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SAN CARLOS, CA - The Chilean Avocado Importers Association (CAIA) recently announced its second year of partnership with Chilean PGA Tour golf professional Joaquín Niemann. CAIA first started working with Niemann in the fall of 2018 when he had just become a Special Temporary Member on the PGA Tour, the youngest to achieve this since Sergio Garcia in 1999. The new partnership will be pivotal in Avocados from Chile’s social media and advertising programs.
“We always knew there was something special about Joaquín, but the journey he’s had over the past year has been phenomenal. We’re so happy for him,” shared Karen Brux, CAIA’s Managing Director. “In our marketing approach from Avocados from Chile, we strive to share the unique qualities of Chile that contribute to the supply of consistently great avocados, and we can’t think of a more authentic way to showcase the country than partnering with Joaquín.”
According to the press release, the 20-year old became the first PGA Tour winner from Chile, and the youngest international PGA Tour winner since 1923. While Niemann continues on the PGA Tour, he will also extend his official role as Brand Ambassador for Avocados from Chile, speaking to consumers through the association’s U.S. marketing program. The new partnership will include social media, digital TV spots, and trade advertising.
“The past year has been an incredible journey for me, and it’s been great having Avocados from Chile by my side,” commented Niemann. “I grew up with avocados, and they’re still a big part of my daily diet, so this is a really natural and healthy partnership.”
To learn more about Joaquín’s partnership with Avocados from Chile, check out the Avocados from Chile Instagram channel @avocadosfromchile. For more partnership news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MCLEAN, VA - When I think of food halls, I think of community, of forks and knives clattering joyfully against dishes while hungry folks fill their bellies with delicious foods. Perhaps Whole Foods had this vision in mind as well, as it recently announced plans to open its very own food hall in its soon-to-open Tysons Corner market in Virginia.
According to a report from Washingtonian, this new store will be 70,000 square feet, with an entire first floor dedicated to the food hall. The “friends of Whole Foods” dining hall will offer shoppers the chance to dine on a variety of cuisines. Those in the mood for fresh pastas and other Italian dishes can head to Officina, a spinoff of The Wharf’s Italian trattoria that is fronted by Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Stefannelli. Others can head over to the Rappahannock Oyster Co. stall to shuck a few oysters and eat a couple of crab cakes. Fresh-pressed juices will be available at a Jrink juice bar.
The news source also reported that a heretofore unnamed pub will be on the second floor, for those in the market for food with a bite.
After Kroger recently expanded its Kitchen 1883 concept, it stands to reason that big-name retailers are breaking into the foodservice game in a big way. Will other concepts begin cropping up in the coming months? AndNowUKnow will keep its eyes peeled to the newswire for the latest.
DELANO, CA - Walking into a local Safeway, I am both a consumer and a trade news writer. These days, I just cannot help myself. Within a short stone's throw is a display of Delano Farms and Four Star Fruit, Inc. California table grapes, the Pristine variety lighting up the pouch bags from some of the best fresh produce real estate in the department. Situated front and center at the opening to the produce section, it is not an odd sight to see California table grapes here in Sacramento, but Delano Farms and Four Star have an even bigger goal in mind and are taking their program from the U.S. to the global market—with a little help from the NBA.
Jack Campbell, GM and Sales Manager for the company, joins me to talk about Delano Farms’ and Four Star’s already expansive global footprint and what is to come.
“Delano Farms and Four Star are the exclusive marketers of California table grapes through a unique licensing agreement with the NBA that is allowing our company to tap into the heightening demand for our state’s table grapes in Southeast Asian markets like China with L.A. Lakers and Brooklyn Nets branding. The North American markets are primed and ready for this type of merchandising vision to draw the demand of consumers that crave our flavor and quality,” Jack tells me. “Even with tariffs impacting the trade conversations across the globe, there is still an incredible amount of opportunity to generate sales in the global market.”
Currently, Delano Farms and Four Star are branding its 1 lb to 5 lb pouch bags and clamshells with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets logos and color designs, just in time for the start of the NBA season this month. The ideal timing of this promotion paired with the wide-ranging demographics of the NBA audience and grape-lovers will support Delano Farms’ and Four Star’s vision of stimulating new growth, attracting new Asian markets, the millennial sector, and more.
“Our Pristine variety is a high-quality, high-flavor grape with an amazing eating experience that appeals to a wide range of grape lovers,” Jack shares. “As our marquee variety, we believe that while consumers will be drawn to the marketing, they will return for the flavor—time and time again.”
Thinking globally is a state of mind, one that I believe inspires and ignites a passion in the Delano Farms and Four Star team and its customer relationships.
RICHMOND, VA - Magic Sun was founded with a vision of growing and delivering the freshest, healthiest, and most flavorful tomatoes.
Committed to growing the best of the best, we made a simple promise: to combine the unique power of Mother Nature’s high elevation growing regions with the power of hydroponic greenhouse technology.
Over the last decade, Magic Sun has become a leading year-round supplier of conventional and USDA Certified Organic tomatoes that are packed and shipped with pride, and delivered with the service level that you need.
The greenhouse-growing experts at Magic Sun continue to expand both growing operations, as well as research and educational efforts at CEICKOR University.
We are proud to be grower-owned, and we are focused on being a leader in ethical trade, sustainability, and transparency, all while furthering our company’s commitment to produce healthy, flavorful, and perfectly ripe tomatoes.
Better Farming. Better Food. Better Future. That is the Magic Sun promise.
CASTROVILLE, CA - Before we know it, PMA Fresh Summit will be right around the corner. In fact, it already is! Ready to gear up more excitement, Ocean Mist Farms announced three new organic artichoke packaging options to its Ocean Mist Organic® line.
“We are pleased to now offer a variety of organic artichoke options for purchase,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing. “The new merchandise-ready artichokes are convenient for our retail partners and packed in quantities that shoppers have shared with us that they want to buy. Plus, the packaging material used is both recyclable and made with recycled material.”
According to a press release, Ocean Mist’s organic artichokes will now be offered in a two-count handle bag, three-count clamshell, and two-count ReadyCycle® packaging. The organic artichoke packs will include a size 24 or 30 artichoke, depending on pack style. These mid-sized artichokes are ideal for side dishes, something to keep in mind as we near the holidays. For shoppers looking to add these to their shopping carts, they’ll be available in stores starting November.
For retailers, each pack style offers relevant and sustainable packaging options. Ocean Mist’s clamshell packaging uses 90 percent recycled material, while the new two-count handle bag is made with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the most commonly recycled plastic. The new ReadyCycle® corrugated clamshell is fully recyclable and uses vegetable-based inks.
As shoppers wonder where they can find these newly packaged artichokes, they can use Ocean Mist Farms’ new Destini locator tool found on its website. Each pack also includes a simple preparation recipe and an easily scanned QR code linking to a “how-to” video.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for all things related to PMA Fresh Summit.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Organics is increasingly becoming the name of the food game, and with that growth is rising high a tide of grocery retailers making their own name off of the booming category. Los Angeles-based Erewhon, which boasts the perks of being both an organic grocer and café, is one such grocery retailer that has been quietly, but efficiently, growing into what very well could be the next big name in organics.
“The goal has always been to grow slowly and make sure that we stick to what we do right,” said CEO Tony Antoci, according to Forbes. “We don’t believe in debt, and the business supports itself.”
Since its inception in 1966, Erewhon has garnered an almost cult-like following in the Los Angeles area, with A-listers and us regular folk alike flocking to its limited, yet impactful, locations. This shopper fanbase is one reason for its 35 percent year-on-year growth and 15 percent same-store sales growth, according to a report by Forbes—a report that also posited a possible expansion could be underway that would stretch the popular grocery chain beyond the West Coast.
Specifically, Forbes cites a new deal with New York-based growth equity firm Stripes, which now owns a substantial minority stake in the grocer. This deal is currently driving Erewhon to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint to Northern California and possibly even New York, as well as open more locations in its SoCal home turf.
“Erewhon can become a national brand and universally the most trusted in better-for-you food, period,” said Ken Fox, Founder of Stripes. “Every metric you would measure this business on is an outlier in a few different industries: specialty restaurants, traditional retail, and grocery. Any kind of four-wall experience you have, you would be hard-pressed to find store economics that look anything like Erewhon.”
Will Erewhon grow to become a leading organic and specialty food grocer similar to that of Whole Foods Market? And how will the market respond as more organic grocers continue to rise? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the ripe retail scene.
STELLARTON, NS, CANADA - As we inch closer to 2020, talks of the 32nd annual Olympics have been circling. Known as the world’s biggest sporting event, even retailers have decided to support the cause. Today, the Sobeys banner, owned by parent Empire Company, announced its partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, making it the very first official food retailer for Team Canada. Sobeys’ world-class e-commerce platform, to be launched shortly, will be the official online food retailer for Team Canada.
"There is no sporting event that rallies the whole country as well as the Olympics. Empire is honored to support our athletes from across Canada for the love of the sport and their country," said Michael Medline, President and CEO, Empire Company Limited. “Today, we join Canadian athletes to help them realize their dreams in the eyes of the world. The qualities inherent to great athletes, that is, passion, the pursuit of excellence, the love of their community, and their country, are the qualities that our stores seek to represent every day."
According to a news release, healthy food and nutrition will be key aspects of this partnership. Empire Company’s marketing campaign will be unveiled at the beginning of 2020.
"The eyes of Canadians are turned to our teams for two weeks every two years, but our athletes dedicate their lives to training to create the moments that the whole nation celebrates. We want to be there for our athletes 365 days a year, and our partnership will help bring that aspiration to life," added Medline.
The company is headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, so this partnership is especially close to home.
"The Canadian Olympic Committee is very pleased to announce that Empire will become Team Canada's first official food retailer," said David Shoemaker, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “A proud Canadian company, Empire has been supporting hundreds of communities for 113 years to highlight the natural connection between family, food, and sport. This partnership illustrates our shared promise to provide this same support to our athletes and the wider sport community from coast to coast."
Empire also announced today a major partnership with Hockey Canada, a sports organization partner of the Canadian Olympic Committee. In order to increase interest in the presence of women in the Canadian sport sphere, Empire will become the exclusive partner of the National Women's Hockey Team Canada.
"The National Women's Hockey Team is one of Canada's most beloved teams," said Sandra Sanderson, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sobeys. “We will encourage them in their quest for gold both at home and abroad, which will create many opportunities to celebrate with Canadian families. Through this partnership with Hockey Canada, we will build excitement and interest in women's hockey and inspire the next generation of young women passionate about the sport."
Sobeys will support and celebrate with the team before and during the Olympics, as well as at the IIHF World Women's Championship 2020.
"We are proud to partner with Sobeys to ensure that players on the National Hockey Team are supported to the best of their ability. In addition, we will work together to share stories that will connect Canadians to the sport they love," said Mike Ross, Hockey Canada's Chief Business Officer.
2020 is still well ahead of us, but the year’s plans are already beginning to unfold. To keep up with it all, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
FRESNO, CA - The California Table Grape Commission recently announced the promotion of Maria Montalvo as the new Marketing Director of Retail and Foodservice. Montalvo’s responsibilities include leading the in-store promotion initiatives and communication strategies needed to help move California table grapes through the U.S. and Canadian markets.
“We are very excited Maria has joined the team,” said Kathleen Nave, President. “Maria’s background and experience in promotion and sales, and her extensive work promoting products in the Hispanic community, will be key to the development of retail promotional campaigns in the seasons to come.“
According to the press release, Montalvo has 15 years of experience in marketing, promotion, and sales. The California native joins the commission from Sinclair Systems International where she served as the Global Marketing Manager. Nave noted that Montalvo will primarily focus on developing retail promotion and communication strategies to drive California table grape sales. She will be part of a four-member retail team and will manage numerous retail accounts.
Montalvo is a graduate of Fresno State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus in international business.
We at AndNowUKnow congratulate Maria Montalvo on her recent appointment!
WATSONVILLE, CA - The sixth annual, California Giant Foundation-presented Tour de Fresh ride is on its way, offering industry members the chance to get the blood pumping while supporting a worthy cause. While the event is mere days away, the organization reports that there are still opportunities to support the cause before this year’s PMA Fresh Summit kicks off.
“Another year has flown by and our highly-anticipated fundraiser Tour de Fresh is almost here,” said Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing, in a press release. “As professionals in the fresh produce industry, making sure everyone has access to fresh fruits and vegetables is at the heart of what we do and we are so proud to partner with Salad Bars to Schools to see this come to fruition.”
The Tour de Fresh is a four-day cycling event featuring nearly 50 riders, that aims to raise funds to benefit the United Fresh Start Foundation, which provides fresh fruits and vegetables through salad bars at schools. As of now, this year’s ride has raised over $130,000 for the salad bar initiative. But fundraising isn’t over yet, and the Tour de Fresh organizers hope to surpass last year’s total of $149,588, to offer fresh options to even more students in need.
At this time, over 308 requests for salad bars were sent from schools across the nation, which would grant access to fresh produce to more than 150,000 students. Participants of the 2019 Tour de Fresh ride hope to finance at least 50 salad bars, at a cost of approximately $3,500 per bar. The organization is looking to the fresh produce industry to support and further this noble cause.
It’s not too late to contribute to the event and support childhood nutrition across the country. To donate, visit the Tour de Fresh website here, or contact the team directly at [email protected].
Tour de Fresh would not be possible without the support of its generous sponsors: Americold, AndNowUKnow, Arctic Apples, Atlas Produce, Basil Seasonal Dining, C&S Wholesale Grocers, California Giant Berry Farms, CHEP, Church Brothers, Coosemans, DMA Solutions, Earthbound Farms, EBX Logistics, Emerson, Famous Software, Fight Like A Girl Foundation, FreshPlaza, Gold Coast Packing, Good Foods, Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza, Interfresh, iTrade Network, JAZZ Apples, Jerue Trucking, Lipman Produce, Markon, Misionero, Mission Produce, Ocean Mist Farms, Paramount Export, PRO*Act, Procurant, Produce Marketing Association, Regal Marketing, Renaissance Food Group, Sakata, Specialty Produce, SunFed Produce, Sunkist, Tat-On Inc., Taylor Farms, Total Quality Logistics (TQL), United Fresh Start Foundation, and Western Precooling.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover this year's Tour de Fresh.