Jac. Vandenberg’s SUNRAYS® Grapes Bring Light and Excitement
TERRYTOWN, NY - What could be a better gift this holiday season than the announcement that a new brand of table grapes will be hitting the market? Jac. Vandenberg is giving the ultimate gift as it has announced its newest addition to the grape category with the introduction of its SUNRAYS® branded grapes. The first containers of the grapes arrived this past weekend, making the international trip from Peru to Philadelphia.
“When we began planning for this expansion in January, we had no idea that a pandemic was going to hit. But here we are and to our team’s great credit, in spite of all the challenges of 2020, we have been able to develop a really amazing addition for the American and Canadian grape category,” said John Paap, Brand Manager. “It’s really quite fitting that out of the challenges and dark times of 2020 that SUNRAYS is making its entry into the grape category.”
Development and preparation for the introduction of SUNRAYS branded grapes started at the beginning of 2020, according to a press release. The original SUNRAYS launched in 2017 with the introduction of mandarin oranges, and has been on a mission to deliver not only premium quality, but focus on social and environmental issues as well.
To ensure premium quality grapes, Jac. Vandenberg partnered with grape growers in Peru, Chile, and Mexico to source its new SUNRAYS grapes and to give retailers and consumers a consistent supply from November through July.
SUNRAYS branded grapes will include proprietary varieties like Sweet Globes, Sweet Celebration, Jacks Salute, Timco, Allison, and Sweet Favors.
“Over the last 75 years, we have been fortunate as a company to have established amazing relationships with many top, quality grape growers around the world. In that time, we have learned a lot from those relationships and how to provide our retail partners with the very highest quality grapes. The introduction of SUNRAYS grapes is a testament to those quality relationships. SUNRAYS grapes represent the very best of what we have to offer,” explained Paap.
In addition to grower partnerships, through partnerships with foundations like Save the Children®, SUNRAYS has been successful in creating a “feel good” brand that truly does deliver new light into the world. The brand lives up to its tagline of Snack With Impact®, having donated over $225,000 to Save the Children since its inception in 2017.
Simultaneously, the brand has also delivered eco-friendly solutions to improve on the company’s environmental impact. In 2019, the brand introduced its eco-box and this past summer unveiled its bio-bag, both of which reduce plastic consumption and greenhouse emissions.
To support the brand’s retail partners, the company has created tools for success, which retailers can register online to gain access to. This includes exclusive crop updates providing details on grower feedback and pictures from the farm, volume outlook, market trends, best weeks to promote, and more.
“By providing this detailed, intimate level of information, we are giving all the tools possible to our retail partners so they can be as successful as they possibly can when it comes to planning, marketing, and understanding the product,” continued Paap. “It all comes down to making sure everyone is successful and happy from the retailer all the way back to the grower.”
With the SUNRAYS brand moving full steam ahead, what will be the next category that it will shine its light on? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we bring you the answers.
