Top 25: Wild Planet Foods Q&A

Wild Planet Foods is featured in The Top 25 Seafood Product Innovators list, published by SeafoodSource on 28 September, 2021. Wild Planet Senior Vice President of Marketing Heather Scott speaks here on behalf of the company.

SeafoodSource: What are the key features highlighted in  Wild Planet’s latest product innovations, and what kind of trends inspired them?

Scott: This year, Wild Planet released a new and innovative product line: our Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls. Available in three distinct recipes, Wild Planet Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls are the most convenient, shelf-stable, snack, or light meal that allows consumers to dive in and enjoy responsibly-sourced tuna with just a fork needed – no prep necessary.

Wild Planet’s Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salads contain only responsibly sourced skipjack tuna with organic, non-GMO vegetables, pasta, and legumes. Wild Planet's tuna is 100-percent pole-and-line caught with the intention to stop wrongful fishing practices and eliminate bycatch. Each 5.6-ounce tuna salad is packed with 17 grams of protein, an average of 89 milligrams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, is rich in vitamins (Vitamin D, potassium, iron), and comes in a 100-percent fully recyclable package.

Wild Planet's Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salads were inspired by trends that defined the food industry this year. This includes consumers seeking more convenient and ready-to-eat foods that are nutritious, sustainable and fit into their day-to-day routines. Consumers are also demanding versatility when it comes to their food choices – that is reflected in Wild Planet Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salads' dual function as either a light meal or a satisfying seafood snack that can be enjoyed at home or on the go.

SeafoodSource: Has the pandemic influenced/impacted your innovation process? If so, how?

Scott: The pandemic influenced just about every person and every company out there; Wild Planet is no exception. While we were actively working to ensure steady supply of our core product line to satisfy demand, we also looked for opportunities to accelerate innovation already in the pipeline so that we could better meet the needs of our consumers. Our Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls are the perfect example of this. With consumers eating out less and needing more convenient, nutritious, and delicious prepared solutions at their fingertips, Wild Planet set out to make sure our Tuna Salad Bowls were available as soon as possible. We were able to bring these distinctive meal solutions to market quickly, making them the first of their kind in the U.S. marketplace.

SeafoodSource: Heading into 2022, what can you tell us about Wild Planet’s product portfolio goals/aspirations?  

Scott: In 2022, Wild Planet’s focus will be on continuing to drive consumer awareness to the brand through our strong partners in natural channels while increasing awareness among conventional shoppers. In terms of our product portfolio, Wild Planet will continue to offer only products that speak to, emphasize, and align with the fact that the future of our oceans relies on how we’re fishing. Eco-friendly fishing practices aren’t the least expensive, the easiest, or the most efficient; however, they are the most sustainable and bring the most economic benefit to coastal communities around the world. At Wild Planet, we will continue to work to help consumers understand that they are able to make a difference for the future of our oceans one responsible seafood decision at a time. Our consumers are passionate about the change that is possible, and we at Wild Planet will continue to provide them with only responsibly sourced seafood that meets their needs.

Photo courtesy of Wild Planet