Crunch Pak apple slices

Fresh-cut apple company Crunch Pak is to take over Stemilt Growers Inc.'s sliced apple business by mid-July, signalling the end of the AppleSweets product line that has been in place since 2007.

According to a report by The Packer, Stemilt is leasing its Wenatchee, Washington-based facility to Crunch Pak, which will transition Stemilt's customers to its own products.

Crunch Pak marketing director Tony Freytag told the publication that the company would be meeting with Stemilt's sliced apple customers to discuss new agreements.

'They've contacted their customers, and our sales people in the field are contacting the same customers,' he noted. 'Our job is to go in there and make the sale with Stemilt supporting the transition.'

Crunch Pak has seen sales increase by more than 20 per cent through 2010, with the supply from Stemilt expected to help the company meet growing demand, Mr Freytag told The Packer.

'We've seen a nice growth pattern over the last couple of years,' Mr Freytag said. 'Over the last 10 years we've shipped more than 5bn slices.'