BOISE, ID - In an era where two-, one-, and same- day delivery are the expected norm, stores everywhere are joining the e-commerce train to attract and hold onto as many customers as they can. Albertsons—the umbrella company of many retailers such as: Safeway, Vons, ACME, and Jewel-Osco—has actually been piloting its own delivery subscription service in twelve stores across the U.S. since March. Along the lines of AmazonFresh, Albertsons aims to deliver fresh produce and groceries to its consumers straight to their doors.
“The objective of the program was to increase frequency without having a negative effect on profitability in the transaction,” stated Kenji Gjovig, Vice President of E-Commerce Marketing and Merchandising, in the press release. “We’re seeing a dramatic increase in frequency—above where our forecast was, and an increase in profitability as well across the two cohorts in the annual and the monthly subscribers.”
Seeing as the service is still in its early stages, Albertsons hasn’t given it an official name, pricing plan, or set the order minimums yet, although there are monthly and annual payment plans. However, Albertsons does offer tracking through its Glympse app. Gjovig expressed that Albertsons' aim was to win over customer loyalty and encourage more online grocery purchases. Seeing as the expectations of the service were “off the charts,” in the Phoenix and Southern California markets, I think it’s safe to say that the finer details will be hammered out before long.
For speedy delivery on the freshest retail news, stay tuned with AndNowUKnow.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - In this industry it’s all about moving onwards and upwards, and Fresh Direct Produce has taken major steps towards kick-starting its future growth. HKW, a middle-market private equity firm, announced that Fresh Direct Produce, its portfolio company, has acquired Emperor Specialty Foods.
“With a talented management team and range of complementary products, we are confident Emperor will prove an important addition to Fresh Direct Produce, and play a critical role in our value-driven growth plan,” said Davis Yung, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Fresh Direct Produce.
Emperor Specialty Foods, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Richmond, BC, Canada, specializes in the distribution of pears, mushrooms, and other specialty fruits and vegetables. According to a press release, the acquisition will provide significant growth opportunities for Fresh Direct Produce, a company that distributes more than 1,000 domestic, imported, and organic fruit and vegetable items.
“The addition of Emperor’s products and customers, as well as a new location, will allow for smart, strategic growth opportunities,” said Kent Robinson, HKW Partner and Chairman of the Board for Fresh Direct Produce. “This is an important step forward for Fresh Direct Produce and we are excited for both teams. The acquisition is also strategically aligned within the Health & Wellness sector, a key area of focus for HKW.”
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
For more news from the wide world of produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
LITTLE ROCK, AR - In May of this year, rumors swirled that Trader Joe’s was eyeing Little Rock, Arkansas, as the site of one of its newest stores. For those shoppers vying for the grocer’s favor, it appears that their prayers have been answered. The retailer is officially moving in!
Arkansas Business reported that a building permit issued on Monday confirmed the long-awaited arrival of Trader Joe’s in the Little Rock area. Although we have yet to know what the new store will look like, the building permit included plans for a new HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical, and general grocery store fixtures, all of which are valued at $1 million.
As official tenants at the former Toys "R" Us storefront, this marks the specialty grocer’s first foray into The Natural State.
Will we now see the retailer step out into new markets? Is it eyeing new locations as we speak?AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
INDEPENDENCE, KY - “Jungle” Jim Bonaminio, best known as the founder, fearless leader, and driving creative force behind Jungle Jim’s International Markets, showcased his passion for making grocery shopping fun through his lovable roadside produce stand. Now, it’s essentially a “food lover’s paradise” found in two of the nation’s largest and most unique grocery stores. The Crosset Company took notice and has invited Bonaminio to be the keynote speaker at the Crosset 2019 Produce & Floral Conference.
“We are very excited that Jim is available to jump-start the educational series at our 2019 Produce & Floral Conference,” said Greg Kurkjian, Crosset Company's Vice President and General Manager. “Creating unique and engaging in-store experiences is essential to retailer differentiation, building shopper loyalty, and stimulating impulse purchases. Jungle Jim’s International Markets are nationally and internationally recognized shopping destinations and tourist attractions, as well as the primary grocery store for many who live in the greater Cincinnati area. His enthusiasm and energetic personality are contagious. I have no doubt Jim will inspire all attendees to think and act in new ways when they return home.”
The press release states that Jim is an entrepreneur who is as serious about the food and grocery business as he is about fun. Highly self-motivated and notoriously adventurous, this Lorain, Ohio native and Miami University business major has a healthy disregard for the status quo and regularly applies his own personal brand of “gorilla” tactics to every aspect of his highly successful business. Be sure to catch his flamboyant management style in Cincinnati, OH, on August 28, 2019 along with the cast and crew of Castellini Wholesale, Club Chef, and RWI Logistics, co-hosts for this year’s event. Retailers, foodservice operators, growers, suppliers, and other industry partners can now register online at crosset.com.
Sounds like it’ll be an exciting show for this industry! ANUK will keep you updated on more events.
SANTA MARIA, CA - If you had your sights set on booth #903 (Gold Coast Packing’s booth) at this month’s PMA Foodservice, then prepare for a Brussels sprouts party like none you’ve experienced before! While catching up with Crystal Chavez, Marketing Coordinator, she disclosed to me all the new Brussels sprouts products making their way down the pipeline just in time for the season’s best foodservice-focused show.
“At PMA Foodservice, we will be sharing our full lineup of Brussels sprouts. We recently added Whole and Halved Brussels Sprouts to our foodservice offerings. The two items join our already popular Shredded Brussels Sprouts for foodservice,” Crystal told me. “We will also be revealing our new booth design that shares how we are anchored in quality and customer service.”
As a predominately foodservice-intensive company, Gold Coast Packing is also looking forward to the show as a means of continuing to grow and learn in the foodservice sector.
“We love attending the Foodservice show because it has a smaller, more intimate feel, which makes it so much easier to connect with those who stop by our booth. Our team loves getting face-to-face time with our customers, and we also learn so much. The opportunity to attend the educational sessions and to see what others in the industry are doing is key to helping us grow and succeed,” Crystal explained. “Plus, we feel so close to home in Monterey.”
All of Gold Coast Packing’s Brussels sprouts, including the newer items, are available in 4x5 lb or 2x5 lb packs.
To partake in the Brussels sprouts party at PMA Foodservice, stop by booth #903! And for more pre-PMA Foodservice coverage, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Perhaps it’s the color, but something about blueberries screams America to me. And it would seem that most consumers agree, given that berry sales spike during the summer—despite their availability year-round. I spoke with Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing for California Giant Berry Farms, to find out the state of the blueberry market and what retailers can do to take advantage of this fruit.
“This is really peak blueberry season,” Cindy shared. “Several regions are in production right now, including our Washington and Oregon organics programs. It seems like each year when the Fourth of July hits, consumers really increase their purchases of blueberries. We always encourage retailers to build a large display with all berry types dividing the various shades of reds and blues to draw the consumer in. Easy pricing methods help too by offering a mix and match price and encouraging sales of multiple packages for a deal.”
Varieties available are Duke, Draper, Blue Ribbon, Megas Blue, Top Shelf, and Cargo. Blue Ribbon, Top Shelf, Megas Blue, and Cargo, Cindy told me, are newly-released premium varieties that the company will begin marketing for the first time. Each of these are known for their firmness, great flavor, eating quality, and shelf life.
“Blueberries are a staple this time of year because of the great flavor, versatility, and all those summer fresh blueberry recipes consumers are used to making for picnics, BBQ, vacations, and weekend gatherings,” Cindy said. “They are so easy to include in desserts, salads, smoothies, or frozen into ice cubes in signature drinks. They are the perfect ‘cooler’ food—easy to throw a clamshell in the cooler on the way to the pool or beach since they don’t require slicing or dicing. Just pop ‘em in your mouth! That paired with the fact they are a superfood and good for you is a win all the way around.”
Ideal summer food, indeed! Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in crop and market updates like this.
CHICAGO, IL - At United Fresh, we spent a good portion of time chatting with the folks at the Allen Lund Company (ALC). We talked to Kenny Lund, Vice President of the ALC Logistics Division, to learn more about the growth the company is experiencing. We spoke with Bob Rose, Vice President of Produce Sales, to learn about how the company is changing to accomodate shifting customer needs. And finally, we spoke with Ryan Stephenson of the Corporate Sales team, to learn about how the company has grown to accommodate all of these changes.
“The Allen Lund Company has been growing considerably for the last couple of years, and as the Allen Lund Company has grown, so has the number of sales people that we have,” he shared with me. “We saw a need to coordinate and collaborate across the team and across our offices to identify national opportunities together to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
He explained that Eddie Lund, the company’s CEO, is all about growth—which makes so much sense as I’m listening to him speak about the logistics company’s focus on expanding its operations.
“We’re really here to help support all offices and coordinate throughout the company with national accounts and identify national opportunities to find how we can involve multiple offices to serve those accounts,” Ryan said.
To find out more of what Ryan had to say about ALC, watch our exclusive video above!
SUNBURY, PA - After recently announcing its continued dedication to sustainability and a $100 million investment in growing its operations, Weis Markets is back again with exciting news. The retailer announced that Bob Gleeson, a former Shoppers Food and Pharmacy and SuperValu executive, became its Vice President of Fresh Merchandising. He replaces John Grimes, who retired at the end of June.
In this position, Gleeson will oversee the day-to-day merchandising and procurement of the company’s produce, floral, meat, bakery, deli/foodservice, and seafood departments. According to a press release, he will report to Richard Gunn, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing.
“Bob Gleeson is a proven leader with extensive merchandising experience and a deep understanding of key parts of our seven-state market area,” said Gunn. “We are also grateful to John Grimes for his many contributions over the past eleven years with our company and wish him well in the years ahead.”
Gleeson began his career with Shoppers in 1984 as a part-time grocery associate. During his 29-year career with Shoppers and Supervalu, he worked in increasingly senior leadership positions, which included Vice President of Center Store, Senior Vice President of Merchandising, and Division President.
Congratulations to Bob on this new role!
WATSONVILLE, CA - Monterey Mushrooms has recently announced an exciting new addition to its sales team. Ryan Meyer has joined the company and will be filling the role of Sales Finance Manager.
"I'm excited to be starting a new chapter in my life at such a wonderful company," Meyer commented. "Monterey Mushrooms has welcomed me into their family and it feels like home."
Before coming to Monterey Mushrooms, Meyer worked at Earthbound Farms as a Senior Demand Planner, following his promotion from Finance Business Partner for Sales. Meyer also has held roles at Coca-Cola Refreshments in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the company’s Kroger account team. He also served as a Financial Analyst for Hill-Rom, Inc. in Indiana.
Meyer was educated at the University of Cincinnati and Audencia Nantes Ecole de Management, Nantes France.
"I am excited to have Ryan join our sales team," said Mike O'Brien, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "His analytical skills, as well as his forecasting skills, will help us in our quest to be a gold standard supplier to our customers."
Congratulations to Ryan and the Monterey Mushroom team from all of us at AndNowUKnow.
SALISBURY, NC - The day is finally here! Food Lion, the grocery store company under the Ahold Delhaize umbrella, has announced the completion of its 92-store remodel South Carolina, just after announcing another investment plan in Virginia. Dropping $158 million for this project, Food Lion not only remodeled its stores, but also hired 2,000 additional associates, gave back to local communities, and donated two mobile trucks to area food banks to feed local families in need. To date, Food Lion has now remodeled 80 percent of its network of more than 1,000 stores across its 10-state operating area.
“Food Lion has nourished our neighbors in the greater South Carolina community for 43 years, and we're excited to bring these improvements to our 92 local stores," said President Meg Ham. "We've created a new grocery shopping experience through the significant investments in our stores, associates, and communities. From our expanded variety and product assortment, newly reorganized stores, to a more efficient check-out experience, every change we’ve made will make it easier for our customers to find the quality products they have come to expect from Food Lion. When coupled with our weekly sales and promotions, customers will see that we have made it easier for them to nourish their families with healthy foods on a budget.”
According to the press release, each store—located in Greater Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and Charleston—was opened to the public at 8 a.m. on July 17, following a 7:45 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. So what can you expect to see in these newly remodeled stores? A lot, actually:
- Expanded variety and assortment across all departments relevant to customers in each store, such as more local produce in the “Local Goodness” section, an expanded variety of craft beer, limited reserve wines, and more local, natural, organic, and gluten-free items
- An abundant selection of fresh produce and meat backed by Food Lion's double-your-money-back guarantee and a larger selection of Nature’s Promise beef, pork, poultry, milk, eggs, bottled water, cereal, coffee, and other items. Nature’s Promise is Food Lion’s brand of wholesome and organic products that are made with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or synthetic colors
- Hand-battered chicken as well as a greater selection of easy and affordable complete meals for families and a wider variety of grab-and-go items and pre-sliced deli meats and cheeses, which are sliced fresh daily and available for customers to pick up without waiting in line
- A more efficient checkout process, making it easier to get in, out, and on your-way
- Fully-remodeled stores featuring new signage and groupings of like products to make it easier to locate items faster
Six stores will have walk-in produce coolers designed to keep produce fresher, longer. These lucky stores are in Andrews, Columbia, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, and Ravenel. Also, consistent with Food Lion's focus on fighting hunger in its local communities through Food Lion Feeds, it is also partnering with Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia and Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston to unveil trucks to help feed families in need in remote locations. The donation, totaling more than $200,000, increases capacity for the food banks and was discussed at the 10 a.m., July 16 press conference held at the Food Lion store in Columbia, South Carolina.
Seeing as there is still 20 percent left, will there be more plans in the future in continuing this aggressive remodel plan? AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date on more news to come.