Sweet and savory, tart and tangy—the flavors of the fall and winter seasons range far and wide, only to be more elevated by companies quick to innovate like Terrapin Ridge Farms™. As we move through the cooler weather here in the Northern Hemisphere, Clare O’Donnell, Marketing Manager, joins me to talk about trends, snacks, meals, and more as we ramp up for Christmas and the new year!
“December is a wonderful time to connect with the consumer and build sales across new and traditional items as shoppers look to flavorful meals rich with holiday favorites,” Clare tells me. “This season, we have many advantageous items to highlight including our Cranberry Relish with Grand Marnier—which is often called Christmas in a jar—as well as our Tart Cherry, Apple, and Rosemary Sauce. This sauce, when used with meatballs in a crockpot, will have consumers’ homes smelling like the holidays!”
Additionally, Clare shares that Terrapin Ridge’s Apple Maple Bacon Jam is a crowd-pleaser and a great item to cross-promote in different departments from meat to seafood. This jam highlights bites of cinnamon paired with sweet apple jam and smoky maple bacon, all combined to create a perfect fall blend of flavors. Think apple cider rounded out with savory, smoky, and sweet bacon.
When I ask Clare what inspired the company to create each of these three products, she tells me it came down to the desire to combine the sophisticated with the craveable to create a memorable eating experience.
“For our Cranberry Relish, we couldn’t find a sophisticated cranberry relish on the market. So, we decided to round out our recipe with Grand Marnier, which elevates the jam. When we considered the recipe for the Tart Cherry, Apple, and Rosemary Sauce, we wanted to encapsulate flavors of the fall and winter in a way that would pair really well with meat. We especially love this sauce with lamb,” Clare details. “The Apple Maple Bacon Jam came about because we listened to what the consumer wanted. The popularity of our Hot Pepper Bacon Jam led us to want to make a sweeter bacon jam. This jam tastes like breakfast in a jar. So cozy!”
Bringing such heavy hitters to retail is a boon in itself, but Clare adds that there are even more advantages to working with Terrapin Ridge. Everything is made in small batches which ensures consistency and quality in every order.
Also, Terrapin Ridge uses high-quality ingredients that ensure differentiation and brand loyalty keep consumers coming back for more. Having a partner that is truly invested in tapping into consumer trends and anticipating new ones, is one worth its weight in specialty foods gold.
“Apple is gaining more traction as an alternative to the pumpkin-flavored-everything. Butter-boards are making their way into homes this holiday season. These are just a few of the trends that keep us innovating,” Clare says. “Also, people are always wanting to save time! Our products make it easy to create delicious meals. Just take meat, cheese, or a vegetable and pair it with our sauce or jam, et voilà—a gourmet dish!”
In addition to such program and thought investments, Terrapin also has developed and continues to develop point-of-sale marketing materials such as recipe flyers and table-top signs and has a generous sampling allowance.
“And, we are available by phone! We are shocked at how hard it is to reach companies by the phone and take pride in knowing we will always answer or return your call,” Clare concludes, though I know this story is far from an ending, but just a beginning for retailers enticed to pick up that phone.
It is sure to be a happy holiday with companies like Terrapin Ridge taking the plate to new levels.
