Supervalu Debuts Single-Serve Coffee Pod

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu is the latest private-label marketer to throw its hat in the single-cup coffee ring.

Java Delight Single Serve UnCup, a new single-portion size of its premium coffee product, will begin appearing in stores in about a week, said Supervalu spokesman Mike Siemienas.

The pod can be used with share-leading Keurig brewing systems and others. Java Delight UnCups will be launched in six flavors. Additional varieties are under development.

“The UnCup pod provides our customers with a premium single serve coffee at an affordable price,” said Sam Mayberry, Supervalu’s vice president of private brands. “It was also important for us to develop a product that is more environmentally friendly, and our UnCup single serve pod uses 30% less material by weight than the leading national brand pod.”

Read more: Change Is Brewing in Single-Serve Beverages

Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., merchandises an eco-friendly, Keurig-compatible pod that uses mesh rather than plastic, under its Safeway Select brand. While Supervalu would not reveal its product’s manufacturer, Safeway Select pods are made by Rogers Family Co.

“We portion coffee in a little ball using filter material,” Rogers Family Co. founder Jon Rogers told SN. “We don’t have the costly cup so it’s cheaper. We appear to get much better infusion, and there is less material going into the landfill.”

Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. will also debut coffee pods under its Private Selections and banner brands this month. The pods will be compatible with Keurig single-cup brewers and “possibly more” systems, according to spokesman Keith Dailey.