CENTRAL U.S. - It’s been the wettest winter on record for the U.S., and things aren’t about to dry up anytime soon in the Plains and Midwest. This week, severe weather is expected in those regions, including thunderstorms, heavy rain, and possible flooding.
According to the Weather Channel, the storm system developed from mild air and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, then traveled north as a strong area of low pressure moved through the central states. Having already traveled through the West, the system will continue to drop snow as it travels across the Plains, possibly resulting in a blizzard. Moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to hit as well, which could lead to flooding due to saturated and frozen ground, as well as a rapid snowmelt.
The potential for severe thunderstorms is expected to increase across the southern Plains on Tuesday, traveling from eastern New Mexico into southwestern Oklahoma and western and central Texas. The thunderstorms originating in New Mexico are forecast to organize into a squall line by evening, eventually tracking eastward into the southern Plains well into the night, reports the Weather Channel. According to the weather monitoring site, a major threat will be damaging winds and the possibility of tornadoes and isolated large hail.
Depending on how unstable the atmosphere becomes, severe storms may hit on Wednesday afternoon or evening ahead of a cold front from eastern Texas to the lower- and mid-Mississippi Valley. Even if storms don’t develop, there is still the fear of damaging wind gusts, and even isolated tornadoes.
Come Thursday, the risk of strong to severe thunderstorms may spread east, stretching from the central Gulf Coast to the lower Ohio Valley. Currently, weak instability is anticipated, which will limit the severity of the storm, but isolated severe thunderstorms may still develop in the afternoon and evenings. As with other regions, damaging wind is the main threat, but isolated tornadoes are possible as well.
With heavy rain comes floods, and the risk is high in these regions. Flash flooding and river flooding in parts of the Plains and Midwest are expected this week, with the heaviest rainfall anticipated on Tuesday night through Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches from Minnesota and western Wisconsin into Iowa, southeastern South Dakota, southern and eastern Nebraska, and western and central Kansas, according to the Weather Channel.
The central and southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, and mid-South are expected to receive one to three inches of rain through Friday. With the ground already saturated, and lingering snowpack melting as temperatures rise, significant runoff is expected. Residents of the affected areas are encouraged to clear snow and ice from storm drains before the rain starts to reduce the risk of flooding.
As milder temperatures break up the ice on frozen rivers, ice jams, which clog river bends and get caught in obstructions like bridges, become more likely. Ice jams are particularly troubling because water rises can occur and flood upstream locations, and when an ice jam breaks up, flooding can occur in downstream locations.
The upper Midwest and Plains can expect to see a rise in rivers, creeks, and streams, possibly leading to river flooding in some areas. Record or near-record river water levels could occur in several major rivers, including the Missouri River at Brownville, Nebraska; the Wood River near Gibbon, Nebraska; and the West Nishnabotna River near Hancock, Iowa. Flooding in these rivers have the potential to threaten inhabited areas.
Flooding will be a major issue for the Midwest as it moves further into spring, due to a near-record snowpack in parts of the region.
What will be the fallout from this week of severe weather, and how will the storm affect the produce grown in these areas? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for more updates.
PENNSYLVANIA - Germany-based discount grocer Lidl is continuing to gain ground in the U.S. market, and its latest target for expansion appears to be the state of Pennsylvania and the City of Brotherly Love; the company is reportedly seeking a combined $9.5 million in state redevelopment grants—including funds earmarked for a previously undisclosed store potentially opening in Northeast Philadelphia.
According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lidl—which first entered the U.S. in the summer of 2017—has filed a number of applications with Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding; the company’s applications include $2 million requests for each of the three stores that it wants to build in Philadelphia, according to the Pennsylvania Budget Office.
The company has already confirmed plans to build on locations at South Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia and on Butler Street near Aramingo Avenue in Port Richmond, but the applications suggest that a third store on Roosevelt Boulevard—in the 19114 zip code somewhere between Welsh and Red Lion Roads.
The requested $2 million for the project is to cover, the news source reports, “the expected amount of costs to remediate the land and remove the structure on the site,” Christopher Allen, a Senior Manager with Lidl’s U.S. operation, wrote in the application. Allen also notes: “The site is over budget, which may terminate the project.”
Lidl first entered the Keystone State in December of last year.
Does Lidl US’s expansion in Philadelphia signal a change in tack after the retailer announced a new President and CEO and a new Chairman of its U.S. operations last year? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
TAMPA, FL - Hillary Femal is taking her extensive marketing know-how and transforming it into what I’m sure will soon be the go-to marketing resource for the industry. The former Vice President of Global Marketing for IFCO Systems and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for 48forty Solutions has officially announced the launch of Freshwater Marketing. The new venture is focused on offering comprehensive marketing support to B2B companies in the produce, packaging, and distribution-related industries and beyond.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen so many mid-sized companies without a cohesive, results-driven marketing program,” Femal said. “In some cases, the business grew so quickly there didn't seem to be any time to focus on marketing. In others, companies were stuck doing the same things year after year without any real strategy, unsure of what was working and what wasn’t.”
Femal has over 15 years of executive marketing experience with high-growth companies under her belt—experience that has encouraged her to provide a solution for the challenges many mid-sized B2B companies face. As a result, Freshwater Marketing aims to be the industry’s "outsourced marketing department for mid-sized companies™," offering services like marketing strategy and planning, branding, market research, event management, content creation, and all internal and external marketing communications.
“When your company’s growth is in the double digits, leadership is far too busy putting out fires to dedicate much thought to their marketing plan,” Femal explained. “And because budgets are tight, every dollar of SG&A has to earn its keep. The irony is that without investing in a structured marketing plan focused on results, you’ll never know if what you’re doing is worth what you’re spending.”
In a press release, Femal emphasized that it doesn’t take a huge budget, huge staff, or scores of agencies to move the needle—all it takes is a clearly defined, data-driven marketing strategy executed all day, every day—which is exactly what Freshwater Marketing hopes to help companies with.
“I’m excited to show companies how quickly an outsourced marketing solution can yield results,” concluded Femal. “Freshwater was created to offer marketing capabilities that take years to build— today.”
Congratulations to Hillary Femal on this next step in her career! For more information on Freshwater Marketing, visit the website. And for more produce industry news as it hits the newswire, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
BROCKTON, MA - Concord Foods has introduced a new chocolate dip snack pack under the Simply Concord brand. Best known for providing produce companion products, its new announcement is in light of a big boost in shopper demand for a healthy label and on-the-go snack products.
“We are constantly looking to be on the leading edge of innovation,” said Samantha McCaul, Marketing Manager at Concord Foods, in a press release. “Shopper interest in healthier snack options continues to grow, and we’re thrilled to introduce this new chocolate dip snack pack as an ideal companion to fruit for school, work, and convenient snacking.”
The chocolate dip snack packs come in packs of six, 12 units in a case. According to a press release, Concord has had “exponential growth of its dipping chocolate, with 400% sales increase since last year.” Because of the popularity and efforts to bolster produce department purchases, the demand persists for this product. These new snacks are set to push sales by dipping into the trending interest for compact and convenient snacking choices.
“Retailers have found our dipping chocolate to be a complimentary part of displays during strawberry season, and we have plans for increased cross promotion during spring events such as Easter and Mother’s Day,” McCaul said.
Concord is one of the largest producers of caramel in the U.S., and demand for its other fruit dips is escalating with “200% increase in sales growth for its Simply Concord Caramel dip and 615% increase in its Organic Caramel within the last year,” as reported by a press release. With no high-fructose corn syrup, and non-GMO certified, the shoppers expect the brand’s fruit dips to not only satisfy tons of their health-conscious needs, but also are made with a short list of ingredients they recognize.
In addition, Concord welcomed Jennifer Seeley as its new VP of Sales and Marketing for the Concord Retail Division. Congratulations to Jennifer on her new role!
For more fresh produce news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - After suspending its online delivery operations in New York City this January, Monrovia, California-based retailer Trader Joe’s may be reworking its approach to the Big Apple and introducing a new flagship store. According to a New York Post report entitled “Trader Joe’s looks to surprise Whole Foods with massive Midtown lease,” Trader Joe’s is currently in negotiations to open “a giant…store in the Park Imperial condo building at Broadway and West 55th Street.”
The new flagship location would be in close proximity to Whole Foods’ own Time Warner Center location.
“They’re keeping it secret because they want to take…Whole Foods by surprise,” a source told the New York Post. The source also noted that, though the Park Imperial advertised a 12,000-square-foot space, the Trader Joe’s store is expected to be much larger—enveloping the seven-story parking structure next door on West 55th Street.
“They had to explain to garage users why they were losing their garage,” a source told the news source. “But everyone involved had to sign a tough nondisclosure agreement.”
According to that source, “the deal is done,” but Trader Joe’s has yet to confirm or deny the report.
“We are very interested in the Broadway location, but that is all of the information there is to share or confirm at this time,” Kenya Friend-Daniel, National Director, Public Relations, told the New York Post.
Will Trader Joe’s 12th New York location be a definitive stroke in its shifting approach to the major market? AndNowUKnow will continue to report as information is forthcoming.
AUSTIN, TX - There may be something rotten in the state of Whole Foods, with claims surfacing recently that the company has been cutting workers’ hours. This comes on the heels of the November 2018 announcement that Amazon raisied its minimum wage to $15 per hour, which went into effect for Whole Foods employees as well. Whole Foods workers are now claiming widespread cuts to their schedules, negating the wage increase, according to a report by The Guardian.
While workers interviewed by The Guardian were hesitant to go on the record for fear of retaliation, they still had much to say on the topic.
“My hours went from 30 to 20 a week,” said one Whole Foods employee in Illinois.
The worker went on to explain that before the minimum wage increase, part-time employees would work an average of 30 hours per week, with full-time employees working an average of 37.5 hours per week. However, after the wage increase went into effect, part-time hours dropped to an average of 21 hours per week and full-time hours dropped to an average of 34.5 hours per week. The unnamed employee backed up their claim with work schedules from November 1, 2018 to the end of January 2019, revealing significantly decreased hours, while individual departments’ percentage of the entire store labor budget remained relatively the same, as reported by The Guardian.
“We just have to work faster to meet the same goals in less time,” said the employee.
“This hours cut makes that raise pointless as people are losing more than they gained, and we rely on working full shifts,” a Maryland worker told The Guardian, adding that regional management is responsible for forcing stores to cut down full-time employee schedules by about four hours per week.
“At my store all full-time team members are 36 to 38 hours per week now. So what workers do if they want a full 40 hours is take a little bit of their paid time off each week to fill their hours to 40. Doing the same thing myself,” an Oregon Whole Foods employee said to The Guardian.
Whole Foods released a statement to Business Insider, stating claims that the company was cutting employee hours were untrue.
"Claims that Whole Foods Market is reducing hours as a result of increased wages are false," a Whole Foods spokesperson said. "In fact, on average, our full-time store team members worked the same number of hours in January and February 2019 as they did during the same period last year. We are proud to have increased the hourly wage for all store team members, and we will continue to schedule labor hours based on individual store needs to create the best experience for our team members and customers.”
However, some workers have claimed that the cuts have led to understaffing issues, including longer lines and unattended customers due to the insufficient scheduling of employees.
This disillusionment has led to a push in efforts to unionize workers. Several Whole Foods employees formed the group Whole Worker, in September 2018, to form a union that would offer workers a resource to organize after the Amazon takeover, according to The Guardian. In response, Whole Foods began to train management to counter the union organization not long after the organization went public, revealed in an email to all U.S. Whole Foods employees.
"The reports of Amazon's Whole Foods cutting worker hours is the worst case of bait and switch I've ever seen," United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) President Marc Perrone said in a statement to Business Insider. "Just months ago, they told the American people and their workers that they were raising their minimum wage to $15 per hour. But now it appears that this was all a public relations stunt as they are now cutting worker hours—which is a cruel pay cut, plain and simple."
With claims that the wage raise is pointless due to the cut hours, some workers may be looking to jump ship.
“Just about every person on our team has complained about their hours being cut. Some have had to look for other jobs as they can’t make ends meet,” a California Whole Foods employee told The Guardian.
Will the company be able to get its employee satisfaction back on track? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for all the best updates.
YAKIMA, WA - It’s not even spring yet, and already Superfresh Growers® is coming up with ways to make sure the best season of the year (autumn) is felt throughout produce aisles everywhere—my kind of people! And its strategy is pretty simple: Autumn Glory® apples, all the time, all year long.
Specifically, the grower recently reviewed scan data and noticed that shoppers aren’t afraid of getting in the fall spirit no matter what month it is thanks to the allure of the Autumn Glory. The IRI FreshLook™ data for the four weeks ending January 27, 2019, showed that Autumn Glory apple’s national sales growth in January was off the charts, doubling in sales and leading all top-twenty apple varieties in growth percentage, according to a press release. On top of that, sales dollars increased 83% and pounds increased by 103%. In comparison, only one other proprietary apple variety witnessed a sales increase in January (of 8%), with most other proprietary apples experiencing a decrease in both sales and volumes.
“With sales like this, and the amazing consumer feedback we are receiving, Autumn Glory is a rising star that needs to be in everyone’s lineup,” said Mike Preacher, Director of Marketing. “These numbers prove what we have known for years, that Autumn Glory apple’s flavors—spice with hints of caramel—attract customers year-round by reminding them of their favorite season for eating fresh apples right off the tree. Autumn Glory apple evokes harvest-season sentiments that are ingrained in us all.”
But if Autumn Glory is not in your current category lineup, not to worry! All you have to do is reach out to your Superfresh Growers representative soon.
“Retailers have learned that their best results come from carrying the apple from our October harvest into winter, and all the way through the summer. Autumn Glory is truly the apple for ALL seasons. With appropriate displays and merchandising, you will be rewarded with excited consumers who are falling in love with this apple,” Preacher concluded.
So, what are you waiting for? Experience Fall All Year® with Superfresh Growers today, tomorrow, and for the rest of the year!
For more produce industry news like this, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Same-day delivery service and marketplace Shift made headlines at the end of 2017 when the company was acquired by 1,800-store-strong retailer Target for $550 million. And now Shipt has announced the departure of its Founder and CEO Bill Smith, ushering in a new era of leadership under new CEO Kelly Caruso.
“Coast to coast, nearly a hundred thousand Shipt shoppers are delivering orders within hours from more than 60 retailers with an unmatched personalized touch that has raised consumer expectations for quality and convenience,” said Caruso, in a press release. “I’m honored to join the Birmingham community and lead the Shipt team as we continue to grow our shopper network, assortment, and retail partners to make life simpler for millions of people.”
According to Shipt’s press release, Caruso brings more than 25 years of retail experience to her new role—which she will assume effective immediately. Most recently, Caruso served as SVP Hardlines at Target, in which she was responsible for developing the merchandising and guest experience strategies for toys, electronics, and entertainment. Priorly, she was President of Target’s independent global sourcing business, supporting the company’s owned-brand growth.
Throughout the course of her career, Caruso has held a number of merchandising and inventory planning positions at Target, May Merchandising, and Abercrombie & Fitch.
“With expertise ranging from the sales floor to sourcing and merchandising, Kelly is a proven leader who knows retail inside and out. She’ll help Shipt continue bringing same-day convenience to more consumers through its growing marketplace of retail partners,” said John Mulligan, Shipt Director and Target’s COO. “Bill’s entrepreneurial achievements have changed the game in same-day delivery, and we thank him for his outstanding leadership of Shipt.”
Shipt also noted that, after its acquisition by Target in 2017, Shipt has grown into one of the nation’s preeminent same-day delivery marketplaces across the country—scaling to more than 250 markets, doubling its membership, tripling the size of its team, and adding more retailer partners to its same-day marketplace.
“In 2014, I started Shipt to help people spend more time on what’s important to them. It’s been an incredible experience to be part of such a great team that built Shipt from an idea into a national leader in same-day delivery,” said Shipt Founder and Former CEO Smith. “I am proud of what the Shipt team has accomplished and have confidence that Shipt’s momentum will continue, which is why I have decided now is a good time for me to get back to my passion, creating and building early stage companies. The company will benefit from Kelly’s retail leadership as it focuses on being the best same-day, personalized service for members.”
Will new senior leadership result in a shift in strategy for the same-day delivery giant and its parent? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
WENATCHEE, WA - Keyes Packaging Group, the packing and shipping company, is demonstrating a commitment to future growth with the recent hiring of produce industry veteran Suzanne Wolter. Wolter is taking on the role of Vice President of Sales and Marketing and is a welcome addition to the team as she brings with her a wealth of experience and new ideas.
“I’m excited to join a company with a long history producing socially responsible products,” said Wolter in a press release. “I’m confident our industry has reached a tipping point for packaging and am thrilled to help bring new solutions to market. It’s especially gratifying to know, with Keyes support, I’ll continue to serve industry organizations in various volunteer capacities.”
Wolter’s extensive experience in sales and marketing for growers offers the company a unique perspective to help it better service the production side of the agriculture industry. Wolter is set to work between the company’s Wenatchee, WA, headquarters and its Yakima, WA, facilities.
“Suzanne’s breadth of industry knowledge and extensive relationships will allow for a smooth transition into this executive role focused on our core accounts,” said Ted Kozikowski, CEO. “We are well positioned now to explore additional emerging markets.”
The company has made significant facility investments over the last few years resulting in increased capacity, new product development, and enhanced quality control systems. Now Keyes has set it sights on the future, with its attention focused on growing existing segments and new market development. Consumer demand for responsible food and beverage packaging has driven interest in environmentally friendly products produced by the company.
Congratulations to Suzanne on this next step in her career!
For more news on important executive staffing, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MEDLEY, FL - While I never had the honor of meeting Dave Bowe, through his son and granddaughter, I feel like I knew a strong part of him. The namesake and originator of the family-founded and innovative Dave’s Specialty Imports passed away Sunday, February 17, after a battle with Alzheimers. He was 80 years of age.
Dave’s love for our industry began when he was a boy. He loved to tend to the vegetable garden of the orphanage he called home in the 1940s, long before he grew to become an industry maverick that took all he learned to found Dave’s Specialty Imports in 1992.
“He had a bold and brilliant personality. He was like a roaring fire. Strong and warm, he filled the room with his presence. He had a genuine gift to connect with people. Armed with an arsenal of humor and catch phrases, he knew how to make people smile at any moment. He could bring out the best in people. With quick wit and an uncanny knack for numbers, he was a natural business man,” Leslie Simmons, Vice President and third-generation leader of Dave’s Specialty Imports, wrote of her grandfather. “He spent his early years at St. Aloysius orphanage in Cincinnati with his brother Alfred ‘Buddy’ and his sister Mary. There he learned lessons that would serve him the rest of his life. As a teenager, he took a job bagging groceries at a local A&P, and so began his life-long career in the fresh produce industry.”
A pioneer back when most of the staple items of today were still specialties, he helped to bring many exciting fresh items to U.S. consumers from around the world and went on to found Dave’s Specialty Imports, Inc. in 1992. Dave and his wife, Peg, saw two generations grow the business into what we know today, with his son, Mike, now leading as President with Leslie as Vice President. Together, they carry on Dave’s prowess for reading the market as well as his deep-rooted belief in treating employees and partners in the business like an extension of his family.
“He was an early riser and was typically on the road at 4 a.m. to get to the warehouse, check the quality of his fruit, and start to plan the day. He was often there before the warehouse staff. He could be seen in a 32 degree cooler in his white sneakers, shorts, light windbreaker, and a Gilligan Island-style fishing hat, accompanied only by a small step-ladder. He was dedicated, tough, fair, and had a keen sense of what was happening in the marketplace. He prided himself on going the extra mile and being honest and upfront with his customers,” Leslie said.
Dave has been described as one of the most energetic and positive people in the business, loving to learn and absorbing all anyone had to teach him. He rose up in the ranks from a grocery bagger for a local A&P to Produce Buyer, Perishables Director, independent grocer, wholesaler, then supplier and importer. All the while he connected with those he met and left impressions that would last for decades.
“Dave was more than an employer, he was a colleague, a mentor, and he was a damn good friend. I don’t think I ever met another person that, no matter how challenging a situation looked, he always saw the silver lining and the rainbow at the end. He truly had the most positive attitude of anybody I ever met. He is with the Lord now and has a full memory of all of his life and is, I’m sure, sharing stories with other produce folks that have gone before him at a neat place in The Lord’s house,” Dave’s 30-plus year colleague and friend Tony Taviano of B&B Imports shared with me.
Dave was an active volunteer in his church’s group, finance committee and, as time passed, he settled into the job that suited him best every Sunday: greeter and usher.
“Alzheimers set in about 8 years ago,” Leslie shared. “The roaring fire dimmed over the last few years as words or faces left him, but many phrases did not. He would still identify us as ‘a good one’ with a smile, and sometimes a hug, even if there wasn’t a name. We lost a good one, one of the best. We can only be grateful for the force he was in our lives, and for all that he has taught and given to us.”
Beloved husband of Peggy J. Bowe (nee Carty) devoted father of Michael A. (Christine), Christopher A. (Karen), and James A. (Patty) Bowe, dear brother of Mary Jane Bauer and the late Alfred "Buddy" (Barbara) Bowe, Dave is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He is a part of the generation that made our industry what it is today, and will be deeply missed.