As part of a strategic growth strategy, Richland Hills, a Richland Center, Wis.-based apple grower and processor, finalized a rebranding effort that included re-naming the company Richland Hills Farms to best reflect what the company does and where it’s going. Richland Hills Farms also introduced new Honeycrisp sliced apples and additional peeled and sliced apple packages.
“For over two decades, we’ve been more than a grower; we’ve been an early adopter in the fresh cut apples business,” says Sarah Cottrill, vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s this part of our business that has built us a reputation for great fresh cut apples, but people often overlook that we are growers first. The re-naming to include Farms in our name is a reminder to our customers that we are more than a manufacturer – we are also the farmer.”
Richland Hills Farms has focused exclusively on institutional foodservice sales since its inception. During that time, it grew from local to regional, servicing the upper Midwest and providing fresh sliced apples to schools, hospitals, restaurants and more.
“As we began to talk about our future, we felt that the next logical step for our company was to add retail packaging to our sales program,” says Cottrill. “But, we understand that the market already has good suppliers, so we focused on getting back to our roots and doing what we do best; we couldn’t just be another sliced apple – we had to be different and better. Honeycrisp apples were first on our list when we decided to consider retail. Not only are Honeycrisp apples beloved in the Midwest – data proves that both sales dollars and volume are growing at a double-digit rate for this premium apple—yet the sliced apple category for Honeycrisp has been virtually untouched.”
The new Honeycrisp apples slices will be available in September. The new packaging showcases a warm yet modern design and includes classic elements like wood grain and watercolor-style artwork. The new products include 14-ounce family size bags and 6-count clamshells containing 2-ounce single-serve bags, each with 21-day shelf life.
