Pandemic Lockdown – and Great Taste – Unlock Strong Demand for Prime Planet Tostones

Better health and wellness are the primary drivers among today’s consumers – an idea that was further amplified during COVID, as people began focusing more than ever on food quality and nutrition.

 

“We all witnessed how the pandemic turned the food industry upside down overnight,” says Prime Planet’s Marie Gonzalez, “but now we are seeing that many of those changes are here to stay.” Gonzalez is head of Business Development for Miami-based Prime Planet, purveyors of all-natural green plantain chips, or Tostones.

 

Several studies are now showing how lockdown measures caused lasting behavioral changes in relation to food selection and consumption – and how consumers continue to choose healthy and sustainable diets. These new habits also include eating more varied foods – especially when it comes to snack products.

 

Prime Planet is way ahead of the curve as its wide variety of “better for you” Tostones snacks have long been a favorite among health-conscious shoppers.

 

“And now, as the brand moves further into the mainstream American snack market, Prime Planet is aligning with a growing number of national distributors and retail food chains looking to meet the new demand for healthier snack options,” she says.

 

“Of course it also helps that our chips are truly delicious – and come in four unique flavors,” stresses Gonzalez, including Original, Sweet Chili, Lime, and Habenaro.

 

Here’s the rundown on the top nutritional qualities of Prime Planet Tostones that stand out most to health-conscious shoppers all across the U.S.

 

No Preservatives

Foods on the market that contain the most preservatives are processed, packaged foods like crackers, cereals, breads, and snacks. Preservatives are added to food to fight spoilage caused by bacteria, molds, fungus, and yeast – whereby keeping food fresher for longer periods of time.

 

Sounds good, right. Well, there’s more to the story. One of the most harmful effects of preservatives in food items is their ability to transform into carcinogen agents. Sustained and excessive consumption of artificial preservatives can also weaken heart tissues, which is especially dangerous for the aged people.

 

No bueno, says Prime Planet. We can live without that!

 

Low Sodium 

Sodium is an important mineral that performs many essential functions in your body. But like many things, too much can bring on too many problems. Excess salt in a diet is often troublesome for people with conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease.

 

Many unhealthy foods are extremely high in sodium. Fast food, packaged items, and many popular snack foods are not only loaded with salt but also tend to be high in unhealthy fats and calories.

 

It’s good to have options – and Prime Planet is the healthier one.

 

No Added Sugars

Prime Planet can make the claim that its products have “no added sugars.” In other words, our chips are not processed with any sugar or sugar-containing ingredients.

 

While naturally occurring sugar in fruits and vegetables is part of a healthy diet, added sugar in soft drinks, snacks, and processed foods should be consumed at a minimum. Products without added sugar can of course contain naturally occurring sugar, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing – it’s the way we consume it that can be detrimental to our health.

 

The benefit of less added sugar is that it may help stop weight gain and fat buildup linked to heart disease. The benefit also is our chips taste great without it.

 

No Dairy

Flavored chips – the flavoring that is often added to chips – can contain lactose and other milk ingredients including lactose, casein, and whey. Prime Planet chips do not.

 

Our delicious chips are a perfect choice for snackers who have made the decision to eliminate or reduce dairy from their diets. We don’t actually need dairy – it’s not the magical answer to strong bones. In fact, less dairy can actually help people achieve weight loss, clear up their skin, and help digestion.

 

We’re not saying you shouldn’t drink milk, of course.  We’re simply suggesting if you’re trying to stay away from dairy, now you have more reason to eat more of our chips!

 

No nuts

Avoiding nuts means more than just not eating them. It also means not eating any foods that might contain tree nuts or peanuts as ingredients. What’s the best way to be sure a food is nut free? Read the label!

 

Food labels can help consumers with food allergies to avoid foods or ingredients that they or their family members are allergic to. In fact, federal law requires that the labels of most packaged foods marketed in the U.S. disclose – in simple-to-understand terms – when they are made with a “major food allergen.”

 

So here’s something else that’s simple-to-understand: Tostones are nut free! Period.

 

No cholesterol

Since the ‘90s, food manufacturers have been required to provide information on certain nutrients of greatest public concern. As a result, cholesterol is required under the Nutrition Facts panel of food labels, so you can make informed decisions on the snack products you consume.

 

Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can cause the development of fatty deposits in your blood vessels making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Hello heart disease!

 

Some people can handle more cholesterol than others. Some have trouble with it. Prime Planet plays it safe – with no cholesterol at all. Hello healthier chip!

 

0g Trans Fat

Trans fat is considered the worst type of fat you can eat. Also called trans-fatty acids, it can raise your “bad” cholesterol while also lowering your “good” cholesterol. Sounds like a formula for trouble, especially since a diet laden with trans fat increases your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of adults.

 

The most commonly eaten form of trans fat is in processed foods like crackers, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods – and some snack foods. Count Prime Planet among the growing list of responsible manufacturers that have voluntarily reduced or removed trans-fat from their products.

 

We’ve got the right formula: 0g Trans Fat.

 

Kosher

The K, circled K, and the circled U are all meant to indicate a product is kosher. You’ll see on the front of every package of Prime Planet Tostones that we’ve met the standards to carry the circled U.

 

That’s a big deal because this registered mark can only be used with the permission of its owner, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the undisputed heavyweight of kosher-certifying organizations.

 

A product is “kosher” if a rabbi determines and certifies that it meets the requirements of Jewish dietary law. A snack chip is “great” if it’s made by Prime Planet.

 

Certified Delicious

In the snack world, food safety and hygiene are also more important than ever. Prime Planet Fresh is way ahead of the curve here too, holding multiple U.S. State and Federal certifications that ensure customer satisfaction. For more on this front, please view our previous blog entitled, Prime Planet Tostones are Certified to Make you Feel Good About Snacking.”  

Prime Planet Tostones are Certified to Make you Feel Good About Snacking

Health conscious consumers these days are hungry for snack options that don’t just taste great but stand out for a variety of other important reasons – with personal health and wellbeing topping the list.

 

According to Marie Gonzalez, Business Development Manager for Miami-based Prime Planet brands, consumers have never been more vigilant about what is in their food, and the impact of food production on the environment, animals, and people.

 

“Parents especially want snacks they can feel good about feeding their families – and the assurance they made the right choice.”

 

As the prevalence of third-party certifications surrounding food production and sourcing grows, Prime Planet sees food certifications as a valuable tool to provide increased transparency to business practices and standards – ideals that more and more wholesalers, distributors, and retailers also appreciate.

 

Prime Planet’s all-natural Tostones are made with care from premium green plantains harvested under the highest quality standards and technology to offer not only delicious flavor, but are a healthier alternative to traditional snacks like corn and potato chips.

 

“Food quality and safety certifications convey to consumers and the marketplace, as well as to key stakeholders, that Prime Planet has successfully met the requirements of a national or internationally recognized best practice approach,” says Gonzalez, “It’s what responsible shoppers want to know!”

 

And apparently she’s right! A recent study shows that three-fourths of consumers see one or more food certifications on a package are important when it comes to choosing which products to buy. What’s more, they are even willing to pay a premium for a product with a certification.

 

So here’s the rundown on top-tier food certifications that Prime Planet has achieved to date:

 

Gluten-Free (GF)

National Celiac Association Certified

With Prime Planet’s displays of this Recognition Seal, customers are assured they are choosing a product that has undergone the most stringent third-party gluten-free certification available for product, processing, and packaging. Excluding gluten for non-medical reasons is not necessarily recommended – but no matter the motivation, Prime Planet Gluten-Free chips are highly recommended for their great taste. Dig in!

 

Vegan Certified

No animal products in our Tostones

By carrying the Certified Vegan Logo on every bag, Prime Planet guarantees its Tostones are 100% vegan. That’s because documentation on each ingredient had to be provided to show our chips are neither animal derived nor tested on animals. Going onto and all plant-based diet can significantly minimize a whole host of illnesses and health concerns. But for vegans, it’s also a matter of principles and conviction.

 

Non-GMO NSF

National Sanitation Foundation Certified

When shoppers put a bag of Non-GMO NSF-Certified Prime Planet Tostones into their cart, they can be assured they’re buying a product uses only FDA-approved raw materials. This key quality of our chips means our products are produced without genetic engineering and its ingredients are not derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). It’s also proof we are compliant with the most stringent provisions for testing, traceability, and segregation.

 

HACCP Certified

Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point

Food safety and hygiene are more important than ever to post-pandemic consumers – and by adopting HACCP’s proactive plan, we can ensure consumers that the products they consume are as safe as science and technology allow. By monitoring and detecting potential problems throughout the entire process, from growing and harvesting, to manufacturing and distribution, Prime Planet can significantly reduced the likelihood of harmful microbiological and chemical exposures.

 

WCA Certified

Workplace Condition Assessment

WCA is a social system certification program that ensures alignment with legal, ethical, and secure manufacturing processes that secure and maintain safe workplace conditions. A globally accepted standard among international customers and retail stores, Prime Planet participation in WCA audits tells the world food-provider community that the overall workplace conditions are monitored, audited, and consistently meet the WCA stringent compliance codes.

Prime Planet is on course to change the face of healthier-for-you snacking across the world

With its growing line of unique and delicious Tostones, Prime Planet is determined to build the best possible relationships with customers by providing value and quality – while making great inroads to the mainstream American snack market.

 

Promoted as a “better for you” product, Prime Planet  is a natural snack brand made from fresh green plantains sourced from Ecuador, hand-crafted, and packaged there on the spot following strict production protocols. What results is a fresh and flavorful plantain chip that’s packed with all-natural ingredients – and an irresistible crunch.

 

“We took our time to find the best possible quality ingredients because anything else simply wouldn’t do,” says Marie Gonzalez, with Prime Planet Business Development.

 

Prime Planet Tostones come in a range of flavors, from Lime and Sweet Chile to Habanero and the Original salted variety.

 

The History of a Chip

Initially operating under the heading of Prime Fresh Products, Prime Planet launched in 2016 – and almost immediately set a trajectory toward success. After testing the waters with its initial line of Tostones in the Miami/South Florida market, and recognizing that the popularity of this new snack was taking off, by 2018 the time was right to further grow this fledgling division.

 

One of the first steps was to introduce a new slogan, “A Natural World of Flavor.” This creative tag line was conceived to drive home the point that by using simple yet innovative ingredients, snacking can be incorporated in a balanced diet while delivering to consumers the tastiest flavors on the planet.

 

Concurrently, in response to consumer testing and other key market factors, Prime Planet rolled out a new and improved version of the original thicker chip. Now lighter and crispier than ever, the reengineering of the product made them taste even better.

 

Says Gonzalez, “We are the pioneers of converting green plantains into all natural and ready-to-eat chips, and so perfecting the formula for production and widespread distribution was key. Essentially, we took a good chip and made it a whole lot better. In fact, when compared with the original chip, existing customers overwhelmingly loved the newer product.”

 

Prime Planet Tostones were also made easier to spot on grocer shelves. As a result of meeting certain standards that allowed the product to be re-designated a “mainstream snack,” Prime Planet made the critical move from the ethic section of stores to the official snack aisle.

 

 

The Prime Planet Difference 

Prime Planet continued its mission to strike a difference between other traditional banana chips or plantain chips on the market. By 2019, the manufacturer doubled down on the growing demand for their significantly better-tasting, better-textured chip, by aggressively touting the product’s multiple health benefits.

 

Turns out, nearly 50 percent of U.S. consumers say that natural ingredients and non-added sugar are the top reasons for adding snack items to their shopping baskets. So, not only do consumers get to enjoy a top-selling all-natural snack product with no added sugars or preservatives, they are also comforted to know Prime Planet’s unique plantain chips are also certified low sodium, NON GMO, GF, BASC, and RSPO palm oil.

 

What better way to call out these essential qualities than to prominently position the insignia for each across the front of every bag. And a packaging redesign in 2019 did just that, allowing health-conscious consumers to quickly spot the healthier snack benefits they desire.

 

Reaching for Regional Growth

As one of Prime Planet’s earliest retail distributors, Publix Supermarkets now features the highly popular chip brand in more than 900 grocery store locations across Florida and five other states in the Southeastern U.S.

 

“Additionally, we’ve been growing distribution and marketing of our product via Central Market in Texas, Safeway stores in Northern California, Burlington Stores in the Northeast U.S., and multiple other independent grocers,” says Gonzalez, noting that Prime Planet also is now the preferred Tostones snack brand in Puerto Rico and The Bahamas.

 

“During 2020 and 2021, our focus also included expanding our presence in e-commerce market through alliances with Amazon, Kroger Marketplace, Walmart Marketplace, and other online services. Tostones are also available from the Prime Planet online store.

 

Looking Ahead

Going forward, Prime Planet as a brand will continue to pursue opportunities to grow partnerships with many of the biggest names in retail food distribution, in order to make its outstanding product available in multiple new markets nationwide.

 

The company is also busy developing new and natural snack products and flavors – ensuring that Prime Planet stays ahead of the wave in the ever-changing and highly complex U.S. snack food market.

 

Prime Planet Roots

Based Prime Planet is the youngest entity among Miami-based Prime Group. As an innovative international food company, Prim Planet’s corporate mission is simply to bring delicious, nutritious, and healthier products to people’s lives.

 

Prime Planet’s roots stem from the formation of its parent company that was founded in 2001, managing the export of fresh-cut flowers from Ecuador to the U.S. Over two decades, the company has grown to become on of the most trusted suppliers of perishables and other retail and wholesale foods, while at the same time establishing its high standards of customer service and quality products all across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

 

Knowledge, expertise, and direct access to leading global logistics and retail/wholesale food distributors are the prime benefits of being affiliated with its sister companies under the Prime Group umbrella, whereby allowing Prime Planet to find the shortest and most efficient commercial routes for ideal product placement.

 

Other successful Prime Group companies include Prime Fresh Handling, PrimeAir, and Prime Logistics.

 

Contact Us

Prime Planet is located at 1301 NW 84th Ave. Suite 127, Miami, FL 33126 USA. For information, visit www.primeplanet.net; or contact Marie Gonzales with Prime Planet Business Development at 305-592-2044; or via email at bdm@primefreshproducts.com.

 

Nurturing Community Spirit is a Prime Quality

Having a heart – by “giving back” to the local community, diving into volunteerism, or working directly with charitable organizations – is a positive way to show employees and customers that what’s important in business is more than just dollars and cents.

As Helen Keller said, “Alone, we can do so little, together, we can do so much.”

At Prime Group, we strongly believe that any company – big or small – with a sense of social responsibility and a volunteerism-friendly culture for their employees can truly make a difference. That’s why we strongly encourage all businesses to improve the quality of life in their communities through local projects and volunteerism.

It Takes a Planet

“Over the holidays, most of us had the blessings of food on the table and a home from which our families celebrated,” Marie Gonzalez, manager of Prime Planet Business Development. “But at the same time, so many others were not so fortunate.”

To help, Prime Group provided a Prime Planet Donation for the Miami Global Colombian Lions Club project to feed homeless residents.

“Our employees took to the streets of Miami and provided goodie bags with a sandwich, beverage, and snacks that homeless residents could later enjoy,” Gonzalez notes. “It was a small, but meaningful food donation. Not only was it the right thing to do, but it helped these less fortunate people know that we care.”

On the Frontline for Kids

Individual employees who pick a personal passion for their community service also can enrich their own personal lives, which often makes for a happier employee in general, as well. For example, in the past, Igor Vilas Boas, operations manager at Prime Logistics and his wife Diana have volunteered their time on weekends at His House Children’s Home of North Miami, a frontline provider of residential and foster-care services dedicated to restoring the lives of children.

In addition to helping the kids and teens, the couple soon discovered that volunteering was a great way to disconnect from work after a busy day and foster a good work-life balance. Studies show that the act of giving to others can help employees enhance both mental and physical health.

More Than Just Chipping In

For example, over the past several months, Prime Group’s global headquarters in Miami, served as the local arrival point for Girl Scout Cookies in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. More than 60,000 boxes of cookies were warehoused at Prime Group’s Doral warehouse facility, and our company partnered with the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida for the launch of the 2021 cookie season.

Over several weeks, employees worked side by side with the Girl Scouts to prepare for the launch of the cookie distribution phase of the program from the warehouse.

“It was so much more than just another successful logistics operation,” says Edgar Campana, general manager-Prime Logistics. “It was also our way of being a good corporate citizen and helping to foster the development of future female leaders.” He also points out that volunteering and working on community projects can benefit business too.

According to a recent global study on corporate social responsibility, 93 percent of consumers polled by Cone Communications said they’d have a more positive image of a company that’s socially responsible. Ninety percent of those surveyed also said they’d be more likely to trust that company, while 88 percent would be “more loyal” and continue using that firm’s products or services.

We’ve discovered that when we support our local communities, our business has higher local visibility, more robust networking opportunities, a team-focused sense of accomplishment among our employees, and an enhanced business reputation.

Prime Group encourages all companies to pick their passion – by finding projects that can make their community a better place to live and work. It can change lives.

So why not set up a volunteer action plan within your company? Encourage employees to pick a charity or community project and volunteer. As a business, look for corporate projects that improve the lives of local residents, and in some cases, even save lives.

As the 19th century playwright and theater director Henrik Ibsen said: “Community is like a ship. Everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.”

Home sweet home – with a bag of Tostones!

If you’re stuck at home right now with a bag of Tostones, you’re not alone.

As the nation struggles due to the spread of the Coronavirus, many companies, including Prime Fresh Products, have dispatched staff to work remotely at home.

While this may present whole new set of “workplace” challenges, the employees here are as committed as ever to being responsive to customers, especially to retailers of Prime Planet Tostones. Because they’re really taking off these days.

It appears homebound consumers are looking for a healthier chip while working or watching the kids all day – and they are finding Tostones irresistible.

With orders for all four varieties on the rise, one might say we are doing our part to help people snack their way through this crisis.

“We have seen an increase of more than 40 percent in orders for April,” says Marie Gonzalez who heads up business development for Prime Fresh Products and the Prime Planet brand.

“This may be due in part to a big spring promotion, and the introduction of our Tostones in Puerto Rico and Orlando, but it is also clear that this COVID-19 situation has nudged end costumers who desire a really good healthy snack.”

Historically, during emergency situations such as hurricanes and major snowstorms, there is a precipitous increase in demand for cookies, basic chips, and other salty snacks due the families remaining at home.

But because consumers are being more health conscious these days, they are looking for alternative, better-for-you snacks. Add to that the fact that Americans are increasingly more multicultural, so they also are open to trying new products.

“Clearly the big selling point is its appeal as an all-natural product,” Gonzalez added. “Not to mention the overall quality and flavor of our crunchier chips when compared among competitors.”

She says the other standout is the wide range of flavors available, with the sweet chili variety being the latest to be introduced. This delicious chip serves to complement the existing lineup of popular flavors that includes Habanero, Lime, and the Original chip.

One last point is that at a time when many people are staying at home and self-isolating, they are looking for products that not only taste great, but also have a long shelf life.

About Prime Fresh Products
Founded in 2016 PFP finds the finest food products from around the world and then import, distributes, and transports them on to the shelf in the U.S. Prime Planet is a brand of PFP that that focuses on the production of ready to eat green plantain chips, called Tostones, for the retail and wholesale industry.

PFP is a division of Prime Group Holdings, located at 1301 NW 84th Ave. Suite 127, Miami, FL 33126 USA. For information, visit www.primefreshproducts.com or contact Marie Gonzalez at 305-592-2044 or via email at bdm@primefreshproducts.com.

Prime Planet Tostones are an odds-on favorite at Vegas snack show

Prime Fresh Products is taking its new and improved Prime Planet Tostones on the road – most recently to the ECRM Snack Food Show in Las Vegas, where it quickly became a big winner.

U.S.-based Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing Company, or ECRM for short, brings efficiencies to the buying and selling process by optimizing product assortments and enhancing supplier-buyer collaboration.The show at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Feb. 19 – 21, focused on presenting new snack items and promotional opportunities to buyers from across all retail channels.

It was here that Prime Planet, the tropical better-for-you snack line of Prime Fresh Products, had an opportunity to meet with big buyers such as CVS, Walgreens, BJ’S, 7-Eleven, Kmart, Burlington’s, and many others.

It was also here that the company’s crunchy green plantain chips became, in the parlance of the Las Vegas scene, an odds-on favorite.

According to Marcia Tipiana, Operations Coordinator for Doral-based Prime Fresh Products, the three-day conference netted meetings with more than 50 retailers.

“We made sure that those in attendance walked away with all the information they needed to make sound decisions on our product line. And in the case of Prime Planet Tostones, this strategy worked.”

 

Behind the Scenes

In the months leading up to this show, consumer response to Prime Planet Tostones at grocery stores in South Florida had gotten so strong that it became clear the time had come to expand product reach nationwide, beyond just the Latino market.

“But to do so, we had to change our packaging in a way that it would look more mainstream American. We also tinkered with the recipe by reducing sodium and making it more nutritious,” said Tipiana.

They also invested in the process of obtaining a wide range of special certifications in order to market the chips as Kosher, cooked in better oils, gluten free, and non-GMO.

With those exciting new changes in place it was time to head West, to talk with directly with national U.S. buyers in Las Vegas – and to realize they had a big winner on their hands.

“When it came down to it, buyers tended to like our chips more than other similar snacks at the show because they are heartier and more crunchy than standard plantain chips. Everyone was impressed,” she added.

 

Change is Good  

The strategic planning meeting with Prime Planet’s existing Publix rep during the show was especially promising. Up to this point, they were marketing and positioning Prime Planet Tostones solely in their stores’ ethnic food sections.

“But as soon as Publix recognized we changed the packaging and other key aspects of the product, they saw a clear and present need to move our Tostones into to the main snack aisle.”

This shift, she says, opens the door to a bigger base of Publix customers and distribution across their entire system, not just in Latino-centric South Florida markets.

More stores and higher visibility means increased volume. Change is good!

For sales and distribution to succeed elsewhere across the country, particularly in the Northern U.S. markets, the challenge will be to market the chips in a way to get consumers to try something they’ve never even heard of.

“But, we have found that once a new consumer digs into a bag of our Tostones, they absolutely love them,” she said. A marketing and advertising plan is now in the works to broaden the appeal of Prime Planet snacks across the board.

Another recent change with the product is the launch of new flavors. Today, the line includes the Original chip, Lime, Habanero, Yuca, Pinton, and Sweet Chili.

 

Prime Planet’s launch

Prime Fresh Products launched its better-for-you Tostones in 2019, to meet the growing trend among nutrition-conscious consumers who want to lead a wellness-oriented lifestyle.

“We are number one in quality and taste because our Tostones are processed naturally under the highest quality standards – and because they’re a delicious alternative to other typical snack chips”

Operations Coordinator Marcia Tipiana may be reached at 786-956-0080 or via opscoordinator@primefreshproducts.com. For general information, visit www.primeplanet.net