LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO - Quality produce grower NatureFresh Farms is bolstering its ranks from within, recently announcing new leadership positions. Cornelius Neufeld and Frank Neufeld have both worked in the greenhouse farming industry for over 20 years, and have now taken on more prominent management roles within the NatureFresh Farms and NatureFresh Farms Sales organizations to help both companies achieve their goals for business growth and expansion.
“I’m excited to work alongside the great people we have at both our Canadian and American farms,” Cornelius commented. “I wouldn’t want to do what I do with any other company—the team at NatureFresh Farms is truly unique and the opportunities for professional development here are endless. This new role will have its challenging moments, but challenges are what make our successes that much more rewarding.”
In 2011, Cornelius started with NatureFresh Farms as a Labor Manager, and in 2015 was offered the role of Operations Manager at the company’s brand-new 45-acre greenhouse facility in Delta, Ohio. After four years in that role, Cornelius has gained valuable insight and experience, and will now transition into the role of Operations Manager for all NatureFresh Farms facilities throughout Canada and the U.S.
Frank also began his career with NatureFresh Farms in 2011 as a Warehouse Manager. In 2016, he was appointed to Operations Manager for all of the company’s greenhouse facilities in Leamington, ON, which at the time totalled 130 acres, according to a press release. Recently, however, Frank has taken on the role of Sales Manager with NatureFresh Farms Sales.
“I plan to bring even greater structure to this young company that is quickly growing and full of potential,” Frank said. “Like my previous role allowed, I’m also looking forward to growing our Sales staff so that they can find greater professional success. This team is enthusiastic and eager to make NatureFresh Farms Sales one of the best produce marketers in the world—there is a lot to be excited about here.”
In their new roles, both Neufelds will focus on finding capable and experienced individuals to join the NatureFresh Farms and NatureFresh Farms Sales teams to take the companies to even greater heights.
Congratulations to Cornelius and Frank on their exciting new roles.
SALINAS, CA - Cauliflower has been the star of the veggie category as of late, incorporated in unconventional ways like rice or pizza crust. Green Giant™ Fresh, a leading innovator in fresh value-added vegetables, is utilizing its newly-released Cauliflower Crumbles® in its latest line of offerings. A week ago, the company introduced a convenient line of easy-to-prepare Veggie Bowls that include great-tasting flavors and hunger-crushing ingredients in each meal.
“Consumers are demanding more plant-based alternatives at every meal occasion and we’ve created a satisfyingly complete option that can be prepared within a few minutes,” said Riley Hathaway, Research and Development Manager. “Our new recipes reflect the time and taste testing we’ve invested to deliver a hearty and flavorful crunch in every bite.”
Built around the brand’s first-to-market Cauliflower Crumbles, the bowls also feature regionally-inspired sauces to create an authentic ready-to-go meal in minutes. According to a press release, Green Giant Veggie Bowls are available in the refrigerated produce section at grocers nationwide and sold at a suggested retail price of $3.99 per bowl.
All the Veggie Bowls are vegetarian and packaged in a microwave-safe container that now includes a fork. The line includes six crave-able and on-trend varieties:
- (NEW) Korean BBQ: featuring Cauliflower Crumbles, onion, carrots, celery, and broccoli in a sweet heat bulgogi sauce with crispy noodles
- (NEW) Harvest: featuring Cauliflower Crumbles, sweet potato, and celery in a tangy citrus-garlic sauce with dried cranberries, pepitas, and crumbled feta cheese
- Sante Fe Bowl (previously Rancheros): featuring Cauliflower Crumbles, sweet potato, and kale in a tomatillo lime sauce served with seasoned tortilla strips and sharp cheddar cheese
- Buddha Bowl: featuring Cauliflower Crumbles, sweet potato, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts in a creamy tahini sauce with dried chickpeas
- Burrito Bowl: featuring Cauliflower Crumbles in a sweet corn and zesty black bean salsa with seasoned tortilla strips and sharp cheddar cheese
- “Fried Rice” Bowl: featuring Cauliflower Crumbles, carrots, celery, onion, and broccoli in a sweet teriyaki sauce with garlic-ginger wonton strips
For years, Green Giant Fresh has been developing meal-ready products to help consumers eat healthier. These revamped Veggie Bowls join the brand’s existing line of Cauliflower Crumbles Chopped Vegetables, Vegetable Noodles, and more. Keep checking in with us at ANUK as we continue to cover the industry’s newest concepts.
LOUISVILLE, KY - Yum! Brands is embracing an upgrade in not only how it operates in the world of technology, but also in its rank of officers. The company behind KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell not only nabs Walmart’s CIO, Clay Johnson, as its newest Chief Digital and Technology Officer, but also promoted Gavin Felder as the newest Chief Strategy Officer and elected current COO, David Gibbs, as the new Chief Executive Officer.
“We believe Clay Johnson and Gavin Felder are the ideal executives to accelerate Yum! Brands’ growth through technology-centric strategies that advance the customer experience and ultimately deliver better economics and more value for our franchisees and shareholders,” said Gibbs, set to take office effective January 1, 2020. “Clay’s insights into developing connected digital commerce capabilities and integrated enterprise solutions will be invaluable as we strengthen our business model with technology at the forefront. Gavin is a successful digital leader and proven growth strategist at KFC, our largest and most profitable global brand division. I look forward to Gavin, Clay, and their teams collaborating to ensure our technology efforts support and are aligned with the technological innovation happening in our restaurants.”
According to the press release, the newly created leadership positions will partner with the global brand divisions to elevate the customer experience and accelerate global growth. Johnson will join the Yum! Brands Global Leadership Team and oversee the company’s global technology strategy, partnering with the restaurant divisions to ensure the company provides a best-in-class digital journey across mobile, online, delivery, and restaurant operations. As the chair of the Global Technology Leadership Team, Johnson will work closely with each global brand division technology chief, bringing in over 20 years of technology leadership across FORTUNE 50 companies and industries, successfully driving digital transformation initiatives into all aspects of business. His appointment is effective October 15, 2019.
“Technology is an enabler to unlock value for the business and the end customer,” said Johnson. “I’m thrilled to join Yum! Brands and look forward to collaborating with the KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell teams on leveraging omnichannel strategies, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies to benefit customers, employees, and franchisees.”
Felder will be responsible for developing Yum! Brands’ long-term corporate strategies and partnering with the global brand divisions to implement initiatives to unlock new sources of growth and disruptive innovation. He will work closely with Johnson to integrate technology-centric solutions across store operations, including the restaurant automation strategy, to elevate the customer and team member experience. Prior to being appointed, Felder has served as KFC Division CFO for the last five years, overseeing strategy, digital and technology, financial planning, supply chain, and IT security for the KFC business spanning over 23,000 restaurants across 135 countries. He will retain his current KFC Division CFO role, title, and responsibilities through the end of 2019 while the company conducts a search to identify a successor for the Division. His CSO appointment is effective December 1, 2019.
“Yum! Brands has a unique opportunity to leverage our global scale and build capabilities that transform both the customer and team member experience,” commented Felder. “There is so much growth ahead of us at Yum! and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with our brand teams and franchisees to find new, innovative ways to unlock this.”
Both Johnson and Felder will report to Yum! Brands Chief Financial Officer Chris Turner.
“Clay has the deep knowledge and skills needed to oversee a cross-brand effort to fast-track our digital commerce capabilities, unlock value from data and advanced analytics, and integrate cost-effective technology solutions to enhance restaurant operations and the customer experience. And Gavin’s outstanding strategic capabilities and global experience make him the perfect leader to help set our long-term strategies and drive collaboration across our brands to unlock innovation in our business model and operations,” said Turner. “This is an exciting time at Yum! because we have an incredible opportunity to leverage our massive scale and expand our digital and technology competencies in order to drive global same-store sales and net-new unit growth and improve franchise unit economics.”
As of now, there are no news on Yum! Brands COO search, but AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date on the latest flurry of developments.
SALINAS, CA - As technology and convenience continues to create a new reality for the world at large, produce companies across the supply chain have stepped up to help others navigate this new reality without losing any momentum. One company that’s doing so in a way that’s tailor-made to fit the needs of each of its customers is Fresh Avenue.
I chatted with Mark Vaughan, Managing Partner, and Brian Rooney, Director of Supply Chain and Operations, to find out all the strategies Fresh Avenue drives forward to give its customers a leg up, no matter what.
“We’ve recently expanded the breadth of our company and reach,” Mark began. “We’ve also launched a consolidation program, which means we’re bringing in products from a multitude of providers to our facility and then palletizing, packing, wrapping, and even shipping it if that’s what the customer needs. Our goal is to get our customers out of one dock, instead of multiple, in order to reduce wait times, administrative costs, rescheduling issues, and unpredictability.”
On top of all of those benefits, Fresh Avenue’s consolidated logistics program also offers its customers the chance to tap into smaller, seasonal, and specialty products. In the past, offering these items typically meant an extra pick or dock, but Fresh Avenue has streamlined this process. As a result, smaller, seasonal, and specialty products can remain competitive in the market and customers along the supply chain don’t have to go off the beaten path to include these items in their portfolios.
“From a customer stand-point, this adds value to their supply chain, provides a unique competitive advantage, all the while furthering Fresh Avenue as a supply chain partner. By bundling produce offerings from different regions, we open up the grower community to new channels, offering the customer the opportunity to increase their product offering, and enhance the freshness, shelf life, and inventory turns on their existing product offering," Brian said. “From a logistics stand-point, there are a lot of constraints happening in transportation at the moment, which makes buyers adverse to trying something new from a smaller producer. We make it convenient to explore smaller and innovative products for all involved.”
And like I mentioned before, Fresh Avenue works with its customers to tailor its services and products.
“We’re always coming up with new pack sizes that work well in a restaurant application. We want to get customized product into the market, and we try to leverage this as our key differentiator,” Mark continued. “We support our customers with a national sales team and work with distributors to troubleshoot and make product decisions. That was our original concept, and it will always be the heart of our business.”
For more fresh produce news from up and down the supply chain, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
WICHITA, KS; GREENSBORO, NC - Trader Joe’s has been steadily rising up the ranks of beloved retailers for years spurring further growth. 2019 has been a year of major expansion for Trader Joe’s, with the retailer opening up new stores in Little Rock, Arkansas; Miami Beach, Florida; Meridian, Idaho; Nashville, Tennessee; and Brookfield, Wisconsin. This expansion is just the tip of the retail iceberg, as the grocer has released further details about two new locations in Kansas and North Carolina.
Trader Joe’s had previously announced its plans for a new store in Wichita, Kansas, but did not reveal the new location’s opening date. However, Wichita residents now have something to look forward to on October 11, as the store will open its doors for the first time at 9 a.m. The Wichita store is located in a former Fresh Market location, marking Trader Joe’s as a serious competitor in the retail space.
The grocer was more reticent about its upcoming Greensboro, North Carolina store, offering few details on its website, save for its address at 3721 Battleground Ave.
“We've consulted our maps and compass and have found a terrific location for a store in Greensboro, NC,” the website stated.
When will the Greensboro store finally open? And what region will Trader Joe’s target next? AndNowUKnow will keep you posted.
IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!
Today I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see the latest around all growing regions.
TROPICAL STORM LORENA HEADED TOWARDS BAJA CALIFORNIA GROWING REGIONS
Over the past two days, Tropical Storm Lorena has been hugging the West Coast of Mexico along the states of Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco, dropping several inches of rain during the process.
The storm has now left the coast, and per the National Hurricane Center, it is now headed towards the Baja peninsula. The storm is expected to scoot up the Pacific Coast, dropping rain throughout the weekend in the growing regions of La Paz, Cd. Constitución, Vizcaino, and possibly San Quintín. If it rains in San Quintín, it will happen on Monday.
Please check with shippers out of San Diego to see if any of their growing regions will be affected.
This same storm might bring rain to the Southern Arizona growing regions around Phoenix and Yuma, which should be close to kicking off their fall melon season.
MICHIGAN HEAT TO END SUNDAY WITH RAINS
Temperatures in Michigan have been warmer than normal over the last week with highs in the mid 80°s and lows in the 60°s. Saturday will be the hottest day of the week, peaking around 85°. Come Sunday, temperatures will fall 12° to 15° as a storm comes through with a 50 percent possibility of dropping up to 1.00” of rain across the state.
High temperatures next week will hover around 70° and low temperatures will be in the upper 50°s.
WARMER TEMPERATURES START TOMORROW IN CALIFORNIA
California and Baja California are still on track for warmer temperatures this weekend and will continue through next Wednesday.
Salinas will hit a high of 84° tomorrow and then will peak at 87° next Wednesday and Thursday.
Santa Maria will hit 84° tomorrow and a high of 85° next Wednesday and Thursday.
Ensenada, BC, Mexico, which is a large berry growing region, will hit a high of 87° on Sunday and will remain in the 80°s through Wednesday.
Even San Quintin, the main summer veg and tomato region in Baja California, which has seen highs in the 70°s this past week, will see high temperatures in the mid 80°s this weekend.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION IMELDA SHOULDN’T AFFECT TEXAS WATERMELONS
As bad as Imelda has been for the Houston area these past few days, it doesn’t appear it will bring rain to the watermelon growing regions of West Texas. Midland and Plains growing regions will stay dry. If you are familiar with other current growing regions that may be affected, please let us know.
HURRICANE JERRY IS SPINNING IN THE ATLANTIC BUT WILL NOT HIT THE U.S.
Jerry is out over the Atlantic heading Westward at the moment. By Sunday evening, Jerry is expected to make a hard right and head North making a beeline for Bermuda. We will update you on Tuesday.
Thank you as always! We will be back next week with another report.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - SpartanNash has welcomed a strong addition to its produce leadership with Vic Savanello, who just joined the retailer as its new Regional Vice President of Produce and Floral Merchandising.
I had the opportunity to discuss this big next step with Vic, who shared a little insight on what’s to come.
“In SpartanNash, I saw an organization with a topflight reputation and multifaceted business model, which I felt gave me an incredible opportunity to utilize my diverse background and career experiences. I look forward to being truly challenged and enjoying immense success as a part of SpartanNash’s produce team,” he said of the decision to sign on.
As part of what Vic tells me is the “marketing and merchandising center of excellence,” he will be responsible for supporting SpartanNash’s more than 155 company-owned retail stores, establishing and maintaining customer and vendor relations and satisfaction levels, negotiating national vendor contracts, and leading the fresh distribution procurement team and their processes.
“Together with the produce team, I’m hoping to continue to establish SpartanNash stores as the go-to produce destination in each of our retail markets, leading the way through innovation, variety, and value,” Vic shares. “At the same time, we want to help our independent retail customers compete and excel in the ever-evolving competitive landscape!”
In this new role, he will report directly to the Vice President of Fresh Merchandising, Jerry Goldsmith.
“Vic joins SpartanNash with many years of produce experience in all facets of the business,” Jerry said when I reached out about Vic’s joining the team.” With produce being such a key strategic focus for SpartanNash, we felt Vic’s experience would continue to elevate the business to best in class. We look forward to his contributions to the success of the organization.”
That experience includes two New Jersey-based retail cooperatives and, most recently, Vice President of Produce for The Fresh Market.
“My background working for two New Jersey-based retail cooperatives gives me a lot of insight into what the independent supermarket owner wants and prioritizes as keys to their business’ success. The two different models gave me a view from a self-distributed and then a third-party distributed model. Working with SpartanNash’s independent retail customers will not be foreign in the least to me; in fact, I am really looking forward to it,” Vic said of how his background will complement this new position. “But, at the same time, my recent experience at The Fresh Market gave me great insights into building programs, together with our operations team, which are designed to succeed at the store level! It’s the best of all possible produce distribution worlds, and I’m right in the thick of it! It’s going to be a lot of fun!”
In Vic, SpartanNash has clearly amplified not only its years of produce experience, but passion and enthusiasm as well. A big congratulations to both sides on this exciting new chapter!
WASHINGTON, DC - The United Fresh Produce Association Washington Conference has officially wrapped, bringing a multitude of industry leaders from every sector of fresh produce to the table in DC. With important issues ranging from trade and immigration to water, transportation, and beyond, the impact of the annual event is sure to ripple through the remainder of 2019 and into the new year.
Let’s take a quick look at the event by the numbers—with thanks to the United Fresh team—which reveals the magnitude of the conference and the industry’s investment in their relationships with their elected officials:
- Participants marched on Capitol Hill for 216 visits with Congressmen and Senators.
- Attendees represented 40 states and six countries.
- 22 percent of attendees were first-time attendees to the Washington Conference.
- Attendance was up by 23 percent over 2018.
“Republicans and Democrats may not agree on much, but this week’s United Fresh Washington Conference demonstrated the power of a unified produce industry voice,” John Hollay, Senior Director, Government Relations, shared. “The bipartisan support for labor reforms for agriculture, trade, and the passage of USMCA, and further investments in our children’s future through our school nutrition programs is something that members of Congress from both sides of the aisle demonstrated they can agree on.”
Robert Guenther, Senior Vice President of Public Policy also expressed his thoughts on the successful conference.
“This week demonstrated the importance of meeting face to face with members of Congress and their staff as our elected officials determine which issues they must address in the next few months,” Guenther reflected. “The messages we, as an industry, delivered addressing our labor challenges, overcoming trade difficulties, and ensuring that children have access to fresh fruits and vegetables were almost unanimously well-received by Congress.”
Stefanie Katzman, President of S. Katzman Produce, also believes the event is truly worthwhile for everyone involved.
"Although it may be the convention that most people in the industry are the least aware of, it is really one of the most important. As we all know, there are certain things in the produce industry we have no control over, like the weather for example, but there are other key factors that affect our business, and it is important to make sure we are represented and have the opportunity to be heard," stated Katzman. "Those running our government and making these industry decisions on our behalf are in office to serve us, so it is our responsibility to let them know how they can best do that. United Fresh works year-round to represent us in Washington, and Robert does an amazing job for the industry, but he cannot do it alone, and the more support we can give, the better we will all benefit. Farm bills, trade laws, face-to-face meetings with congress, and educational sessions on what we can do and how we are affected are just some of the topics. And of course at like all conventions, it is another great opportunity to network."
Curious as to what more of our industry friends from Randy Giumarra to Lisa McNeece had to say? Check out the event in their words, here.
Thank you to all those who brought your voice to the Hill on behalf of the produce industry!
WASHINGTON, DC - This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet their contractual obligations to the produce sellers they purchased from and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA. By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Harvest Soul LLC, operating out of Fairburn, Georgia, for failing to pay a $5,492 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Kevin Quirk was listed as a member of the business.
- Church Hill Farms and Logistics, operating out of York, Pennsylvania, for failing to pay a $1,063,529 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Vincenzo F. Giuffrida was listed as the Officer, Director, and Major Stockholder of the business.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,350 PACA claims involving more than $63 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $156 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For more information, contacts, and to read the full press release, please click here.
IRVINE, CA - This Southern California avocado advocate is welcoming the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit event to its home territory this year. Taking place in Anaheim from October 16-19, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) will exhibit on the final two days of Fresh Summit and will focus on 2020’s favorable outlook.
“We’re wrapping up our season and the celebration of the Commission’s strong heritage of groundbreaking avocado marketing, supporting California avocado growers, and helping to grow avocado consumption,” said Jan DeLyser, Vice President of Marketing. “Now we are looking forward to the next 40 years of the Commission’s continuing innovation, creativity, and focused customer service.”
California avocado growers are anticipating a larger crop with promotable volume next year, so the CAC marketing team is working on programs that build shopper anticipation for seasonal availability. The marketing line-up includes innovative advertising and customer-specific programs. As it has in prior years, health and wellness communications will be integrated into the Commission’s plans as well.
“CAC is proud to be a sponsor of the Produce for Better Health Foundation Education 2Action Retail Dietitian Summit and welcomes those influential retail dietitians, as well produce retailers and industry stakeholders, to booth #3937,” said DeLyser. “We’ll have a double-decker booth again this year, which provides nice spaces for private meetings as well as casual conversations.”
CAC’s merchandising and marketing team will be available at the booth during Expo hours, including David Anderson, Carolyn Becker, Zac Benedict, David Cruz, Jan DeLyser, Angela Fraser, Marji Morrow, and Steven Muro. The latest category data will be available for retailers and other stakeholders. Be sure to stop by booth #3937 at this year’s Fresh Summit event!