Ezio Bondi and Matt DuPerrouzel from arte*

Flavor Innovation

Ezio Bondi and Matt DuPerrouzel from arte* share their approach to flavor innovation in their salad kits. They rely on data from Nielsen and retail stores to monitor product performance, identifying high-volume movers and underperforming SKUs. Ezio explains how they constantly innovate by developing new varieties and phasing out less successful ones to maintain high quality and flavor standards 1. Matt describes the pressure of gaining retailer approval, emphasizing the importance of retailer relationships in securing shelf space and feedback 2.

We're constantly having those conversations with retailers to stay on top of it.

--- Ezio Bondi

Their strategy involves rebranding and in-store promotions to boost mid-tier flavors.

   

Feedback Utilization

Arte* employs various strategies to gather customer feedback and refine their products. Ezio Bondi highlights the challenges of collecting feedback due to the fragmented distribution network, but emphasizes the importance of demos and pop-ups to engage directly with customers 3. They also utilize social media and email to gather insights, although the feedback loop is not massive. Matt DuPerrouzel notes their competitive advantage in being local and nimble, allowing for quick development and testing of new flavors 3.

We have an incredible development team that's really dialed in.

--- Matt DuPerrouzel

Their process includes market research and internal tastings to identify promising new flavors.