SALINAS, CA - Saving time and preparing hearty, wholesome, and healthy meals have traditionally been thought of as incompatible. But Mann Packing is making mealtime easier than ever with convenient solutions that buck convention and offer on-trend flavors and a home-cooked satisfaction in under five minutes. Recently Mann’s Nourish Bowls® were featured on a TODAY Show segment wherein Eat This, Not That! founder and TODAY contributor David Zinczenko broke down kitchen time-savers that cut prep time while encouraging healthy eating.

“‘I don't have time to cook!’ As founder of Eat This, Not That!, I hear that from fans every day. And my answer is simple: ‘You don't have to.’ That's because it's possible to eat healthy and delicious meals in minutes, especially if you choose from this list of amazingly awesome time savers,” said Zinczenko, in his introduction to the segment.

To learn more about the innovative Nourish Bowl line and the ways in which retail customers can take advantage of the popular Mann’s brand, I reached out to Mann’s VP of Sales, Marketing, & Product Management, Rick Russo.

“We offer so many innovative products, it is only natural that we put an emphasis on proactively pitching media like the TODAY Show,” said Russo. “Jacob Shafer, our Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, connected with Eat This, Not That! reps at a media event in New York earlier this year. Through his work—and because Nourish Bowls fit Dave’s segment on the most exciting quick and easy foods on the market so perfectly—we were able achieve this great win for the brand.”

Russo told me that the feature was an ideal fit for Mann’s—a company dedicated to innovative and tasty value-added offerings that save consumers time and effort and help retail customers generate sales.

“We know that a large number of consumers are seeking healthy, convenient meal solutions,” continued Russo. “Making those solutions portable adds another layer of value for that consumer. We feel with Nourish Bowls we have filled that need with a variety of vegetables that are nutrient dense, on trend, and what consumers are reading about and looking for when they shop. We have been very conscious of the sauces and condiments we select so that the final product is not only great tasting, but well within the calorie goals of those who are watching that number.”

As Zinczenko noted on the TODAY Show, Mann’s Nourish Bowls can cut prep time from three-fourths of an hour to three minutes. And shaving more than forty minutes off a busy schedule has, to many consumers, been tremendously helpful—if not indispensable. And with flavors like Basil Pesto, featuring kohlrabi noodles, kale, and vegan Chick’n in pesto sauce and Parmesan cheese, and Tomato Bolognese, with kohlrabi noodles, carrot, and vegan sausage in marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese, Mann’s bowls will satisfy even the most discerning palate.

“Consumer acceptance was instantaneous. We have begun to connect through social media with what we call Nourish Bowl ‘fanatics.’ These are folks who talk about eating a Nourish Bowl 4-5 times per week,” Russo explained. “While they will use the product as standalone, we have also seen a multitude of ideas for using the product as a base for a larger meal with other add ins, or in some cases a foundation for an entrée recipe. The ideal Nourish Bowl customer is active, conscious of what they are putting into their body, and definitely seeking adventurous flavors.”

Several years ago, Russo noted, Mann Packing began to see the emergence of bowls in the foodservice arena, and with the success and popularity of the single-serve salad kit reaching an apogee, the forward-thinking company decided warm meal kits could be the next frontier for the fresh-cut veggie provider.

“Those two trends together laid out a pretty obvious opportunity for us as a major fresh cut vegetable producer. With some ideation from chef panels, and a lot of hard work from our new product development team, the first four concepts were born,” Russo noted, and he explained, Mann Packing is continuing to work on its innovative product line, paving the way for future offerings that propel the category forward. “We don’t plan on resting on our early success with Nourish Bowls. We are investing in equipment to provide us with a longer horizon in capacity, and planning more unique concepts in the line. Stay tuned.”

For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Mann Packing