Distribution Roundup: Simply Gum Debuts Sugar-Free Gum in Walmart; ÜRösti Goes Nationwide at Whole Foods

Simply Gum Debuts Sugar-Free Gum at Walmart

Plastic-free gum maker Simply Gum has gained new shelf space at Walmart, debuting with a new product, Sugar-Free Peppermint Gum, in 500 of the retailer’s stores across the country. The first sugar-free offering for Simply Gum, the gum will be sold in three-packs for $6.46.

According to CEO and founder Caron Proschan, Simply developed the gum in response to demand from both retailers and consumers. Despite that, it took several years to formulate the product to match the “ingredient integrity” of its other gum offerings, which use dried organic cane juice as its sweetener. For its sugar-free variety, Proschan said the team finally landed on the sugar alcohol xylitol, using birch xylitol sourced from the U.S.

Walmart was “extremely supportive” during the new product’s development, Proschan said, and encouraged the company to develop a plastic-free hanging sleeve for the product.

“As shoppers increasingly turn to natural, better for you options, our buyer saw a real opportunity for a natural, high quality, plastic-free, sugarless gum,” she said. “The partnership made sense on multiple levels because not only is Walmart one of the largest retailers in the world, it has also become a real leader in sustainability.”

Simply plans to roll out the new gum to additional retailers in January 2022, Proschan said.

“We really believe in the sugar free market and we think that both our loyal customers as well as new consumers will be drawn to natural, plastic-free chewing gum that is now sugar free,” she said.

Simply Gum will also be launching in 700 CVS stores next month with its Cleanse gum, Spearmint gum and Awaken mints, and will make its club channel debut in Northeast Sam’s Club locations in the fourth quarter. The new distribution follows the addition of Peppermint and Cleanse gum to 1,700 stores Target locations in August. Other retail partners include Whole Foods, Cost Plus, Urban Outfitters and Raley’s.

In addition to expanding its gum offerings, the brand is also continuing to branch out into new snack and confection categories following the launch of its Smoothie Bites earlier this year. In July, the brand debuted Fruit Gummies in Peach and Raspberry flavors on its website and Amazon for $15.99 per two-pack of 5.3 oz bags. The vegan gummies, made with fruit puree, will roll out with Imperfect Foods in October.

ÜRösti Expands to Whole Foods Nationwide

ÜRösti is bringing its frozen potato snacks to more Whole Foods Market locations this fall. The brand’s Melty 3 Cheese and Stuffed Baked Potato flavors, which first debuted in 21 locations in the Pacific Northwest region in 2019, will now be sold across the retailers over 500 stores.

“Swiss Rösti went from a dream in our kitchen to a reality two years ago when Denise Breyley of Whole Foods Markets PNW Region saw something in us and our brand,” URosti co-founder Stephe Caldwell wrote in a Linkedin post announcing the expansion. With the addition of the new Whole Foods locations, the company’s products are now sold at over 2,000 retailers nationwide including Safeway, Fred Meyer, New Seasons Market, Central Market and Gelsons.

The brand is also planning to debut a ready-to-eat version of its products in quick service restaurants (QSR) and convenience stores in the first quarter of 2022.

The distribution gains follow a rebrand, including a name change and packaging redesign. The brand was formerly known as Swiss Rösti, taking on the name ÜRösti new packaging with an updated logo last year.

Beyond Meat Debuts Beyond Chicken Tenders in Retail

After launching its plant-based chicken product Beyond Chicken Tenders earlier this summer at nearly 400 restaurants, Beyond Meat announced this week the product’s retail debut next month.

Beyond Chicken Tenders will hit the frozen section at select Walmart, Jewel-Osco, Safeway NorCal, Harris Teeter, Giant Foods and ShopRite locations nationwide in October, with additional stores set to bring on the product later this year. The precooked, ready-to-heat products are sold in 8 oz. bags for $4.95.

“Following the success of our plant-based chicken in restaurants, fans were eager to get their hands on a retail product that’s readily accessible and can be cooked at home anytime,” Beyond Meat Chief Growth Officer Deanna Jurgens said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to be answering consumer demand by launching Beyond Chicken Tenders at prominent retailers nationwide, continuing our momentum in the plant-based poultry category.”

In addition to its Beyond Chicken Tenders, the company announced this week that Walmart will expand distribution of Beyond Breakfast Sausage Classic Patties, taking the product to an additional 1,500 stores and Beyond Breakfast Sausage Spicy Patties into more than 1,300 stores. The retailer will grow availability of Beyond Meatballs and Beyond Beef Crumbles as well. The company also announced today it will launch its Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links to all major retailers in Canada.

Forward Greens Expands Distribution

Vancouver-based indoor farm Forward Greens debuted 11 new products across microgreens, salad greens and baby greens at Safeway and Albertsons across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

The new suite of products include Kraveable Kale Blend (baby kale and red mustard microgreens), Fantastic Frill Blend (baby red and green frilled leaves, red mustard, mizuna and kale microgreens) and Micro Kale (kale microgreens).

“Introducing Forward Greens to a larger market like Safeway has been a goal of ours, as we want more people to have access to our greens in stores that are conveniently located close to where they live,” Forward Greens founder and CEO Ken Kaneko said in a press release.

Forward Greens’ products are currently sold at retailers across 34 states and the District of Columbia including Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme and Star Market.