PHILADELPHIA, PA - The wholesaler John Vena Inc. (JVI) has had multiple changes develop within its financial team as of late. The company’s former CFO retired last year, and JVI announced today that it has appointed a new Financial Controller. Omar Ford-Bey stepped into the position effective November 2019.
“I am excited about the fresh expertise that Omar brings from an industry that is very different from produce, but shares some core challenges,” said John Vena III, President, noting that Ford-Bey brings new energy to the team.
In his role at JVI, Ford-Bey will oversee all accounting processes and financial reporting, as well as manage the administrative finance team. He joins the executive team with a fresh perspective on accounting analysis and inventory management from his tenure in public utilities.
Prior to joining JVI, Ford-Bey was with the Chester Water Authority for six years, where he was Accounting Manager. According to the company’s news release, he has an MBA from Widener University and a BS from Livingstone College.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest leadership changes across the industry.
MEXICO - Selecting growing regions is not unlike Goldilocks perusing a buffet of porridge—this region is too hot, this region is too cold, and so forth. Kingdom Fresh Produce has found a country that is just right for its tomato and cucumber growing operations. The grower sources its produce from several regions in Mexico to ensure year-round availability, and as Jaime Garcia, General Manager, told me, this strategy made 2019 a banner year.
“In 2019 we had excellent quality throughout the year. This allowed us to open new partnerships with new customers. 2020 will have to catch up with the bar being set so high by 2019,” he commented.
In its tomato program, Kingdom Fresh grows organic and conventional roma, organic and conventional grape, and round tomatoes. The grower produces cucumbers as well, but all of its operations are located in Mexico, specifically the regions of Torreón, Puebla, Culiacán, Obregón, and Querétaro. Currently, Kingdom Fresh is finishing its Torreón season and transitioning to its Culiacán season, while its Puebla farm, which produces 365 days a year, is going into a new cycle.
For the most part, the weather was on Kingdom Fresh’s side, as the favorable conditions in Puebla allowed the grower to extend its production cycle. There were still some hiccups though, with early rain making an appearance in Culiacán, which delayed the crops, creating tight markets.
“For the past five weeks the market has been very tight on all tomato items, especially on round tomatoes. Roma markets are finally coming down slowly and by late January we will have steady prices with steady movement,” Jaime said. “Round tomatoes will take a little longer to come down since there are not a lot of big sizes yet, but grape tomatoes are in normal ranges.”
However, even though we’ve barely dipped our toes into January, Kingdom Fresh is already well-positioned to have a great year, heading into 2020 with a fruitful December at its back.
“December is always a strong month for the market, and the delay from Culiacán made it even stronger,” Jaime added. “Demand was off the charts, so we had to have enough in stock for the holidays to meet the needs of our customers.”
Kingdom Fresh is thinking even larger in 2020, and has plans to expand its organic production—a prudent move as the category will not be slowing down any time soon. The grower will particularly focus on broadening its organic roma operations, due to the highly-favorable feedback and strong demand for the variety.
How will 2020’s tomato market stack up against last year’s? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you informed.
POMPANO BEACH, FL - Although we are deep in winter, we as a produce industry don’t hunker down and wait out the chill. Instead, we get to work on building exceptional import programs to ensure that the flow of high-quality produce continues. Furthering this dedication to its veg programs is Southern Specialties. I spoke with Charlie Eagle, Vice President of Business Development, to learn about how the grower’s asparagus program can boost winter veg promotions.
“Typically, the market tightens this time of year as Peruvian volumes wind down and Mexico prepares to jump in. Prices are higher as a result of the supply volumes,” Charlie explained, noting that the Mexican asparagus harvest is due to begin in two to three weeks. In the meantime, Southern Specialties has good supplies of Peruvian asparagus, with promotional volumes due to kick in as soon as the Mexican harvest begins.
“Good quality asparagus has been arriving from Peru,” he remarked when I asked about the status of asparagus coming in. “Weather conditions have been favorable, as the coastal areas of Peru see little rain.”
As Southern Specialties’ high-caliber asparagus continues to hit market, Charlie noted that the company is still building upon its reputation as a top-tier grower and distributor.
“Our Mexican deal continues to grow at double digit annual volumes,” he informed me. “Southern Specialties continues to make investments in our programs that bring value to our customers and consumers. Logistics continue to play a critical role in our business. Our company remains focused on providing solutions that will reduce transit times, eliminate additional costs, and seek opportunities that include consolidation services. Our load configurations are built around asparagus and this provides Southern Specialties an opportunity to fill trucks with other commodities we grow and source.”
Stick with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on all things produce.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI - The popularity of good-for-you and plant-forward foods is only continuing to rise exponentially in the new year, and eye-catching products from Good Foods are only fueling that flame. The purveyor of dips and good-for-you products recently expanded its plant-based Queso dips to select Costco locations, ensuring that more health-minded folks are still able to indulge. The plant-based Queso is currently being rolled out to stores in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions.
“As Costco continues to expand its plant-based portfolio, we’re thrilled to offer shoppers our delicious plant-based Queso dip in larger sizing,” said Danyel O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Increasing the size of our Queso by three times will be perfect for Costco shoppers looking for more dip without the additional packaging.”
In addition to the Queso, Good Foods also has four other plant-based dip flavors available, including Buffalo, Cilantro, Avocado Pesto, and Tzatziki. Each dip is made without sugars, additives, or preservatives, and contains 3g carbs or less per serving.
“We’re so proud of our plant-based dip line and it’s exciting to see the Queso flavor rolling into Costco stores across different regions,” said Kurt Penn, Founder and CEO. “As the plant-based snacking sector continues to skyrocket, we’re excited to be forerunners in the category.”
On top of expanding the Queso to more locations, Good Foods upped the size from 8 oz to 24 oz for an SRP of $7.99, according to a press release.
As plant-based continues to take over all food spaces, AndNowUKnow will continue to report on all that relates to the fresh produce industry.
VERO BEACH, FL - IMG Citrus is riding high after acquiring a 4,000-acre grapefruit grove last year. Now, the citrus provider is one of the largest grapefruit growers in Florida, with the acquisition having doubled its volumes, positioning it well for the upcoming Florida season.
“We would like to reflect on the exciting past year of 2019, full of growth and innovation, while looking forward to the New Year ahead in anticipation for this month’s ‘diet month,’ February ‘grapefruit month,’ and plentiful volumes to extend us through the season,” the citrus provider said in a press release. “The unmatched taste of Florida grapefruit and citrus has a bright future as we look toward new opportunities in innovation and technology in the citrus industry.”
IMG Citrus is anticipating the second half of its season to boast consistent, promotable volumes on red and white grapefruit through the month of April. In addition, the month of June will see plenty of juice oranges, including storage Valencias, with tangerines, minneolas, and specialty varieties filling the in between. This will then transition IMG Citrus to imports beginning in May.
“It has been exciting to experience the delicious Florida taste this season, which defines our citrus, especially grapefruit,” the company continued. “The trees are responding positively to the nurture and care we put into them over the years, reflecting through the quality of fruit we see this year and paralleling Mother Nature. While greening is still existent, we continue to innovate and change the way we grow. We continue to invest and replant significantly, experimenting with different techniques and methods along the way. And we continue to have volume to supply our valued customers.”
With a great season already on the horizon, IMG Citrus is prepared to supply retailers’ citrus needs in 2020. The grower will be at Southern Exposure on February 29 at booth #650, so be sure to stop by to find out more about this burgeoning brand.
To stay ahead of all that’s happening in the fields and at our industry’s trade shows, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
CARLISLE, PA - GIANT Food Stores is pushing forward with a distinct and aggressive growth plan, recently announcing that it expects to invest $114 million in capital expenditures in Pennsylvania over the next 18 months. The retailer previously invested $175 million in 2018 for store expansion and remodels, and in 2019 GIANT augmented its investment with the acquisition of multiple Shop n’ Save stores and the full acquisition of Musser’s Market.
“We’re doubling down on growth and innovation for our customers, building on the incredible momentum of 2019, and continuing to invest in our great Commonwealth,” said Nicholas Bertram, President. “The accelerated growth of GIANT DIRECT has set the stage for additional investment opportunities that extend our e-commerce geographic reach. At the same time, our GIANT Heirloom Market format has enabled us to reach an entirely new demographic in Philadelphia.”
The most recent investment will be used to enact a sweeping growth plan, including a new e-commerce fulfillment center for its e-commerce brand, GIANT DIRECT; two new stores; and a 35-store remodel throughout 2020 and 2021, according to a press release.
The new fulfillment center will be located in Philadelphia and will be GIANT’s largest omni-channel fulfillment center in support of GIANT DIRECT—a brand that has experienced double-digit growth since its launch. The new 124,000-square-foot facility will be designed to provide better distribution, more capacity, and room to grow the retailer’s home delivery and in-store pick-up programs. GIANT will partner with Peapod Digital Labs, and Ahold Delhaize USA company, to assist in the development of the new facility.
GIANT plans to open two new stores in Pennsylvania as part of its recent investment, one in Swatara Township and the other in Pocono Summit. Construction on the 52,000-square-foot Swatara Township location is expected to begin in early 2020, with an opening planned later this year. The Pocono Summit location, in Monroe County, PA, will be 66,000 square feet and is expected to open in 2021.
The new investment is in addition to GIANT’s previously-announced project for a fourth GIANT Heirloom Market located in Queen Village, and a new urban flagship GIANT location in the new Riverwalk development—both of which are anticipated to open this year.
The retailer will also launch a slew of store remodels for its existing brick-and-mortar locations—35 stores across its entire operating footprint. The remodels will add features designed to simplify shopping for families, including optimized product assortment, improved merchandise displays, streamlined order pickup, and modernized décor. Many of the freshly-remodeled stores will also feature foodservice offerings, including a new Beer & Wine Eatery.
“Investing in our store base remains a priority for us as we work to enhance the in-store experience for the millions of customers we serve each week,” Bertram commented. “From our development projects in Philadelphia to our new stores in Pocono Summit and Harrisburg or our remodels across the state, our goal is to provide the very best, most personalized shopping through innovation, technology and a refreshed design.”
Will there be other projects planned as part of this investment? Where will GIANT’s growth plans take it next? AndNowUKnow will report.
CHICAGO, IL - Mike Withers is once again the President of Jewel-Osco. He formerly served in this pivotal position from 2014 to 2017, and is taking on the role again after Paul Gossett stepped down in the fall of 2019, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Withers’ retail career began in 1976 with Albertsons, where he held a variety of leadership positions. He started with the company as a Courtesy Clerk. Most recently, in 2017, he was promoted to Executive Vice President, Retail Operations for Albertsons’ East region.
Gossett was appointed to the President position after Doug Cygan, Jewel-Osco’s then President, passed away. He served in the role for one year before he “left the company to pursue other opportunities” Mary Frances Trucco, Communications Manager for Jewel-Osco, disclosed to the news source in an email earlier this week. According to Gossett’s LinkedIn, he stepped down from the President role in October of 2019.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest leadership changes occurring across all sectors of the fresh produce industry.
CHELAN, WA - 2020 has marked the dawn of a new day for everyone from consumer to producer. Between New Year’s resolutions and burgeoning fruit and veg programs, the industry has its hands full of promotional opportunities—and it’s only January! As a company that’s always pushing the envelope, I tapped Chelan Fresh’s Director of Marketing, Mac Riggan, to get a sneak peak at the company’s 2020 game plan.
“There are a lot of opportunities to sell apples in what I call alternative channels of distribution—places like Dollar General that typically sell hard goods at low margins, but are starting to get into some of the higher margin perishables,” Mac explained. “One of our focuses is to be aware of the different channels where there's an opportunity. However, it's not as easy to service those channels as it is to service a Safeway or a Walmart, who's used to handling perishables. We want to nail down what those channels are, identify those opportunities, and then address the challenges with servicing them.”
Beyond the retail shelves, Chelan Fresh is also looking at its supply to achieve year-long success. The company’s exclusive variety, the Sugarbee® apple, has received overwhelmingly positive customer feedback, as well as the company’s iconic Rockit apples. Mac continued, explaining that the Koru apple is kicking into high gear with a promotional push to span over the next few months. He also divulged that the company is already thinking cherries, although the season is still five months out.
“We still have pears to sell too, so we're working on some unique preconditioning. It involves some packaging and testing, so we're looking into new opportunities that involve preconditioned Anjou pears with some select retail partners to see if we can revitalize the pear category,” he added.
Like any of us with some skin in the game, Mac also spoke of organics at Chelan Fresh. While success in this category continues to grow, the company is looking into packaging initiatives to solve common challenges that go hand in hand with selling organic fruit.
“We've been developing more of our own in-house organic volumes to service growers. We've had a pretty good push on the packaging side of it, which is kind of contradictory when it comes to organic,” he began. “So much organic fruit gets misrung at the register and it ends up becoming shrink, so a lot of retailers have been pushing for more packaging that clearly identifies the product with a UPC code. Typical organic customers don't want packaging, but retailers can't afford to have product getting misrung all the time, because not only do they lose money at the register, but then they're reordering based on scan data. It's a challenge that we're working on with the retailer collaboratively to try and make sure that that doesn't happen.”
Will 2020 be the year that produce prevails and organic programs are optimized? My bet is yes, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on Chelan Fresh as it all plays out. The year is young, folks! So, keep on truckin’ with us here at AndNowUKnow.
CINCINNATI, OH - While Kroger’s Simple Truth® brand is no newcomer, the retailer continues to bring fresh ideas to the forefront of its agenda. Last we heard, the brand was expanding to offer more Fair Trade Certified™ products. Yesterday, though, Kroger made another big move, announcing the launch of Simple Truth Emerge™: Plant Based Fresh Meats. According to a press release, the Simple Truth Emerge line offers fresh burger patties and grinds at more affordable prices.
"Kroger continues to be at the intersection of plant-based curiosity and culinary innovation. As more of our customers explore and embrace a flexitarian lifestyle, Simple Truth Emerge is a fresh innovation that provides a flavorful meat alternative that cooks comparably," said Gil Phipps, Vice President of Branding, Marketing, and Our Brands. "Kroger believes that everyone deserves to have access to fresh, affordable, and delicious food, no matter who you are, how you shop, or what you like to eat. And Simple Truth Emerge is an illustration of the commitment that Kroger has to providing our 11 million daily customers with new choices that fit their evolving eating styles and preferences."
Now, Simple Truth Emerge is joining the Simple Truth Plant Based collection, which was introduced last year, bringing plant-based products to the forefront at Kroger.
The Simple Truth Plant Based collection was first announced last September at the Good Food Conference in San Francisco, where Phipps spoke on a panel alongside other industry experts about the importance of accelerating the marketplace for plant-based foods. The new plant-based patties and grinds offer the same taste, texture, and sizzle on the grill as beef and are free of GMOs, dairy, gluten, and soy, in addition to providing 20 grams of pea-based protein per serving.
"Kroger is driving the growth of the plant-based category through our Simple Truth brand, valued supplier partnerships, and industry-leading fresh merchandising strategies," said Joe Grieshaber, Senior Vice President of Merchandising. "Kroger anticipates interest in plant-based products to continue to grow in 2020, with the category being one of the key drivers of our natural and organic sales."
Last month, Kroger launched a 16-week merchandising test with the Plant Based Foods Association within 60 stores across two markets to measure the sales and engagement impact of adding plant-based meat sets within the traditional meat set. In addition to plant-based patties and sausages, the test includes deli slices, roasts, seitan, and jackfruit. The test aims to produce actionable data and insights to inform merchandising plans and optimize plant-based food sales.
"Customers can find plant-based foods throughout Kroger grocery aisles that can be incorporated into one meal, or every meal," continued Grieshaber. "And Kroger is excited to launch 50 additional Simple Truth Plant Based products this year, expanding the selection we offer to our customers and growing our Simple Truth brand, which exceeded $2.3 billion in sales last year."
The Simple Truth Plant Based collection includes easy-to-identify packaging, featuring a distinct plant-based icon that helps customers locate the items as they navigate through store aisles or when shopping on Kroger.com. The entire Simple Truth portfolio includes more than 1,550 natural and organic products, with new items launching monthly. All in all, Kroger's expansion of this line only further highlights the increasing popularity of good-for-you and plant-forward foods—which extends beyond the private label crowd as well.
Another win for the plant-based team! For more innovative products making their way to the market, stick with us at ANUK.
SALEM, NH - After teasing Alphabot, an exciting first-of-its-kind innovation, back in 2018, Walmart garnered industry interest around the efforts it was making to introduce new technology to its grocery operations. Now, almost two years after that initial announcement, Walmart is using Alphabot at its Salem, New Hampshire-based supercenter to revolutionize grocery as a whole.
“This is going to be a transformative impact to Walmart’s supply chain,” said Brian Roth, Senior Manager of Pickup Automation and Digital Operations. “Alphabot is what we think of as micro-fulfillment—an inventive merger of e-commerce and brick and mortar methods.”
Walmart’s goal with the new Alphabot technology is simple really: to revolutionize the online grocery pickup and delivery process for both associates and customers, according to a press release. Specifically, the system—developed exclusively for Walmart by startup Alert Innovation—operates inside a 20,000-square-foot warehouse-style space, using autonomous carts. These autonomous bots operate on three axes of motion, which allows for a more flexible system that can move both horizontally and vertically without any lifts or conveyors. This allows for fewer space constraints to consider, making adoption of the system easier across stores.
These autonomous bots are used to retrieve ambient, refrigerated, and frozen items ordered for online grocery. Upon retrieval, Alphabot then delivers the products to a workstation, where a Walmart associate checks, bags, and delivers the final order. Associates will continue to pick produce and other fresh items by hand, while Alphabot streamlines the process for all other items.
“By assembling and delivering orders to associates, Alphabot is streamlining the order process, allowing associates to do their jobs with greater speed and efficiency,” Roth continued. “Ultimately, this will lower dispense times, increase accuracy, and improve the entirety of online grocery. And it will help free associates to focus on service and selling, while the technology handles the more mundane, repeatable tasks.”
The new innovation adds more efficiencies to Walmart’s grocery operations as a whole, namely in the way of convenience. For example, by increasing fulfillment speeds, there will be less wait time for shoppers looking to pick up their online orders. Alphabot also relies on real-time data sharing, which over time should make the system more intelligent.
“We never want to be in a position to tell an online grocery customer they can’t have an item,” Roth said. “We’ll be able to look at datasets and fairly say ‘these two brands of pasta are typically bought together,’ or ‘here’s an item a consumer buys often,’ and use that information to make more informed substitutions.”
While Walmart is still studying, refining, and perfecting Alphabot, the retail giant is anticipating rolling out the revolutionary tech to more stores in the future. As we await this mass launch, AndNowUKnow will continue to serve as the produce industry’s Alphabot, retrieving all the latest news just for you.