buyers' picks
BACK TO SCHOOL
Back-to-school season is a time for consumers
to reevaluate dietary habits and turn over
a new leaf as they send their kids back to
the classroom. Specialty Food asks a trio of
buyers for their product picks. Better-for-you
alternatives and grab-and-go snacks and
beverages are among the recommendations.
BY GEORGE HAJJAR
Summer Thompson, buyer, Market
Hall Foods, Oakland, California
• Big Spoon Roasters Almond Butter
• Bjorn Qorn Assorted Popcorn
• Calivirgin Bountiful Basil Olive Oil
• Dry Botanical Bubbly Watermelon
• Heidi's Strawberry Jam
• Kolsvart Candy Fish, Raspberry Fish
• Koeze Company Cream-Nut Crunchy Peanut Butter
Jennifer Rojas Cline, category
manager, Bi-Rite Family of
Businesses, San Francisco
• Cocojune Kids Organic Dairy-free
Yogurt, Strawberry Banana
• Dram Mushroom Cola,
Adaptogenic Sparkling Cola
• Leisure Project Hydrating
Wellness-ade, Mango Ginger
• Ritual Coffee Hayes Jammer Oat M*lk Latte
• Sea Monsters Baked Supergrain & Seaweed
Puffs, Sour Cream and Onion
• Table Foods Dosa Chips
• Wildwonder Strawberry Passion Prebiotic
and Probiotic Sparkling Drink
Dwight Richmond, director of
center store, Town & Country
Markets, Poulsbo, Washington
• Eat the Change Organic Cosmic Carrot
Chews Orange Mango Moonbeam
• Nixie Sparkling Water, Black Cherry Lime
• Oats in Coats Instant Oatmeal, Apple
• Pop & Bottle Oat Milk Latte,
Vanilla Cold Brew
• Sea Monsters Baked Supergrain &
Seaweed Puffs, Vegan Ranch
• Unite Food PB & Jelly Protein Bar
"Ritual Coffee's first foray into the
ready-to-drink realm is a homerun
and a must-have for parents adjusting
to a new school schedule. Made
with single-origin coffee and Minor
Figures Oat M*lk, it's heading to the
top of our RTD coffee sales chart."
—Jennifer Rojas Cline, category manager,
Bi-Rite Family of Businesses
"Learning is not just in books or a classroom
but in the care and thoughtfulness parents and
students put into their daily diets and eating
routines. Whether it is a healthy start to the day, on-the-go
nutrition, or simple brain-charging snacking, [the back-
to-school] season not only starts journeys in education,
but it promotes eating habits that last a lifetime."
—Dwight Richmond, director of center store,
Town & Country Markets
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP RIGHT ):
EAT THE CHANGE,
UNITE FOOD,
SEA MONSTERS,
RITUAL COFFEE
8 SPECIALTY FOOD SPECIALTYFOOD.COM
George Hajjar is content development associate at Specialty Food Association.
