PASADENA, CA - Bracket blues might have quite a few basketball fans down—particularly those of us who picked Duke, Kentucky, and Gonzaga to make it to the final four—but Sun Pacific has just the cure. In a new marketing campaign for its iconic Cuties® brand, Sun Pacific® is introducing retailers and consumers to #SnackMadness, a competition that only has winners, so long as grocery carts are filled to the rim with Cuties!
“March Madness is a major cultural event that coincides with Cuties’ peak season—it’s perfect timing,” Kate Reeb, Director of Marketing, told me about Sun Pacific’s latest campaign. “To engage with Gen Z and college-aged consumers, Sun Pacific tipped off March Madness with its own take on the phenomena: an Instagram video and a series of giveaways happening throughout the tournament. This perfectly fits in with Sun Pacific’s newly revamped Instagram strategy that has also included the likes of a Sweeter with You campaign for Valentine’s Day and a Spring Break promotional giveaway.”
The video first dropped on March 22, at the start of March Madness. Kate explained that, with its new video, Sun Pacific wanted to showcase not only Cuties' position as a marketing leader in the citrus category, but also elevate the brand as a relevant snacking choice for any and all by targeting a wider consumer base beyond just parents.
“Cuties is aggressively investing in social media communities to connect with shoppers and build brand loyalty. Data tells us that videos perform extremely well on social media, yet it can be costly and is not leveraged by fresh produce brands nearly as often as photos. If you look at the engagement numbers of this video versus Instagram video content of other fresh produce brands, it is clear we struck a nerve with Instagram users and have been successful in capturing their attention and earning their engagement,” Kate noted. “This is a winning strategy for building our Cuties community, and we are seeing a much deeper engagement with our fans as a result.”
As March Madness comes to an end this weekend, Kate hinted at the next big thing that consumers and retailers will be seeing from Sun Pacific and Cuties.
“Please stay tuned to the next months of the season as we create and distribute the content Cuties fans are connecting with on social platforms,” Kate concluded.
For more ways produce companies are shooting their shot and debuting exciting new marketing initiatives, keep following AndNowUKnow.
NECKARSULM, GERMANY - Just two years and two months after assuming the top position at German discount grocer Lidl, CEO Jesper Højer has resigned from the company, according to reports in the German media.
"I am proud to have worked for many years, in various international positions, for as dynamic a company as Lidl and to have contributed to the success of the past few years,” Højer said in a statement issued by the retailer’s parent Schwartz Group. “The decision to make my position available was not easy for me, but for me, it's time to realign my family and professional future.”
Schwartz Group’s Deputy Purchasing Director Ignazio Paternò will assume the role of interim CEO while they search for a full-time replacement.
News of Højer’s resignation follows less than a month after Schwartz Group-owned sister company Kaufland lost its CEO Patrick Kaudewitz. Kaudewitz likewise left the company he headed abruptly, citing personal reasons.
How will the CEO’s departure shape Lidl US’s operations? Just this February, the company’s U.S. arm appointed a new Chairman, and the company has continued to grow vigorously into new markets stateside in 2019.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates on this story and other important retail news.
UNITED STATES - Consumers along the East Coast and California will enjoy samples, savings, and prize-winning opportunities as the trademarked apple brand Envy™, owned by T&G Global, expands its attractive 2019 Roadshow to an extra three months following successful excursions in 2017 and 2018. The multi-state sampling tour is expected to bring in a large crowd following the expansion.
“'Bite and Believe' is Envy’s tagline due to our confidence that one bite of an Envy will win over consumers to the sweet, crisp, slow-to-brown apple,” said Chris Willett, General Manager of T&G Global’s Enzafruit Products Inc. Division. “There’s no better way to drive trial of our apples than to hit the road and meet consumers at popular events where they congregate and in-store where they can immediately purchase Envy, a big win for our retail customers, as well.”
According to the company’s press release, Envy brand ambassadors served samples and prize-winning opportunities to the more than 24,000 foodies in attendance where the roadshow got off to a splashy start at the South Beach (Miami) Wine & Food Festival, February 20-24. The East Coast leg of the Roadshow runs through April and will follow the coast northward, with stops at retail stores in North Carolina, the DC metro area, Pennsylvania, New York City, and more. Running through April, the California leg will cover major markets and retailers throughout the state as well.
“Our customers have been enthusiastic about partnering with us on Envy Roadshow events,” said Aaron DeHerrera, Marketing Manager for Rainier Fruit Co. “Not only does the Roadshow deliver an exciting experience for their shoppers, but it also spurs incremental sales that tend to last well beyond the actual event.”
Also coordinating promotional ads and specials, Envy and its sales agent partners—Oppy, CMI Orchards, and Rainier Fruit Co.—are in-store displays and a nationwide Ibotta rebate offer to align with the Roadshow events, as stated in the press release.
For more updates about other Envy promotional opportunities, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
PROVIDENCE, RI - Recent stories that have suggested that United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is planning on shuttering Shoppers Food & Pharmacy locations are, it seems, without truth. Though several news sources, including our own, reported on the flurry of store closures that were ostensibly in order for the SuperValu-owned banner, UNFI has repudiated those claims, saying that, while UNFI is in the process of divesting retail assets it acquired while buying SuperValu, no store closures are planned.
“Several of the recent media reports have said that Shoppers Food and Pharmacy stores are closing. We want to clarify that there are no immediate plans for any Shoppers stores to close,” UNFI noted in a statement.
The company continued: “What we previously communicated was that UNFI plans to thoughtfully and economically divest its retail operations and the company is making progress on that front. As this is an ongoing and fluid process, we don’t have any specific updates or timing to share. When there is something to communicate, we will do so. But, most importantly, we want to be clear that UNFI has not announced any plans for store closures.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this ongoing process and on dynamic companies in retail and foodservice like UNFI.
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO - It’s time to go south for EarthFresh Farms, as the grower just announced plans for a new 140,000-square-foot packing plant and distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia. The new facility will feature advanced technological prowess and is part of the company’s efforts to expand into the Southeastern U.S.
“This new location perfectly complements our vision and plan to provide fresh potatoes to our retailers and consumers,” said Tom Hughes, CEO, in a press release. “The addition of this new location will allow us to keep expanding our base of business and target new customers.”
Operating as EarthFresh Atlanta, the packing plant and distribution center will use the most up-to-date technology and equipment to better serve customers throughout the Southern U.S. The facility will be located at 3800 Naturally Fresh Way in the College Park area of Atlanta because of the location’s ease of access, speed to market, customer service, proximity to rich agricultural regions, and the availability of skilled workers.
EarthFresh has developed a close working relationship with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Quick Start program, and after following their advice, the company is confident with the choice of its new location and efficiencies that the new venture will create.
“The assistance provided to us by the Georgia Department of Economic Development was invaluable,” Hughes added. “The state and people of Georgia will benefit from our investment of bringing fresh potatoes to the area and creating more jobs.”
The Atlanta facility is expected to be fully operational in September 2019, and will employ over 100 people. WIth the new location, EarthFresh is better able to service the Southeastern and South-Central U.S. and follow through on the company’s commitment to deliver fresher product, faster.
How will the new facility pay off for EarthFresh? Only time and AndNowUKnow will tell.
NEW YORK - If there’s one thing shoppers love more than good food, it's good recipes to cook that food! Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative and the merchandising and distribution arm for ShopRite stores, recently announced a partnership with tech company Chicory to expose consumers to new recipes.
“Chicory is proud to partner with Wakefern Food Corp. to bring recipe ingredients to the doors of consumers across the Northeast,” said Yuni Sameshima, Chicory CEO and Co-Founder. “They’ve been incredibly hands-on with our partnership, so it’s clear that they are committed to and believe in driving grocery e-commerce forward through innovative technologies. Wakefern has approached this partnership with the shopper experience as first priority, so we hold their dedication to the partnership and their consumer in high esteem.”
The new partnership will streamline grocery ordering for consumers because the new program will make it easier for shoppers to save recipe ingredients via millions of Chicory-powered digital recipes, according to a press release. Shoppers of the past had to laboriously write down their recipe lists and wander back and forth through the store aisles for the ingredients (raise your hand if this has happened to you). Now, recipe shopping has truly been brought into the 21st century, as ingredients can be directly populated into an online shopping cart at ShopRite, where they can then be picked up at the store or delivered.
The steps are simple:
- Visit any recipe within the Chicory network of 1,000 recipe sites and 3.6 million recipes
- Scroll to the bottom of the recipe ingredients list and click “Get Ingredients”
- Type in your zip code and select ShopRite as your grocery retailer
- A selection of local ShopRite locations will appear; select the best option
- Sign into or register for your shoprite.com account
- Upon login, all recipe ingredients will be pre-loaded into the online shopping cart
- Complete your purchase, selecting either delivery or store pickup (when available) of your recipe ingredients, or use your cart as an in-store shopping list
The partnership will work to boost Wakefern’s e-commerce presence, building on its ShopRite from Home® online shopping platform, and will also build Chicory’s retailer capabilities in the Northeast.
The ShopRite service features associates who personally select food and other items for online orders. Customers then have a choice of picking up their groceries at the store or having them delivered straight to their doorsteps.
For more exciting retail-tech partnerships, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
DALLAS, TX - Yippee ki-yay, we’re celebrating today! DMA Solutions is ringing in its 15th year of servicing the produce industry with top-notch marketing solutions. From tailored services, like website and logo design, copywriting, and trade and consumer advertising, to social media management and public relations, DMA Solutions has been helping fresh produce companies meet their marketing goals since 2004, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon!
“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve this industry and work to shape the existing food narrative,” said Dan’l Mackey Almy, Founder and CEO. “We believe that when people choose fresh more often, there is a net-positive impact on people, communities and society as a whole. Marketing is the key to reaching the consumer, and ultimately, helping drive demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Almy first founded DMA Solutions in 2004. From the get-go, Almy and her team of marketers have worked to shape commodities into brands and create strong company voices throughout the supply chain. The marketing agency has also worked to elevate fresh produce companies into trusted, desired brands recognized not only by the trade, but also by consumers, according to a press release. In many ways, DMA Solutions attributes the success of this feat to its team, which consists of people hailing from various industries with a multitude of perspectives and talents.
“At the end of the day, we believe that our work changes the face of this industry by educating consumers and influencing how they view fresh food options,” said Megan Zweig, Vice President. “It is crucial that fresh produce becomes part of this larger conversation, and for that to happen, marketers must continue to find ways to connect with consumers across multiple touchpoints, both traditional and digital.”
Congratulations to DMA Solutions on 15 years of produce excellence, and here’s to 15 more!
BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart and Google are officially joining forces and introducing a new grocery shopping innovation that could just change everything. This month, the two are launching and implementing voice-activated grocery shopping to take convenience to the next level—and, because it’s Walmart and Google, you can bet your bottom dollar that this new system is part of a strategy to further rattle Amazon.
“We continue to innovate for the future and look to technology to make great services even better in the future. Introducing: Walmart Voice Order. With the new voice order capabilities, we’re building across platforms with partners like Google; we’re helping customers simply say the word to have Walmart help them shop…literally,” Tom Ward, Senior Vice President, Digital Operations, for Walmart, wrote on Walmart.com.
According to Ward, shoppers simply have to say, “Hey Google, talk to Walmart,” to begin using the Google Assistant. Shoppers can then say phrases like “add milk to my cart” and the Google Assistant will load up their Walmart grocery cart with the correct items based on shoppers' purchase history.
Walmart and Google also designed the Google Assistant to align with however consumers shop. Specifically, the Google Assistant can be used at home or on the go thanks to its availability on more than a billion devices, including Smart Displays like Google Home Hub, Android phones, iPhones, watches, and more.
“It’s cross-platform, which means customers can use any device utilizing Google Assistant, and allows for items to go directly to a customer’s shopping cart, making this capability one of a kind. We’re kicking off the work with Google, adding others to the mix as time goes on,” Ward continued. “Over the next few weeks, the service will roll to more and more customers. We can’t wait to hear what they think about it and how it’s making shopping easier for them.”
Will the Google Assistant catch on with consumers and help Walmart further edge Amazon out of its top grocery spot? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you updated with the latest.
LONDON, UK - Driscoll’s was the big winner last week, taking home awards for Best Health and Safety Labor Program Globally at the 2019 Sedex Awards. These awards are in recognition for the company’s thorough labor compliance procedures.
“Supply chain actors along with global and local institutions must work together to introduce solutions that ensure a stable future for farms and ensure the agriculture industry remains a viable option for both farmers and all workers,” said Candida Barbato, Senior Workforce Manager.
According to the company’s press release, Barbato accepted the award on behalf of Driscoll’s. She played an integral part in developing and managing the labor program. Barbato praised the team and independent growers for “translating a global vision into an everyday reality.”
In partnership with hundreds of independent growers, Driscoll’s labor program grows and harvests berries sold under the Driscoll’s brand to ensure the well-being of each Farmworker. The company says this balances its focus on “prioritizing sustainable business practices.”
In 2015, Driscoll’s enforced global labor standards representing criteria where laws did not exist, weren’t consistently applied, or provided lower protection to the workers. To make certain these requirements are held to by independent growers, the company continues to use a third-party audit process as stated in the company’s press release.
To ensure legally-required social security benefits are distributed even in geographies where industry practices don't support it, Driscoll’s works with its network of independent growers as well. The company works together with local government agencies, NGOs, and independent growers to increase worker access to education and public services in rural areas, support registration processes, and educates the local workforce to best access their social security benefits.
Reaching over 40,000 local workers and their families in Mexico and Morocco to date, it seems Driscoll’s benefit program is successful.
Congratulations to Driscoll's from AndNowUKnow on its latest accomplishments!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - In an environment where convenience is king and consumers turn to tech for their grocery shopping needs, it can be difficult to draw customers in to brick-and-mortar grocery stores. Side Delights® has the answer: superior products that offer convenience and taste. As consumers become busier and more stressed, they crave simplicity and ease. Nielsen reports that consumers feel more stretched than ever, and are searching for convenient solutions to simplify their lives. The study reported that 27 percent of consumers were looking for products to make their lives easier. The millennial generation, in particular, craves convenient packaging, which Side Delights satisfies with its convenience-oriented product lines.
Figuring out what to eat is one of the biggest challenges consumers face when making meals. Over half of U.S. consumers say they would prepare dinner at home more often if they had new ideas. Side Delights has addressed this problem with its Side Delights Recipe Database, which contains over 3,000 recipes, many of which can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.
“Side Delights offers convenient packaging and recipes, but most importantly our products provide ease of preparation and great taste,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, the exclusive supplier of Side Delights’ potatoes and onions, in a press release. “The Side Delights line of convenience products include Steamables™, Grillables™, and Bakeables™ in addition to our convenient Potato Kits (Flavorables®, Roastables™) and the fresh-cut potato line, A Cut Above®. All of these products can be prepared in the microwave, oven, or grill—some in as little as eight minutes.”
Although online shopping is taking off in a big way, some consumers still prefer to make some of their purchases in-store. Fresh produce, especially, drives shoppers to the stores. This is particularly evident with millennials, who prefer to purchase their fresh fruit and vegetables in-store and also buy more of them. A recently released USDA report on the Food Purchase Decisions of Millennial Households determined that millennials place a great deal of importance on convenience and experiential attributes. As they become more wealthy, “they approtion more of their budget to vegetables,” according to the report. This suggests that the millennial generation might have a stronger preference for fruits and vegetables compared to older generations.
For more fruit and veg news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.