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Baby Topper. U.S. Frozen Baby Bakers are featured as a topping choice on this Japanese pizza. Courtesy photo. representatives attended a recent USPB international Reverse Trade Mission (RTM), and later the company introduced a new use featuring U.S. frozen baby-baked potatoes. BAKERY CAFES A definite new channel in Korea is the bakery café industry. The USPB started working in this sector during FY2008 (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008). Paris Croissant, the largest bakery chain in Korea with about 1,800 stores nationwide, launched a new bread item using U.S. frozen diced potatoes called “Batter Bites” as a topping in 30 select test stores in the Seoul metropolitan area. This Potato Croquette Bread is gaining the attention of consumers who are even chatting about it on their blog sites. The USPB arranged a meeting with Paris Croissant marketing staff for a possible nationwide promotional launch. Shilla Myunggwa, one of the five largest bakery chains in Korea, has also developed a new bread item with frozen mashed potato used in the dough. The name of the product is Walnut Grand Prix, which includes U.S. frozen mashed potatoes in its dough. The USPB is discussing a potential launch promotion of this new item in the chain’s 500 nationwide stores. ‘Inside the LRP’ AS A HIGH-QUALITY FOOD SOURCE, U.S. frozen potato products are recognized the world over for quality and versatility. Generally, foreign consumers’ introduction to U.S. potatoes is through western style cuisines, such as experiencing U.S. fries through the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) channel. But once the QSR channel is developed in a country, what role does the USPB facilitate in recognizing and creating additional opportunities? How can exploring new channels increase demand for U.S. frozen potatoes? 16 Potato Grower | MAY 2010 New channels for U.S. Frozen in foreign markets PIZZA ANYONE? About two years ago, USPB International Marketing Manager Susan Weller and American Falls, Idaho-grower and USPB’s newest chairperson Cheryl Koompin visited Chicago Pizza, a Japanese pizza chain in Osaka, interested in developing pizza side dishes that could be prepared in their ovens. This restaurant also attended a USPB international menu tasting seminar. As a result of this seminar, Chicago Pizza launched U.S. frozen potatoes for a baked potato campaign that also featured a flavor- of-the-month topping. Two Chicago Pizza ONLINE SHOPPING G Market, the largest online shopping network mall in Korea, has been selling U.S. frozen potatoes. The products include frozen shreds and mega crunch fries. Korean consumers are very e-commerce savvy, with almost every conceivable consumer product being sold through online merchandising. This new channel for U.S. frozen products should be able to provide many new opportunities for U.S. frozen potatoes. “Online shopping is an excellent channel in Korea to tap,” Weller says. “New product launches via online shopping networks helps bring innovation and new sales to consumers otherwise not served.” TELEVISION NETWORKS TV Home Shopping is also a very unique market sector in Korea, which not only has huge sales power, but also has excellent consumer influence. A beauty consulting program, “Get the Beauty,” on the Olive Network, featured U.S. frozen potatoes