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An interview with Mark D. Smith, National Sales Manager for Wild GardenTM (Cicero, Il) -- Wild Garden TM is seeking to change the way the world looks at many popular Mediterranean food products, beginning with one of the most popular, Hummus. Launched in 2003 to bring a healthier product to the market, Wild Garden TM has expanded its product line to include all-natural and shelf-stable Hummus and Pita Chips, as well as other snack mixes. Beginning in February 2006, Wild Garden TM Hummus Dip was included among the food items United Airlines passengers can select from the airline’s in-flight menu. It may be the first time a Middle Eastern food item has been offered on an American-based carrier.
“We are committed to the needs of the consumer so the most important feature is that it must be a great tasting snack. We think we have achieved that,” Smith says. “It’s very important that our foods taste really good.” Another benefit of Wild Garden TM Hummus Dip is it is “shelf-stable.” Wild Garden™ Hummus Dip does not require refrigeration until it has been opened. By returning foods to their natural state, Wild GardenTM offers a higher level of enjoyment that does not compromise health benefits, quality, texture, or taste. While consumers can enjoy the health benefits of an all-natural healthy food item like Wild Garden™ Hummus Dip, retailers, wholesalers, and distributors also enjoy benefits by being able to purchase large quantities of product without worrying about the short-term life of refrigerated products. Our Wild Garden™ Hummus Dip has a shelf life of at least 18 months.
Another requirement of Wild Garden TM is that the foods we offer must be authentic. “Our products are all authentic in that they are produced in the Mediterranean by people who have been producing this for 3,000 years. They do it right and they have captured that process perfectly so we can offer consumers a consistency they won’t find elsewhere,” Smith says. “In contrast, the products of our competitors are made here. The term great tasting might be subjective. But when you combine that with the qualities of being all-natural with no preservatives and shelf-stable, and, an item produced using an authentic Mediterranean process, Wild GardenTM becomes a very compelling choice to consumers.” Smith also explains that Wild GardenTM uses a special production technique that avoids preservatives while creating a consistency in the hummus that refrigerated alternatives can’t match. “When you buy hummus, you don’t know whether you will get a product that is too creamy or too lumpy,” Smith says. “With Wild GardenTM Hummus Dip it is always the same consistency, which is the way it is made in the Mediterranean.”
“We are at the crossroads of a phenomenal growth in the popularity of ethnic foods. This growth spurt is very similar to market booms in Chinese, Italian, Mexican and other ethnic food items,” Smith adds. “Take what our products offer being all-natural, with no preservatives and shelf stable, and combine that with easy-to-use and attractively branded packaging. The result is a compelling and popular choice for the mainstream markets.” Smith said Wild Garden TM plans to expand its food menu to also include other Mediterranean foods that are also growing in popularity in the United States, such as Baba Ghanouj, an eggplant-based dip. “From the response we have received, we feel the sky is the limit with what we can do and offer,” Smith insists. “We feel there are many Mediterranean foods that we can introduce into the North American market with success.” Wild GardenTM is based in Cicero, Illinois.
Mark D. Smith Sonia Ziad
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Mark D. Smith, the National Sales Manager for Wild Garden TM says the most important goal is to make a product that satisfies the public’s desire for good tasting and exciting food, while also offering the health benefits of being all-natural, preservative free, and shelf-stable.
“Refrigerated dips might only last four to six weeks before they spoil,” Smith says. “When you can buy a product and have up to 18 months before you open it, you have an important advantage for consumers.”
Wild Garden TM distributes product throughout North America. The products include Wild Garden TM Hummus Dip, Wild Garden TM Pita Chips, Wild Garden TM Trail Mixes.