According to a recent study by Nielsen Perishables Group, desserts accounted for nearly half of all bakery dollar sales in 2012. The study revealed that across the dessert category, pies had the strongest volume growth of 5.1 percent, with sales highest in November and December around the holidays.

Chefs and foodservice professionals can tap into this incremental revenue opportunity with Knouse Foods’ full line of Lucky Leaf Fruit Filling or Topping. Made with real fruit picked at the peak of freshness, Lucky Leaf Fruit Filling or Topping is available in an assortment of flavors—from traditional classics like Apple, Cherry, Deluxe Blueberry, Blackberry, and Lemon to newer alternatives that include Pineapple, Raisin, Red Raspberry, Strawberry Rhubarb, and more. Options with no sugar added are also offered.

Ready to serve and shelf stable for easy storage, all Lucky Leaf Fruit Fillings or Toppings are offered year-round in a convenient multi-serve format (106 ounce, 112 ounce, 116 ounce) to meet the needs of medium- to high-volume operations. This holiday season, consider these on-trend ideas for your menu or as carry-out items:

• Strawberry Peanut Butter Pie: A pretzel crust holds this rich and creamy dessert of Lucky Leaf Strawberry Fruit Filling or Topping and peanut butter and is served with a rich strawberry topping.
• Stuffed Crust Blueberry Lime Pie: Lucky Leaf Blueberry Fruit Filling or Topping is combined with cream cheese and a hint of lime in this easy-to-make dessert.
• Laura’s Blue Ribbon Caramel Apple Pie: Lucky Leaf Apple Fruit Filling or Topping is heaped into a pie crust and topped with caramel and pecans before enclosing in a top crust to bake.
• Cherry-Chocolate Macaroon Bars: A chocolate cookie crumb crust, filled with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate and coconut, then topped with Lucky Leaf Cherry Fruit Filling or Topping.

“As consumer demand for classic desserts like pies peaks during the holiday season, foodservice professionals have an opportunity to capitalize on additional sales with Lucky Leaf Fruit Filling or Topping,” says Todd Michael, Foodservice Sales director for Knouse Foods. “Your patrons will appreciate that you invested in the highest quality fruit filling available when they see the pieces of real fruit and taste how much flavor Lucky Leaf packs in every bite.”