YAKIMA, WA - Community is a critical aspect of our industry. Some have embraced this role to new levels, seeking ways to ensure their legacy goes beyond the soil of an address. This year, as our team sought to recognize one standout, the 2024 Besties committee ruled it was FirstFruits that would carry the title of Best Philanthropic Initiatives.

“We want our partners and their communities to benefit from FirstFruits’ strong sense of community that we enjoy every day we’re in operation,” Emily Cox, Marketing Manager, explained as we connected on the importance of such initiatives to the company. “FirstFruits Farms has a long history of giving back, and it’s something that is ingrained in our culture. We understand that our success is deeply connected to the well-being of the communities we serve.”

Supporting initiatives like Youth Make A Difference and Take A Bite Out of Hunger, among other actions, propelled FirstFruits to the top of the Besties’ contender list. Moreover, they are perfect examples of the brand’s core values to give back and foster positive change. By integrating its efforts into core operations, Emily shared, the team has consistently reinforced its positive impact.

“Year after year, we are inspired by those who either engage in our programs or benefit from them. It’s wonderful when we can come together with our partners and work towards a shared goal that is bigger than us and our everyday business,” she said.

FirstFruits’ long-running program, Take A Bite Out of Hunger, started by recognizing a void in food banks that wasn’t being filled. Fresh, healthy food donations were greatly needed in these communities.

“We realized that, in conjunction with our customer partners, we could contribute to addressing this need,” Emily explained, adding how Opal's Youth Make A Difference takes this one step further. “It empowers young individuals by funding initiatives focused on food education and security, hunger relief, and community engagement. It’s the youth leaders that are working to make a change in their communities that are so inspiring. Like them, we seek to create lasting positive effects within our communities. And since our communities stretch across the nation, we wanted to support youth leaders no matter where they lived. Through Youth Make A Difference, we get to do just that.”

For the Besties award process, our team handles the initial nominations to ensure each nominee meets our stringent standards. We then share our nominees with our Besties committee.

The committee is composed of experienced retail buyers or individuals with substantial experience and knowledge in their respective fields. This year, they voted on every category except for one: Retailer of the Year. Each committee member received a ballot with three nominations for each award category. Based on their votes, we determine the winners of the Bestie Awards.

Over the years, FirstFruits’ philanthropic projects have grown in scope and impact, from increasing dollars donated to expanding the number of grant awardees, building dreams and realizing its own vision of helping build a better community.

“These initiatives allow us to carry out our commitment to addressing both immediate and long-term needs within our communities, continually enhancing our efforts to make a meaningful difference,” Emily concluded, leaving me in awe of the financial, physical, and future potential such a well-rounded support system has on those surrounding the FirstFruits team.

Is it any wonder this is the newest title holder for Best Philanthropic Initiatives?

Congratulations to all of FirstFruits on this impressive commitment to making impactful change in the community around you!

ROSEMONT, IL - A recent partnership in the distribution space positions foodservice providers to streamline their operations. US Foods announced its partnership with Lightspeed Restaurant, planning to implement the innovator’s technology within its CHECK Business Tools program.

“We are excited to welcome Lightspeed as a new provider in our CHECK business tools program,” US Foods Business Solutions Director Adam Stinn stated. “Our goal is to offer our customers reliable technology providers, who bring meaningful solutions and impactful product innovations to help their businesses succeed. We believe Lightspeed has a lot to offer, and are looking forward to this new collaboration.”

Through the program, this new technology will be available to operators nationwide, according to Yahoo! Finance. The tool aims to accelerate growth and enhance customer experiences in the foodservice space. Customers of US Foods will have access to exclusive offers on POS hardware, advanced insights, and management capabilities across multiple locations.

By implementing this solution, US Foods’ CHECK business tools programs will bring modernization to its customers. Through the program, operators can increase traffic, simplify staffing, and enhance efficiency.

“Partnering with US Foods to bring our advanced POS solutions to their CHECK business tools programme marks a significant milestone,” said Lightspeed Hospitality Senior Vice President Adoniram Sides. “Through this collaboration, we aim to help restaurant operators streamline their operations, boost profitability, and create memorable customer experiences. We're setting a new standard in the dining industry by delivering unmatched value and support to restaurateurs.”

As this technology is implemented, stay up to date on the latest with ANUK.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - I know that I trust DoorDash with my grocery delivery over other services. This preference seems to extend beyond me, if the success of the grocery partner’s second quarter 2024 financial results are anything to go by.

“In Q2 2024, we set new quarterly records for Total Orders, Marketplace GOV, and revenue with year-over-year (Y/Y) growth in revenue that exceeded Y/Y growth in Marketplace GOV for the tenth consecutive quarter,” the company said in a release. “Our aim is to build a large and durable business by building services that expand the potential of local commerce. Our core competencies in that pursuit are customer obsession, attention to detail, and effort. We are very pleased with our financial performance in Q2 2024, as it reflects years of investment and product-level focus that drove strong growth and improved unit economics in several major areas of our business.”

The release highlighted several operational wins, which are as follows:

• Total Orders increased 19 percent Y/Y to 635 million and Marketplace GOV increased 20 percent Y/Y to $19.7 billion
• Revenue increased 23 percent Y/Y to $2.6 billion and Net Revenue Margin increased to 13.3 percent from 13.0 percent in Q2 2023
• GAAP net loss including redeemable non-controlling interests was $158 million compared to $172 million in Q2 2023, and Adjusted EBITDA increased to $430 million from $279 million in Q2 2023

To see more, click here.

“We are also pleased that we were able to drive more sales to more merchants than ever before, generate more earnings opportunities for Dashers than ever before, and connect more DashPass members to more of the local merchants they love than ever before,” the company went on to note. “Our opportunity to strengthen local commerce is large, and we hope to continue setting new records for these metrics in the quarters, years, and decades to come.”

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest across all things retail!

SALINAS, CA - An exciting collaboration has occurred within our industry as Measure to Improve announced a partnership with SQFI on a new SQF Sustainability Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Addendum for Pollinator Protection that can be used alongside the SQF Food Safety Code: Primary Plant Production for certification.

“Measure to Improve is dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture, and that often comes out of collaborative efforts,” remarked Nikki Cossio, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership with SQFI is a perfect example of two organizations using their strengths to create something that benefits and keeps the industry proactive on an emerging demand.”

According to a press release, this collaboration demonstrates Measure to Improve's and SQFI's leadership in finding collaborative solutions to promote sustainable agriculture, protect essential pollinators, and help growers incorporate emerging IPM demands with existing food safety structures with which they are already familiar.

Key highlights of the SQF Sustainability Integrated Pest Management Addendum for Pollinator Protection Addendum include:

• Benchmarked by the IPM Institute and recognized by major retailers like Walmart, which mandates that its fresh produce suppliers adopt IPM practices by 2025
• Supports a system that utilizes various pest control methods, including biological, physical, and chemical controls, prioritizing those with the least adverse impact
• Promotes deep knowledge of farm agroecosystem functions to ensure precise application of control methods
• Encourages the use of consultants and experts to enhance IPM program efficacy
• Approved by Walmart - Walmart requires produced suppliers to implement certain sustainability initiatives, including integrated pest management (IPM) for the protection of pollinators and the critical role they play in a sustainable food system

MTI has been a critical leader in providing technical expertise to SQFI to develop the IPM Sustainability Addendum.

To learn more, click here.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow for what's next in supply-side certification.