HOUSTON, TX - The industry recently lost one of its pioneers, as Sysco Corp. announced the passing of its former CEO, Bill Lindig. Part of the food industry since 1940s, Mr. Lindig played an integral role in Sysco’s growth and evolution, and will be sorely missed.
Mr. Lindig started in the food industry helping his mother at the neighborhood grocery store she ran in Austin, Texas, The Wall Street Journal reports. Over the years, Mr. Lindig’s career grew, and he served in several leadership roles, including COO of Sysco, starting in 1985, and CEO from 1995 to 2000, during which time, the company’s annual sales rose from $12 billion to $19 billion. Mr. Lindig spearheaded efforts to find acquisitions to add to Sysco’s operations, including the 1988 acquisition of CFS Continental in 1988, which provided Sysco nationwide coverage, according to the news source.
Mr. Lindig passed away due to heart failure on December 25 in Lindale, Texas, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Bobetta Clayton Lindig, their two sons, and four grandchildren.
We offer our condolences to Mr. Lindig’s family and all who knew him as a family member, a friend, and an industry pioneer.
WATSONVILLE, CA - The new year is a time for (sometimes overly ambitious) health resolutions, and as consumers scour the produce aisle for antioxidant-rich superfoods, growers and retailers look outside the country to fill rising demand. Blueberries are a prized commodity in the pantheon of berries, and California Giant Berry Farms is currently amping up its import program to bring its delicious wares to customers and consumers alike.
“The market has been steady while gearing up for promotional volumes for the holidays and peak arrivals from South America, post-holiday,” Nick Chappell, Director of Retail Sales, told me.
According to Nick, California Giant is headed into its peak Chilean blueberry season, and is also harvesting blueberries in Peru and Mexico. The grower is harvesting organic blueberries out of Oxnard, California, with consistent weekly production. Although these regions are the focus of its current harvesting efforts, California Giant also grows blueberries in other international regions, including British Columbia, Canada; Argentina; Uruguay; and Peru; and domestically in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. This wide range of growing regions offers California Giant a buffer against unfavorable weather conditions.
“It’s farming,” said Nick. “Weather is always an issue, but we are diversified in so many areas that the effects have been minimal.”
California Giant is reporting blueberries of exceptional quality from all of its regions, and in terms of year-over-year quality, 2019 was one of the grower’s best years yet. Overall production increased around 50 percent while maintaining and improving a high quality pack. With such a spectacular year in its rear view, California Giant is poised to enter 2020 with a robust blueberry program that can contend with a shifting market.
“There is currently a dip in prices, while demand is steady,” Nick commented. “Promotions are currently set up through the holidays and for the month of January.”
And it’s not just blueberries that California Giant is offering—the grower is a veritable one-stop-shop for berries, providing blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries with phenomenal quality, year-round.
For more market insight, keep reading AndNowUknow.
BATON ROUGE, LA - JHJ Inc., the parent company of Baton Rouge-based grocery chain Shoppers Value, and its affiliated businesses filed for bankruptcy on November 15, 2019. Now, additional affiliates and stores under JHJ have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization as the company as a whole looks to keep its grocery chain afloat in the competitive retail market.
“They plan to reorganize and continue operations,” said William Steffes, attorney at The Steffes Firm, according to news source The Advocate, which noted that the Shoppers Value chain cited debt tied to its 2018 acquisition of six former Winn-Dixie stores. Following the Chapter 11 filing, only one of these stores remains in business.
The news source also noted records that show JHJ consulted attorneys in February about “certain liabilities associated with affiliates’ store closures”—in regard to its acquisition of the Winn-Dixie locations from Southeastern Grocers—before deciding in November to advance bankruptcy proceedings in order to use this as an opportunity to continue to advance its grocery business.
Shoppers Value operates 12 grocery locations. As JHJ and its affiliates continue to strategize and recoup in order to keep its grocery operations open, AndNowUKnow will continue to follow along with all updates.
LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO - NatureFresh™ Farms is ending the decade with another round of successful charity initiatives. The greenhouse grower brought joy throughout the holiday season with several charitable programs to lend a hand to families in need. The initiatives included its Holiday Giveaway, a cross-company food drive, and a 15-kilometer fundraiser.
“The amount of donations raised for our Holiday Giveaway and cross-company food drive really shows the incredible generosity and kindness of our team members at NatureFresh Farms and South Essex Fabricating,” Founder and Owner, Peter Quiring, said in a press release. “It was very humbling to see how everyone was inspired to give back to people in need in our communities in such a meaningful way.”
As part of its third consecutive Holiday Giveaway initiative, NatureFresh Farms and South Essex Fabricating visited a total of 45 families on December 21 and 22—34 were in Windsor/Essex and 11 were in Fulton County, Ohio. The families were given $200 in groceries along with a $500 gift card. Though the companies initially planned to sponsor 30 families, employees of the two companies came together to sponsor an additional 15 families in need.
Both companies also held a cross-company food drive over two weeks, where employee donations led to a total of 5,128 dry goods collected. Non-perishable food items were donated to the Leamington, Ontario, Salvation Army, and The Open Door in Delta, Ohio.
Continuing its acts of seasonal charity, NatureFresh Farms donated $2,000 on December 17 to The Bridge, where the grower’s Allocation Manager, Justin Guenther, brought the donation on behalf of the participants of a 15-km fundraiser. Starting in August, participants of the fundraiser agreed to walk or run a total of 15 km each week for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12 weeks, any participant that did not reach the 15 km goal would donate $5 for each kilometer they did not complete. The goal of the fundraiser was to promote a healthy lifestyle, while raising funds for local organizations.
“As a team, we always want to challenge ourselves to lead healthy lifestyles,” Guenther said. “A fundraiser like this encourages that while raising money for an organization that our company already supports heavily. This has been a win-win for our team.”
NatureFresh Farms is dedicated to improving and engaging with its communities through ongoing fundraising initiatives. The grower demonstrates this commitment to those in need with this recent round of charitable efforts to spread much-needed cheer throughout the holidays.
Thank you to NatureFresh Farms for once again proving itself a shining example for the industry.
SAN CARLOS, CA - Watching the Super Bowl is a time-honored tradition in the Allen family household, and just like dozens of other consumers, we’re constantly looking for ways to incorporate fresh produce into the game day festivities. The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) is leaning into this desire, launching its “Super Fruit Bowl” campaign, a program that invites consumers to discover both the wide range of Chilean fresh fruits and a chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl.
“This campaign was such a natural fit for us,” stated Karen Brux, Managing Director. “We’re in the heart of the biggest season for Chilean fruit, with blueberries, cherries, grapes, and stonefruit now arriving to North America. With a ‘Super Fruit Bowl’ available to U.S. consumers, this is a great opportunity to attract consumer attention and build awareness for Chilean fruit.”
Digital ads and videos appearing on ESPN.com and the ESPN app will drive consumers to a landing page where they can learn more about Chilean fruit and also enter to win two tickets and VIP passes to the Big Game, $1,000 in spending money, and a one-night hotel stay.
A press release noted that the new consumer program is one element of CFFA’s broad marketing campaign.
“It’s important for us to build consumer awareness and demand for Chilean fruit, but it’s also essential that we give retailers the support they need to drive sales,” stated Brux. “Our merchandisers work closely with all industry segments, developing programs that will be most effective for retailers. We also provide weekly crop reports so everyone involved in the sales and distribution of our fruit can make informed decisions based on the latest updates.”
Blueberry and cherry shipments from Chile are well underway, with cherry promotions continuing through January and blueberry programs going strong until February. Stonefruit will be promoted from late January through March, with grape promotions running from February through April.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest and greatest in produce.
BEIJING, CHINA - With China’s booming economy, it’s only natural that demand for fresh produce and convenience follows suit. And with Walmart as a business partner, JD.com firmly paves the way with a new concept, even a first for China. JD.com recently launched its grocery lifestyle space concept SEVEN FUN, a unique combination of dining, drinking, and social living all in one space right in the burgeoning metropolis that is Beijing.
SEVEN FUN, operating under 7FRESH, caters to the busy professionals of the city. With offerings like breakfast, late night drinks, afternoon teas, snacks, and daily groceries, JD.com is hoping to carve out a special part of the day between home and the office.
“As a lifestyle retailer, SEVEN FUN is innovating the retail landscape in China,” said Jonathan Wang, Head of 7FRESH, JD.com. “Through this concept, JD.com provides an unprecedented ‘SOLOMOME’ (social, local, mobile, and personalized) offline experience that serves as a pioneering model for future brick-and-mortar stores.”
According to its statement, SEVEN FUN offers more than 3,500 different products such as fresh food, baked goods, fresh flowers, and groceries in its 1,000-square-meter locations (around 10,000 square feet). It’s like a fun grocery store that includes 12 eateries and three bars. The company has also enabled consumers to order anything from the stores through the 7FRESH app to be delivered to their doorsteps.
Located in Galaxy SOHO on the second ring road of Beijing, SEVEN FUN is designed specifically to cater to working professionals in first tier cities. Future expansion of SEVEN FUN is expected to focus on tier-one cities, with working professionals as the target demographic.
Will Walmart follow suit for other countries, specifically in the U.S.? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we keep our hand in retail waters.
PHOENIX, AZ - Whether you’re a hard core resolutioner or a New Year’s Scrooge, there’s no escaping the shift in mindset that’s brought on come January 1st. With influencers and consumers alike showcasing their inspiration, Sprouts Farmers Market partnered with Whole30 in order to launch a program that promotes healthy eating habits in 2020. Dubbed the Whole30® Shopping List, the program is targeted toward those who want to reset their eating habits in 2020.
“Think of the Whole30 like pushing the reset button for your health, habits, and relationships with food,” said Whole30 Co-Founder Melissa Urban. “Our short-term elimination program helps you identify foods that may be having a sneaky negative impact on your energy, sleep, digestion, mental health, cravings, allergies, or joint pain, and use what you learn to create the perfect sustainable diet for you. The Whole30 can mean big changes to the way you cook. Having shopped at Sprouts for years, I know its extensive selection of Whole30 Approved and compliant items will support the Whole30 community during and after the program.”
To further educate customers about the Whole30 program, Sprouts will host a series of store events featuring book giveaways and expert advice with local Whole30 Certified Coaches on Saturday, January 4. According to a press release, the first 100 customers at each event will receive a free copy of the New York Times bestseller The Whole30 Friends & Family, and a floral arrangement in honor of Melissa’s regular self-care reminders to her Instagram community to “always buy yourself flowers.” Everyone attending the event will receive a copy of the Sprouts Whole30 Approved shopping list, and an opportunity to meet a Whole30 Certified Coach.
Complete event details, recipes, and more can be found here. To further inspire healthy shopping in the new year, Sprouts is hosting a “groceries for a year” giveaway. The prize will be awarded in the form of $5,000 worth of Sprouts gift cards.
To see how other retailers are kicking off the new year, keep checking in with us at AndNowUKnow.
THE NETHERLANDS - Behind every successful company is an esteemed group of industry leaders promoting the company’s best interests, also known as a Supervisory Board. Last week, Ahold Delhaize announced the nomination of a new member, Frank van Zanten, for appointment to the company Board, effective April 8, 2020. Frank van Zanten is Chief Executive Officer of Bunzl plc, the FTSE100 specialist international distribution and services group. Additionally, he serves as a non-executive director of Grafton Group plc.
“We are pleased to propose Frank for appointment to the Supervisory Board. He is a seasoned executive and will bring extensive international experience and expertise from a highly complex, multi-product distribution business. His valuable knowledge and competencies will be important to the Supervisory Board as Ahold Delhaize continues to implement its Leading Together strategy,” said Chairman Jan Hommen. “We would also like to thank Jacques for his outstanding contributions over many years to Delhaize Group and, after the merger, to Ahold Delhaize. His extensive knowledge and passion for retail will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best for the future.”
According to a press release, the company is also announcing that Jacques de Vaucleroy will retire at the end of his current mandate after four years at Ahold Delhaize and 11 years at Delhaize Group. His retirement will be effective immediately following the 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 8, 2020. The Supervisory Board will propose the appointment of Frank van Zanten at the AGM on April 8, 2020.
Congratulations to Frank van Zanten on this exciting appointment!
BENTONVILLE, AR - With e-tailers like Amazon nipping at its heels, Walmart continues to seek new ways to leverage innovation and outside-the-box thinking as new avenues for growth and profits. Just this year, the company has accelerated overseas growth, launched an extensive store remodel initiative, and has been testing out new retail and produce aisle formats. Walmart’s President and CEO, Doug McMillon, recently revealed that the company’s efforts to stay competitive rest on its signature giant stores, something strictly e-commerce-based retailers are unable to offer consumers.
“The time where people might have been worried that our boxes were too big has long passed,” McMillon said at an investor meeting earlier this month, reported by The Wall Street Journal. “The supercenter footprint and positioning gives us a great opportunity to expand services and help the economics of the model.”
Walmart’s supercenters span 180,000 square feet and offer 100,000 products across numerous departments, including produce and grocery. According to McMillon, these gargantuan brick-and-mortar locations can be used to support new ventures like fast delivery, health clinics, and other services, the news source reports. More than half of the 40 percent growth in U.S. e-commerce sales this past year came from expanded online grocery pickup and in-store-run delivery services, so efforts to boost those services is a prudent move.
The company plans to increase its warehouse space and distribution support to follow through on those expanded services, evidenced by its most recent $200 million facility in Topeka, Kansas. Walmart is also reportedly looking into selling added warehouse and shipping space to third-party sellers, which would allow more companies to make their products available on Walmart.com, according to WSJ. As a result, the retailer’s customers would have access to an expanded product selection, and Walmart would earn additional revenue through processing fees and shipping.
For some time now, Amazon has been one of Walmart’s strongest competitors, and although WSJ reports that the retailer’s revenue is more than twice that of amazon, the e-tailer’s profit growth has surpassed Walmart’s—last year, Amazon’s operating income tripled, while Walmart’s grew by only eight percent. In addition to its supercenter, brick-and-mortar strategy, Walmart has addressed the other side of the coin as well, investing in its e-commerce operations and taking “Stores” out of its corporate name to communicate its dedication to both the brick-and-mortar and digital retail space. The retailer is also reportedly seeking to add more e-commerce warehouse capacity to support its next-day delivery services.
How will Walmart continue to evolve its retail strategy to compete in an ever-growing market? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated.
SALINAS, CA - 2020 is almost upon us! What better way to ring in the new year than by enjoying a handful (or more!) of delicious blubes? The berries are known for packing a huge amount of antioxidants and nutrients in a tiny package, and are loved by many as not only delicious but versatile too in a variety of uses. So, in honor of this humble fruit, the year 2020 will henceforth be known as the Year of the Blueberry, and Naturipe Farms, a leading purveyor of blueberries, is excited to wish a “Happy Blue Year” to all.
“We’ve celebrated blueberry’s color and flavor since we began growing blueberries over 85 years ago, so you can imagine our excitement when we saw that the blueberry was finally getting the attention it deserves,” said CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing. “We’re excited to amplify the blueberry’s classic blue palate and taste that we’ve always known and loved.”
Naturipe’s Blue Year kicked off with a New Year’s countdown on December 27 on its Instagram account, leading up to a big announcement—which is set to come in early January. According to the press release, the Year of the Blueberry is supported by two recent announcements: Pantone’s “Classic Blue” as 2020’s Color of the Year and Firmenich’s “Classic Blueberry” as 2020’s flavor of the year.
“We couldn’t agree more with Firmenich’s description of the blueberry as ‘timeless and enduring,’ and consumers certainly feel the same way. Blueberries have so much versatility, nutritional benefits, and burst of flavor,” said Arias. “We’ve seen an increase in blueberry consumption in recent years and with growers across the world, we produce quality blueberries for consumers year-round to support this increase in demand.”
Pop some clamshells instead of champagne tonight to get a jumpstart on the new year! Keep reading ANUK as we bring you more fruity news.