GLENNVILLE, GA - Today, ANUK is coming to your inbox with another exclusive sneak peek at the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) upcoming Southern Innovations event. As the show quickly approaches, I got in touch with Bland Farms for a preview of what to expect at the supplier’s booth this year.
“We are really looking forward to the fellowship provided by Southern Innovations. The Southeast Produce Council members care for each other more like family, so we are looking forward to spending time with everyone in Nashville, Tennessee,” says Troy Bland, Chief Executive Officer. “The combination of networking, education, and sharing is unmatched. Bland Farms will be inviting customers to GO PINK! again this year, as we will be featuring our October fundraising program to help cure breast cancer. We are also excited to introduce Georgia and North Carolina-grown sweet potatoes through our partnership with Sand Candy Produce, as well as our GAMEDAY SWEETNESS fall Peruvian sweet onion promotion.”
Bland Farms currently has several lucrative promotions planned for the holidays, including a holiday bin combining sweet potatoes and sweet onions. The provider will be tapping into America’s undeniable love of football—and sweet onions, of course—as the backdrop for its GAMEDAY SWEETNESS – WINNING RECIPES promotion, which launches this fall. The campaign will center around tailgating recipes, tips, and giveaways, driving consumers to Bland Farms’ website and social media pages through creative point-of-sale material and bins in the produce department.
In addition, the supplier is also offering its retail customers programs that combine sweet onion and sweet potato deliveries on the same truck to help lower costs and increase delivery frequencies.
“With our partnership with Sand Candy Produce being in its second year, we think there is a strong value for our retailers to be a one-stop shop for everything sweet—onions and potatoes,” Troy adds.
To further strengthen its position as a supply-side partner, Bland Farms has also made key additions to its freight department.
This includes bringing on Robb Sanfillipo, who carries over three decades of experience in the freight industry and is dedicated to managing freight and keeping costs down. Michael O’Shaughnessy, who has been in the company’s freight department for several years, has relocated to North Carolina to represent Bland Farms in its joint sweet potato venture, Sand Candy Produce, and will continue assisting Robb in his new role.
To add support for Sanfillipo and O’Shaughnessy, the company has also appointed Zach Allen, who helps manage the freight from its Georgia office, to its freight department as an Analyst.
Don’t forget, you can get a closer look at this fresh supplier’s recent growth at SEPC’s Southern Innovations on September 22–24.
