VANCOUVER, British Columbia, APRIL 22, 2024 — North American potato industry leader RPE LLC. BB #:105471, a reliable year-round supplier of russet, red and yellow commodity and baby potatoes, will be a proud first-time exhibitor April 23-25 at CPMA in Vancouver, British Columbia.
A full portfolio solutions provider of commodity, specialty baby and value-add potatoes, RPE is the exclusive sales representative, marketer and distributor behind the powerhouse Tasteful Selections and Farmer’s Promise brands. Farmer’s Promise is the fastest-growing potato brand in the United States.
“We are off-the-charts enthusiastic about bringing retail solutions to Canada for the first time while featuring our high-performing, category-leading brands,” said RPE Vice President of Business Development Drew Callaghan. “RPE distinguishes itself,” Callaghan added, “with a full solution model supplying high-quality potatoes and onions 52 weeks a year across all sizes — organic and conventional — in all colors and formats.”
RPE has established diverse geographic grower partnerships that enable it to source, pack and distribute conventional and organic Canada-grown commodity and specialty potatoes to Canadian retailers. Its portfolio includes numerous differentiation opportunities for ambitious regional and national Canadian retailers aspiring to grow their categories.
“By expanding our supply base and logistics capabilities into Canada, our customers have more flexibility and diversity of supplies,” Callaghan noted, “as well as shorter distances in the supply chain to get potatoes and onions to the shelf.”
On-the-shelf differentiation, showcased at CPMA and available only from RPE, includes:
• Tasteful Selections® 3-pound Mesh Pillow Pack baby potato line-upof Honey Gold® signature flavor, Ruby Sensation® red potatoes and a Sunburst Blend® 2-color option
• Innovative culinary product from Tasteful Selections®: Potatoes Your Way, available in two broad-appeal flavors — Garlic Parsley and Zesty Italian Herb. Potatoes Your Way emphasizes meal prep convenience and eco-conscious sustainability
• A 52-week organic potatoes solution — for baby potatoes and A size — powered by expansive, certified partner grower acreage, a crucial opportunity for increased consumer consumption
• Various conventional commodity potato offerings are available in bulk, in 3, 5, and 10-pound pack sizes. Russet, red and yellow potatoes are available in all four size formats
Callaghan said RPE also may be a good fit for Canadian retailers who have been early adopters of sustainable supply chain sourcing solutions. “RPE is an innovation, packaging solutions and sustainability leader,” said Callaghan, noting it was a 2022 Green Power Leadership Award winner for market influence by persuading grower partners to embrace clean, renewable energy sources to grow, pack and distribute fresh potatoes while participating in a Green-e® program that certifies renewable energy that meets the highest standards in North America.
RPE also emphasizes locally-grown stories of farmers who produce and nourish Canada’s shoppers with healthy, fresh produce in the, Farmer’s Promise and Tasteful Selections brands. “As a company, we are the industry-facing representatives of our farmers and their families,” Callaghan said. “Our focus on local sourcing and telling our growers’ story is important to today’s consumer. We carry our farmer’s family story forward to the industry with a humble pride and support this value creation for our retailer partners.”
CPMA attendees will find RPE representatives in Booth 1617.
About RPE:
RPE was established in 1971, earning over those five decades a reputation as a produce industry innovator. RPE provides value in new and exciting ways, most especially as a solutions provider helping retail customers grow their categories.
Delivering potato and onion category growth with best-in-class products and strategies, RPE collaborates with customers on rigorous product and culinary development as well as innovative brand and sustainable packaging solutions. Category and E-commerce insights allow RPE to align solutions with consumer shopping trends and customer assortment strategies to maximize sales at the retail level.
RPE is an industry leader with reliable year-round Idaho russet, red and yellow commodity, non-Idaho russet and bite-size potato supplies, packed and distributed for customers as part of their private label programs, as well as in proprietary Tasteful Selections® bite-size potato and Farmer’s Promise commodity brands.
Drew Callaghan
Vice President, Business Development
RPE, LLC
267.566.5246
drew.callaghan@rpespud.com
