Category Leadership Awards: Onions

Category Leadership Awards: Onions

The National Onion Association reported that onion consumption is up in America, with consumers eating more than 21 pounds per person annually.

“Consumers are driven by value and simplicity. The opportunity at retail is to communicate a product’s value proposition to shoppers while also providing meal solutions that remove the guesswork from their daily meal occasions,” replied John Shuman, President & CEO of Shuman Farms.

He continued, “Sweet onions’ versatility makes them an important staple for every consumer’s pantry. Sweet and mild enough to enjoy raw or cooked, sweet onions are undoubtedly the most versatile onion available. If consumers limit their purchase to a single type of onion, sweet onions are the obvious choice and sure to pay dividends meal after meal.” 

“As the use of GLP-1 medications continues to rise and reshape consumers’ dietary habits, we anticipate grocery baskets will lean more heavily toward fresh produce over the coming years,” noted Shuman. 

Yellow onions are a top seller for Peri & Sons Farms, while shallots are gaining momentum. “We think it comes down to versatility. Shoppers are looking for ingredients that elevate everyday cooking without adding complexity, and shallots fit that need perfectly,” reported Kelsey Weingart, Brand Manager, Marketing. 

“We’ve hand-harvested our onions since 1979, and that hands-on approach means every onion meets our standard for quality before it reaches the shelf,” Weingart explained. “We also offer a wide range within the category, from onions to shallots to cipollinis, giving retailers and consumers the right variety for how they cook. From there, that same commitment to quality carries through to our packaging. Both our Earthbag and paper clamshell packaging are plastic-free without compromising shelf life. It’s all part of giving retailers and consumers packaging choices that match where the category is headed.”

She added, “We’re seeing more shoppers pay attention to fiber content, and onions are a great source of it. Value is also top of mind.”

Troy Bland, CEO of Bland Farms, shared the company’s unique approach. “Most of the industry thinks of an onion as something you grow. We think of it as something you build a brand around. The onion itself hasn’t changed. It’s already perfect. Our innovation goes into everything around it: laser weeders in our organic fields, the largest storage capacity in the industry with our purchase of the Vidalia facility, and an AI-graded packing house where we pack straight off the line, something we believe no one else in the industry does. Every investment answers to one demographic: the consumer.”

He continued, “We also treat the Vidalia Sweet Onion as more than a single purchase occasion. Through Vidalia Brands, that same sweetness and flavor show up as dressings, seasonings, salsas, and snacks across the store.”

Category Leadership Awards: Eggs

Egg suppliers are leveraging their popular and best-selling varieties to drive growth this year.

“Our core 12-count pasture-raised eggs remain our most popular carton,” said Peter Pappas, Chief Sales Officer and President of Eggs for Vital Farms. “We believe its success comes from consistently delivering on the commitments that have defined Vital Farms from the beginning: high-quality eggs from small family farms, strong animal welfare standards and responsible land stewardship. That consistency matters. Shoppers know what they’re getting when they pick up a Vital Farms carton. That consistency has helped us build lasting trust with consumers over time and attract more shoppers to premium eggs.”

“At the Pete & Gerry’s Family of Brands, we continue to see growing interest in our organic, free-range, and pasture-raised eggs, of which Pete & Gerry’s Organic Pasture Raised eggs—launched last summer— are our fastest-growing product line,” said CEO, Tom Flocco. “This offering squarely aligns with what today’s shoppers are seeking in their food purchases: high-quality protein, responsible production, and confidence in where their food comes from.”

“Protein is not just a nutrition trend—it’s become a long-term lifestyle priority,” Flocco with Pete & Gerry’s continued. “In our recent Protein Preferences: The Egg Came First research, more than 4 in 10 Americans said they’re more focused on protein than they were five years ago, and over half believe whole foods like eggs offer better nutrition than protein-fortified alternatives. These proclivities reinforce what we’re seeing in the marketplace and in our business: consumers increasingly want foods that naturally deliver high-quality nutrition with minimal processing, like Pete & Gerry’s Organic and Pasture Raised and Nellie’s Free Range eggs.”

He added, “Beyond nutrition, consumers are also looking for greater transparency, responsible animal welfare, and a stronger connection to how their food is produced. Our network of more than 350 independent family farms across 18 states allows us to deliver on those expectations while providing retailers with a dependable supply of premium organic, free-range, and pasture-raised eggs. When you combine those attributes with one of the most affordable and versatile sources of high-quality protein (eggs), it’s easy to understand why premium, humanely raised eggs continue to resonate with shoppers.”

Egg suppliers are strengthening their presence within the eggs category. “Vital Farms was built around a stakeholder model, and that shapes how we think about category leadership,” Pappas said. “We believe in creating long-term value for all our stakeholders, including our retailers, and helping grow the category. That starts with listening. We spend a great deal of time learning from retailers about their shoppers, their challenges and the opportunities they see.”