#2 – Yasso Poppables

R&FF: Congratulations on placing second in our 2021 Best New Frozen Retail Products Contest. What does the recognition mean to Yasso?

Shiesley: We are honored to be recognized for our newest innovation, Yasso Poppables. We are always looking for ways to disrupt the better-for-you frozen category and the launch of Yasso Poppables marks a new phase of snacking innovation and creativity within the company. We are thrilled about what’s in store for the future.

R&FF: What innovative features do your Poppables have that helped it finish second out of 20 finalists?

Shiesley: First of all, they are incredibly snackable. At just 60 calories each and made with the goodness of Greek yogurt, they are the perfect round, bite-sized better-for-you snack. Yasso Poppables are available in four flavors including coffee, sea salt caramel, vanilla bean, and mint, and staying true to Yasso standards.

R&FF: What is unique about your packaging for Poppables?

Shiesley: Each Yasso Poppable is packed in a tray for easy snacking, sharing, and a quick grab for the constant business of our everyday lives.

R&FF: How many stores are Poppables in today?

Shiesley: Today, Yasso Poppables are sold in about 1,000 stores and we’re excited about our growing distribution. Yasso Poppables will be available nationwide this summer.

R&FF: Logistically, how are your products distributed to stores, and how has Yasso’s direct-to-consumer and e-commerce strategy grown over the past year?

Shiesley: Yasso Poppables, along with our broader portfolio, are delivered through frozen warehouses and distribution to grocery stores nationwide. We have seen significant growth in our omni-channel business including the launch of DTC in the summer of 2020. We are confident that frozen temp state is just getting started by the shift in consumer behaviors as they find optimized ways to ship the “last mile” and we are seeing significant returns by elevating our presence across a number of platforms from Instacart to retailer online pickup and delivery.

R&FF: What sustainable programs does Yasso have today? What areas of sustainability are most important to your company?

Shiesley: In 2020, we optimized our cartons and saved over 180 million tons of corrugate. We also increased the amount of product that can fit on each truckload by 42%, reducing the number of trucks on the road by 336, annually. This removed 443,000 miles travelled annually, which is enough to get to the moon and back.

R&FF: What’s on the horizon for Yasso the rest of 2021 and into 2022?

Shiesley: We recently launched a Creamy Guarantee initiative and reformulated our Mint Chocolate Chip flavor to be even mintier. We are dedicated to setting the gold standard for permissible indulgence and delivering the highest consumer satisfaction and will continue to innovate to satisfy customer requests throughout the coming years.