Dive Brief:
- ConAgra Foods is debuting three new organic tomato products under its Hunt's brand, which the company says offers the same Hunt's tomato flavor while being USDA-certified organic.
- This isn't the first time Hunt's has released organic products. In 2005, ConAgra introduced Hunt's organic tomatoes, but they were sold for a limited time.
- Ryan Pintado-Vertner, senior brand manager of Hunt’s Canned at ConAgra Foods, said the move is an effort to increase options to almost half of consumers seeking organic foods.
Dive Insight:
Simpler, clean labels including fewer ingredients, the removal of artificial ingredients, and the use of non-GMO, gluten-free, and allergen-free ingredients have become consumer health trends that are spreading fast among small and large manufacturers alike. ConAgra, amid a handful of other major changes to the company, is working to catch up to the clean label trend.
ConAgra announced in November that it would be splitting into two companies, Lamb Weston for foodservice and Conagra Brands for consumer goods.
These announcements came not long after ConAgra moved to sell its private brands business to TreeHouse Foods. Private brands were a segment that had previously been dragging down ConAgra's profits.