PRESIDENT’S CORNER
This bloom season came and went quickly, officially concluding on March 8, with temperatures in the high 60s and 70s. With beekeepers busy moving hives out of the orchards, growers are doing post-bloom preparations to ensure full care and prevention of fungal diseases. We will have a better look at crop development in the coming months.
Here at Blue Diamond , our teams are fully charged up and executing our plans, which are at or ahead of schedule. As part of our Ingredients business, we launched four flavors including Hickory, Honey Roasted, Strawberry, and Spicy Chile in eight countries within the European Union. We have seen success here, and we are in the process of evaluating a couple more flavors for a launch later in the year. We are also continuing to have success with our cover crop program, which is a real differentiator within the industry and drives value for our growers. Similarly, our Bee Friendly Farming® Almonds project with KIND and Kite Hill recently launched a protein cream cheese using Blue Diamond Blanched Lightly Roasted Almond Butter. In the international space, we have exciting new products backed by K-pop stars in South Korea, and we continue to see how the almond category is also growing in South Africa. We know our brand carries weight across the world, and we are looking forward to further leveraging that weight as we continue to build partnerships and strengthen our position. From a commercial perspective, we have increased our social engagement, and our new packaging boosts shelf impact and conversion while strengthening brand equity. We are also expanding our portfolio to reach younger consumers.
Even though the category still faces headwinds, Almond Breeze ® here in the United States is seeing strong growth, most notably in the 96-ounce size. We are most excited about the recent launch of our new Blue Diamond Almondmilk which is now in stores, with over twenty key accounts, and counting, accepting it nationally. This new product is made with more almonds per serving than the leading almondmilk brand and will complement our product lines and attract new consumers. We are also revitalizing our Nut-Thins® line and are excited to be launching Dill Pickle flavor in April. On the snack nut front, we have shown up in big ways online with the Nutty Cruiser™ and with new marketing to ensure our audiences notice us. Keep an eye out for more starting in mid-April. It is clear that our work from the orchards to our facilities and our markets is building real momentum. The progress we are making reflects the strength of our teams and the power of our brand, and we are well positioned to keep growing and innovating. There is plenty to be excited about in the months ahead. With the weather changing and warmer days coming our way, I cannot wait to see the opportunities that are still left for us to uncover.
Kai Bockmann President & CEO
Kai Bockmann President & CEO
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ALMOND FACTS
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