack choices.
Recent consumer trends point to continued growth of BFY snacks. According to Technomic’s 2018 Snacking Occasion report, 34% more consumers report snacking on healthier food compared to two years ago. Consumers are not only focused on convenience when it comes to their healthy options; they’re also seeking quality. Nielsen recently reported that consumer demand is increasing for snacks with healthy attributes like “real fruit” and less added sugar.
Lil’ Drug Store Products’ current BFY snack portfolio is sold in an estimated 60,000 c-stores and includes brands such as Calbee Harvest Snaps, Popchips and Sensible Foods. With the addition of Sun-Maid, Lil’ Drug expands its variety of trusted snack brands that taste great and feature consumer preferred healthy snack attributes. Sun-Maid, which recently launched its first marketing in a decade called “Grow Young,” is one of the most iconic food brands in the U.S. and the category leader in Dried Fruit.
Products included in the initial launch are Sour Raisin Snacks and Yogurt Flavored Raisins. Sour Raisin Snacks flavors include Watermelon and Strawberry, and Yogurt Flavored Raisins in both Vanilla and Dark Chocolate flavors, each sold individually in 1.5 oz bags. All Sun-Maid Sour Raisin Snacks and Yogurt Flavored Raisins contain whole fruit and are gluten-free to provide a satisfyingly sweet BFY snacking option consumers are in search of.
“We are excited to partner with Lil’ Drug Store Products,” said Sue DiPietro, Sun-Maid Vice-President of Sales. “We have a great opportunity to expand Sun-Maid into the convenience channel where we have had minimal presence. As we evaluated our go-to-market strategy for this channel, we learned that Lil’ Drug was an industry leader that had a detailed understanding of the convenience store shopper. We have a very loyal consumer base and believe Lil’ Drug will help bring the Sun-Maid brand to thousands of convenience stores nationwide.”
Lil’ Drug Store Products’ expansion into the healthy snacks category is another innovation from the company focused on meeting convenience store shopper and retailer needs.
For more updates on the brand’s continued innovation and product pipeline, follow Sun-Maid on Facebook (facebook.com/sunmaid) Twitter (@Sun_Maid) and Instagram (@SunMaid) for the latest product news and promotional offers.
About Sun-Maid Growers of California
Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is a farmers’ cooperative of 750 grower families with vineyards in California’s Central Valley. From childhood to adulthood and generation to generation, Sun-Maid snacks have grown up with you. And while some things change, our ingredients haven’t—they’re real, minimally processed and consistently good. The timeless and trusted go-to snack that’s simple, healthy and versatile, Sun-Maid fills each day with moments of sunshine, one little red box at a time. For more information about Sun-Maid, visit www.sunmaid.com.
About Lil’ Drug Store Products
Founded in 1974, Cedar Rapids, Iowa based Lil’ Drug Store Products is a leading distributor of products to the convenience channel. Lil’ Drug has established a proven record of success at growing sales for retailers in a variety of categories including health and beauty care, automotive, and healthy snacks.