CARLISLE, PA - In a move to cement itself as a top-tier retailer, GIANT Food Stores just announced its plans for further expansion into the Philadelphia market, with the opening of three new GIANT Heirloom Market stores, in addition to its most recent store opening in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. As part of its strategic growth plan, the stores will be opening in the Philadelphia neighborhoods of University City, Northern Liberties, and Queen Village, and will feature a format and assortment of products specially curated for each unique neighborhood.
"GIANT Heirloom Market is the next chapter in our innovative growth story. The response to our first location in Graduate Hospital has exceeded our expectations and we couldn't be more excited about the future of our GIANT Heirloom Market brand," said Nicholas Bertram, President. "Equally as important, today's news also supports GIANT's commitment to the city of Philadelphia and the people who call it home. We can't wait to introduce our GIANT Heirloom Market concept to more of the city's unique and treasured neighborhoods."
All three stores are set to open in 2019 and will create approximately 150 new full- and part-time positions, according to the press release. The three new GIANT Heirloom Market locations are part of an effort to invest in the city’s urban core, as up till now, GIANT’s presence has largely been in the suburbs of the city. The expansion plan was revealed at the company’s 95th anniversary in October of 2018, and the three new stores will bring the total to five locations within the city limits.
"We are always grateful when companies decide to open or expand in Philadelphia, and that is especially true when the business helps provide access to fresh foods for our residents," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. "GIANT has become an integral part of the Philadelphia region, and we're looking forward to the opening of these three new stores across numerous neighborhoods over the next year."
All three locations will feature a range of products and services that are sure to delight shoppers. The stores will offer a wide selection of high-quality, fresh, local, and seasonal foods, everyday essentials, GIANT’s organic brand Nature's Promise®, and a range of convenient grab-and-go meals. The stores will also feature an onsite Produce Chef, who is available to cut fresh fruit and vegetables on demand at a sampling station, to encourage customers to explore new flavors and varieties. As if that wasn’t enough, the stores will have a wide array of plant-based foods, fresh made sushi, local artisanal breads, a do-it-yourself olive oil and vinegar blending station, kombucha on tap, and a curated selection of craft, imported, and domestic beers. Locals will also be treated to offerings from Philadelphia-area food purveyors.
"We're excited to be able to collaborate with our new urban communities to create a store tailored to their specific needs, preferences, and neighborhood flavor," said Bertram. "Finding ways to better serve our neighbors drives everything we do at GIANT."
Will this strategic growth plan pay off for GIANT? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for updates.
GREEN VALLEY, AZ - It is with heavy hearts that Ciruli Brothers announces the passing of Ceva Ann Ciruli, matriarch of both the company and the Ciruli family. Since 1967, Ceva served as a pillar of the southern Arizona community, where she cultivated life-long friendships and devoted her time to family and friends.
According to a press release, Ceva always put others’ needs above her own, and those who had the privilege of knowing her will remember her beautiful and radiant smile and ability to give warmth and joy in abundance. In the late seventies, she volunteered as an EMT with the Tubac Fire Department and most recently devoted spare time to the Santa Cruz County Cowbelles and the Old Mothers Club. Ceva also had a natural affinity for connecting with others, and she enjoyed supporting industry and community events.
Ceva is survived by her children Chuck and Chris and their wives Kimber and Julie, respectively; her loving grandchildren Siena, Sammy, Frankie, Parker, and Ivy; her brother Richard Tucker; her nephew Scott Tucker and niece Tracey Tucker Aslin; her aunt Shirley; the Layton family; and former husband Chuck Ciruli. She is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Ceva Tucker, and her uncle Bud Layton. She will be greatly missed by her family, many friends, and all the Ciruli Brothers staff.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 08, 2019, at Valley Presbyterian Church in Green Valley, AZ. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County, one of Ceva’s favorite charities.
CINCINNATI, OH, and CHICAGO, IL - Even though people still wonder if folks actually want meal kits, Kroger and Home Chef are betting on the fact that consumers definitely do. Introducing retail meal kits to new cities, the retailer is upping the number of stores carrying Home Chef’s kits to an additional 500 stores. On top of that, homechef.com has launched a customizable meal kit feature for online orders, allowing customers to have more flexibility in deciding what they want for dinner. How? By providing consumers the choice to change and upgrade recipe ingredients. Game changer!
“Kroger continues to redefine the customer experience and provide new ways to shop for, prep, and cook meals through exciting brick-and-mortar and digital experiences,” said Robert Clark, Kroger’s Senior Vice President of Merchandising. “Last October, Kroger introduced Home Chef retail meal kits, and now we’re expanding to add the easy-to-prepare recipes to hundreds of new locations, providing convenient access to the meal solution at more than 700 stores. We look forward to the continued growth of Home Chef in 2019 through expansion and new products.”
According to a press release, Home Chef’s fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and simple recipes are sure to knock the socks off any foodie. Each week’s rotating retail menu showcases a variety of meals, including Home Chef Express meal kits that can be prepared in 15 minutes or less! Talk about convenience. Each meal is designed to serve and starts at $8.50 per serving.
“Home Chef is proud to continue our evolution toward becoming more than a meal kit delivery brand,” said Pat Vihtelic, Home Chef's Founder and CEO. “With continued innovation and personalization, we are providing customers with more ways to enjoy fresh, delicious meals that align with their individual tastes.”
Home Chef retail meal kits are currently available in Kroger Family of Stores across multiple markets. The latest expansion is underway; the press release noted that by the end of February, customers can purchase Home Chef retail meal kits in these additional markets:
- Arizona (Fry's and Smith's)
- California (Ralphs)
- Colorado (King Soopers)
- Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming (Smith's)
- Indiana (Kroger)
- Ohio (Kroger, Columbus)
- Oregon and Washington (Fred Meyer and QFC)
- Tennessee (Kroger, Nashville)
- Texas (Kroger)
For the latest in retail news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
HOUSTON, TX - Our industry is full of passionate, inspiring, and determined individuals who strive to achieve excellence and promote the betterment of fresh produce—consumption, cultivation, potential, and all. One of those motivating figures is Rich Dachman, Vice President of Produce for Sysco. With 2019 gaining ground and change in the air, the industry vet is passing the torch this summer and revealing his retirement as he looks to the road ahead.
As Rich plans to wrap up his tenure at Sysco in June of this year, Julie Olivarria, current Senior Director of Sysco Produce, will be assuming the role of Vice President of Produce for Sysco.
So, what is next for Rich? Since fresh produce is blood-deep, you can bet he isn’t traveling far.
“I have plans to be heavily engaged in Brighter Bites, a non-profit organization,” Rich shares with me. “Brighter Bites promotes feeding kids healthy produce along with teaching nutrition to the entire family and tracking results. That is a real passion of mine, and I look forward to making as much of an impact as possible.”
Rich has worked tirelessly to develop and evolve Sysco’s produce program into one of the industry leaders that it is today, and Brighter Bites is lucky to have that passion on its side if you ask me, in this next turn of the page for Rich.
Rich has spent more than three decades in fresh produce and began his career at FreshPoint in 1992. Many will agree that Rich has been instrumental in the advancement and growth of fresh produce in foodservice. As the company shares, prior to Sysco’s acquisition of FreshPoint in 2000, Rich was the President of three operating companies and managed the central buying office in Salinas, California.
Rich was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Western Region, with the acquisition of FreshPoint in 2000, and in 2007, Rich was promoted to Vice President, Produce, for Sysco.
Congratulations, Rich, and thank you for all you have given to the industry so far, and we are excited for all that you will contribute on your new road ahead! Julie, we look forward to the strides you will make in your new role, and we will be here to tell your story along the way!
WASHINGTON, DC - On February 1, 2019, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL), alongside bipartisan support from 46 Senate and House colleagues, urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to immediately terminate a suspension agreement between the Department of Commerce and Mexican tomato exporters that they say has allowed "unfair competition."
Terminating the current agreement would restart a U.S. antidumping investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico that has been on hold for more than 20 years. The two Florida Senators say the move would give Commerce more leverage to try and secure a new suspension agreement that is both effective and enforceable, according to a press release.
“Since the first tomato suspension agreement was enacted in 1996, hundreds of U.S. tomato growers across the country have been forced out of business,” reads part of the letter issued to Secretary Ross. “Small family operations have been particularly hard hit, and the production losses reverberate beyond agriculture to deeply impact rural economies and land development patterns. The industry will continue to shrink if the status quo is maintained.”
Calling the tomato suspension agreement between the Department of Commerce and Mexican tomato producers "ineffective," Yoho added in a press release that it places U.S. tomato farmers at an unfair disadvantage.
The letter, signed by representatives in 12 different states and territories, noted that Mexico’s share of the U.S. tomato market has increased from 32 to 54 percent, while the share for U.S. growers has fallen from 65 to 40 percent. Since 2002, imports of Mexican tomatoes have skyrocketed 125 percent, and U.S. production has declined 34 percent.
“Fairly traded imports can and do enrich Americans’ lives, but unfair trade practices can eviscerate the jobs and production that define dignified livelihoods and sustain our communities,” Rubio said in the release. “The U.S. tomato industry has been the canary in the coal mine for domestic fruit and vegetable production over the last three decades. Immediately terminating the suspension agreement will reinvigorate the antidumping investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico and send the message that the U.S. will ensure vigilant enforcement of our existing trade laws and trade agreements.”
AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date with additional news.
ASHEVILLE, NC - Though it’s already February, it isn’t too late for the new year, new me trend, or at least it isn’t for Earth Fare. The natural, organic retailer is starting the year off with a new addition to its leadership team. Dr. Angela Hind will act as the company’s new Chief Medical Officer, a role in which she will be working across all departments to enact and oversee a corporate health and wellness strategy to inform Earth Fare’s guiding principles of merchandising and new product selection. Dr. Hind will be acting on the company’s goal of providing only the healthiest assortment of products for the communities it serves.
"Our country has an unprecedented epidemic of chronic illness from the food we eat,” said Dr. Hind. “Grocery stores have enormous power and responsibility to step up and be part of the solution by providing healthy food to everyone. That is Earth Fare's mission, and my role as Chief Medical Officer demonstrates Earth Fare's commitment to being a place of wellness for its customers, its staff, and for our society."
Dr. Hind brings nearly 20 years of experience in Internal Medicine, where she witnessed the growing number of chronic illnesses in patients. As a result, Dr. Hind sought out additional training in molecular toxicology and Functional Medicine as a way to create an integrative approach to treat and prevent disease through toxin avoidance, diet, and stress reduction. No stranger to Earth Fare, Dr. Hind has consulted with the company before, developing programs including the Clean Pantry Makeover and contributing to the retailer’s in-store magazine, The Clean Plate.
According to the press release, some of Dr. Hind’s goals within her role at Earth Fare include:
- Supporting Earth Fare’s commitment to remain the leading, healthiest grocer in North America through its product quality standards, guided by the company’s Food Philosophy & Boot List
- Creating a customer Wellness Program that will help new and existing shoppers meet their specific health objectives
- Strengthening employees’ understanding of health and wellness so they can better educate customers.
- Developing meaningful, wellness-oriented employee benefits that empower employees to eat, feel, and stay well.
“Dr. Hind has made it her life’s work to help Americans improve their health through their food choices. Many conditions can be prevented, treated, or managed with proper nutrition,” said President and CEO Frank Scorpiniti. “We share this vision, and by having Dr. Hind’s expert medical and nutritional counsel, Earth Fare can continue to improve the health of both our shoppers and our employees, to truly help them ‘Live Longer with Earth Fare.’”
Will this new appointment achieve the results that the company is looking for? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for updates.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - I am energetic, smart, and curious—even Frieda’s says so! Those who know me know I am on an endless quest to find out more about myself via avenues like internet horoscopes and BuzzFeed quizzes. Now, thanks to Frieda’s, I have a new way to dive into my psyche that has a few thousand years of gravitas behind it. I’m talking, of course, about the Chinese zodiac. With Lunar New Year in our rearview mirror and the Year of the Pig underway, Frieda’s created a guide to help you determine your very own Chinese zodiac sign.
“Lunar New Year is a super exciting time of the year, and we wanted to have some fun with it,” said Sales Manager Alex Berkley in a press release. “I was born in the year of the snake, which is known for intelligence, sympathy, and wisdom.”
The Chinese zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle, with each year being represented by a different animal. The 12 animals were selected based on their importance to Chinese culture and correspond to a list of unique traits. For this year’s Year of the Pig, those traits include being carefree, generous, and brave! You go, pigs! Check out Frieda’s chart below to find out about your own sign:
Frieda’s is offering additional ways to help retailers create a go-to destination for shoppers, too. The company suggests talking to your account manager today for additional signage opportunities and merchandising recommendations.
Kung Hei Fat Choy everyone—especially to my fellow monkeys out there!
NEWARK, DE - Fresh produce is taking its rightful place in the spotlight at one of the most happening festival-conferences around: South by Southwest (SXSW)! Not only will produce be featured front and center as a part of the educational programming, PMA’s Chief Marketing Officer Lauren M. Scott, The Wonderful Company’s Adam Cooper, Fresh Produce Marketing’s Lisa Cork, and Sentient Decision Science’s Stephen X. Springfield will take the stage to deliver a riveting panel session, titled “Tap Primal Instincts to Fuel Your Food Movement.”
“The goal last year was to listen and learn,” said PMA CEO Cathy Burns. “We learned a lot, especially that there were conversations about food and agriculture without anyone from the industry at the table. This year, we’re looking to change that, and I couldn’t be more excited that our members will be there with us.”
According to a press release, South by Southwest is an annual event that draws half a million people to Austin, Texas, and features 25 conference education tracks and experiential components. One that the produce industry will find especially delightful is PMA’s Global Street Farm, which is back this year to serve as a home-base for produce and floral industry members in attendance at the big event.
“It was so insightful to come last year and better understand what non-industry people think of our produce and floral world,” said Cork, who attended last year’s show. “To continue to grow demand for produce and floral, we need to demonstrate our value to those outside of our industry. We have great products, but even more than that, we have a lot to say about topics like wellness, retail trends, and global business. SXSW offers a perfect venue for us to establish ourselves as experts and leaders.”
PMA's Center for Growing Talent (CGT) will also be in attendance this year. The CGT is bringing the yearly Executive Leadership Exchange (ELE) to Austin to provide two days of curated sessions and an immersion day at H-E-B.
“There is an entire education track focused on food alone,” continued Burns. “It highlights the growing importance of the intersection between food and culture. It’s essential that PMA and our industry is not only better represented in the conversations about our industry, but ultimately that we’re leading them—not only within our industry, but wherever important conversations about the world’s food supply are taking place.”
In addition to PMA’s panel, the show will also feature panels, “Produce Matters: Why Eating More Plants is Key to Health” (featuring Brighter Bite’s Lisa Helfman, PMA’s Scott, and The Nutrition Doctor’s P.K. Newby) and “Revolutionizing Food Safety with Blockchain Tech” (featuring FoodLogiQ’s Andy Kennedy). According to a press release, the produce industry’s presence at this year’s SXSW is due to the industry’s support and votes for the panel to be a part of the 2019 lineup—yay, team produce!
For more 2019 produce show updates, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - Broccoli and cauliflower are the unsung heroes of the produce world. It’s true; the flashier veggies sometimes get all the love, but I’m not above saying that the real MVPs are these cruciferous champions.
“Quality has, and is, forecasted to be good. There was cold weather and a little rain, but so far it has caused no issues. Given that weather is usually the biggest factor when it comes to affecting supplies, the slightly cooler weather has slowed growth a little. Demand has been off due to the Polar Vortex, but we have Valentine’s Day coming—one of the two biggest holidays for restaurants all year,” Jason Lathos, Church Brothers Farms' Manager of Commodities, explained to me.
Jason assured me that supplies and quality will be timed perfectly for this year’s Valentine’s Day promotions, because nothing spells love quite like a roasted veggie recipe.
To stay in the know about fresh produce updates, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.
ANTIGO, WI - The Wisconsin Spudmobile has a new coat of paint and is ready to rock and roll right into consumers’ hearts. The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) recently announced that the 37.5-foot RV serving as a traveling billboard and mobile education unit has a brand-new exterior wrap slated to debut in Stevens Point for the Grower Education Conference and Industry Show on February 5 and 6.
“The Spudmobile is truly one of our most valuable assets in communicating directly with consumers about where their food comes from,” said Dana Rady, WPVGA’s Director of Promotions. “Updating the wrap is helping to keep the vehicle’s vitality alive as it continues to successfully educate people about potato nutrition, how and where potatoes are produced, and the many ways to prepare healthy, easy, and delicious Wisconsin potato dishes.”
The Spudmobile now includes a “Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes” logo over a black background with “Wisconsin Spudmobile” in red letters and a white outline, which represents the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Badger red and white. The new wrap also features all sorts of potato goodness, including images of a Wisconsin potato field, a medley of fresh red and golden potatoes across the bottom, a prepared dish of the roasted red and golden potatoes seasoned with rosemary, and a loaded baked russet potato on the driver’s side. These images are meant to tell Wisconsin potatoes' field-to-fork story. In addition, the wrap also showcases calls to action like “Ask for Wisconsin Potatoes,” and call-outs like "Healthy Grown," which allude to Wisconsin’s sustainable grower program.
Darci Laudenback’s team at CC Graphics designed, printed, and installed the Spudmobile’s updated wrap, a process that took about a week. In a press release, Laudenbach said the Wisconsin potato industry has always been an important part of her family and family business.
“Having the opportunity to be part of the Spudmobile was such an honor,” said Laudenbach. “A lot of work happens behind the scenes to make something like this come to life. It’s exciting to see the final product, and I can honestly say I am happy with the results!”
Rady also noted in a press release that more updates to the Spudmobile are coming in 2019, but that for now she couldn’t be happier with the results.
“It’s very exciting that the Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers will get a firsthand look at the new wrap this week in Stevens Point. With such a classy look, it will not disappoint,” Rady said.
The Spudmobile will be parked at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center for the Grower Education Conference and Industry Show. For more spud updates, follow the vehicle on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.