The Future of Tomato Products

Companies within the tomato products category have been able to keep traditional Italian flavors and ingredients at the heart of production while providing consumers with high quality convenience. These leading producers realize the importance of not sacrificing taste for convenience and have been able to develop a loyal consumer base while maintaining innovation in order to bring new things to the table.

“Actually the tomato product category at this precise moment in the US is quite a challenging period because of inflation,” Ilaria Bonucchi, Marketing Manager with Pomi USA said. “And at the same time, it has always been characterized by the market that is fragmented; there are so many brands and so many manufacturers in this category. Luckily, they offer a variety of products, but at the same time, it can be a bit confusing for consumers when it is in front of them on the shelves because you see a lot of different brands and origins of the products. So, a lot of variety and great choices, but at the same time it can be confusing. It’s a challenging period because of inflation and also because of the fact that it’s so fragmented. In any case, it is increasing and since it is a category that is absolutely in line with those consumer trends related to the vegan, vegetarian and so on, it’s a growing category.”

“The commitment of Pomi is to offer innovation in the category—that could be packaging innovation, product innovation and content innovation,” Bonucchi said. “We are really committed to offering this kind of innovation to retailers and consumers. We have always been committed to sustainability and the respect of the environment. Our strategy for a couple of years has been to offer retailers and consumers sustainable products, not only for the content, the tomato as is, but also the packaging. And actually, this year we are trying to keep the category relevant and innovative through the launch of the new product that is a tomato puree. It’s the first plant-based package in the category. It means that the protective layer and the cap of the package came from sugar cane, and this is the first in the category and it reflects our commitment to sustainability and the environment.”

Alongside Pomi’s continued commitment to keeping high-quality Italian ingredients at the core of its products, category leader La Doria Group started in 1954 in Angri, a province in Salerno. The company was founded by Diodato Ferraioli under the name La Doria. The company focused on selling peeled tomatoes and tomato paste in the Italian market and then expanded to the US market. La Doria began adding several items into its product lines such as tomato pulps and purees. In 1975, the company expanded into Germany, France and Australia and three years later started selling products under a private label. As a family-owned and operated business, the company has since then grown to become an international powerhouse within the tomato products category.

Recently, La Doria shared its sustainability report, which addressed the company’s accomplishments.

“The year 2022 was marked by some major difficulties, from rising raw material costs to high energy prices with all its natural consequences. However, our company has shown incredible resilience, reaching ambitious goals without at the same time leaving behind our sustainability principles and objectives,” said La Doria Group CEO Antonio Ferraioli. “This extraordinary achievement makes us proud but also aware of how sustainable our growth must be and of our responsibility towards the earth, the supply chain, the communities and territories of reference and the people who choose every day to dedicate their work to our company. We are happy with the results achieved in 2022, but we are convinced that there is always room for improvement, which is why we have already planned numerous initiatives and activities for 2023 that will help further consolidate our culture of sustainability.”

Founded in 1905 and family-owned and operated, The Fremont Company has been a leading producer of tomato-based sauces for more than a century. The Fremont Company is widely known for its private brand ketchup, which has been a best-seller for the company for more than 90 years. The ketchup is made with California tomatoes, is sold at a lower price point and packaged in clear PET bottles.

Also family owned, Red Gold has four generations of experience in the tomato products category. The company has grown, produced and packaged all its products in the US for more than 40 years. There are more than 50 family farms that grow more than 14,000 acres of tomatoes for Red Gold. According to the company, its products are so fresh that even after the canning process, consumers may be able to see the interior of the seed structure after the seed has compressed. The company cans its products without preservatives and grows the tomatoes without GMOs and consider its products free of the top eight allergies. Recently, Red Gold launched two new private label plantbased sauces. The products are made with no added sugar, tomato puree, diced tomatoes, plant-based protein and extra virgin olive oil.

“Our new plant-based Italian sausage pasta sauce and plant-based Bolognese pasta sauce represent a new opportunity to offer tomato sauces with plantbased meat alternatives in the center aisle of stores,” say Colt Reichart, Red Gold’s Senior Director of Marketing. “The sauces have a meaty flavor offering three grams of protein in the plantbased Italian sausage pasta sauce and five grams of protein in the plant-based Bolognese pasta sauce per half-cup serving.”

Alongside this launch, Red Gold also opened a new high-tech 250,000-square-feet warehouse in Alexandria, IN.

“We broke ground on the warehouse in November of 2021 and we are excited to bring this project to completion,” said Brian Reichart, President and CEO. “The new building has 14 dock doors to support Red Gold’s manufacturing growth and adds 82 additional truck-trailer parking spaces for our customers picking up loads or parking for Red Gold’s RG Transport fleet.”

WINNER OF THE 2023 SOFI AWARD FOR BEST NEW PRODUCT IN THE SAUCE CATEGORY

Experience the authentic taste of Italy with our velvety, smooth and tasty Passata puree. We’re the first in the category to introduce a plant-based sugar cane packaging, driving category growth while contributing to a sustainable and greener future.

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