BALTIMORE, MD - Walmart snapped up a new spot for one of its facilities. Recently, the retailer signed an 11-month deal to renew 140,000-square-feet of warehouse space at the former PepsiCo site in Woodberry—a suburb in Baltimore, Maryland. Redevelopment plans were already in the works for the 12-acre site, located off the Jones Fall Expressway at 1650 Union Avenue.
“When they renovate stores, they need a place for storage, a dry heated place to store fixtures,” said Sam J. Himmelreich, Jr., owner of the property. “It’s a temporary storage place.”
According to a report from The Baltimore Business Journal, at the time of his interview Himmelreich had not yet identified a grocer that might make use of the space. Plans are still developing for the rest of the site, including other potential retail and apartments.
Himmelreich Associates purchased the development for $6.7 million in 2015, when it was being used solely as a distribution center.
What plans does Walmart have for this new facility? And will it have an effect on the retailer's footprint in the Baltimore area? AndNowUKnow will keep its eyes peeled and its ear open for the latest news.
EXETER, CA - After 37 years under the leadership of President Joel Nelson, the California Citrus Mutual (CCM) Board of Directors has named Casey Creamer as its new President and CEO.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve,” stated Creamer, in a press release. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with some of the best leaders over my career and have nothing but respect and admiration for the job that Joel has done advancing issues important to the citrus industry. I'm looking forward to carrying on the many successful traditions at CCM, while constantly seeking new ideas and pathways to address the significant challenges we face. With the enthusiasm and commitment that exists in this industry, I am confident that together we can tackle any obstacle thrown our way.”
Creamer came to CCM in February of 2018 after a national search process to find a candidate to eventually assume the role of President. The veteran agriculture industry representative currently serves as Executive Vice President. He will assume the new role of President/CEO effective February 1st.
“The citrus industry is very fortunate to have had an individual of Joel's caliber the last 37 years. That kind of loyalty is not only rare, it's unheard of,” said Board Chairman Curt Holmes. “Joel has taken a relatively small industry and has given us a huge voice. We've faced many challenges over the years and have addressed them head on with his energy and passion leading the way. We are incredibly grateful to him for his service and we appreciate his willingness to stay engaged in the industry.”
Creamer has previously held senior roles at the Kings River Water Quality Coalition, California Cotton Ginners & Growers, and Western Agricultural Processors Association.
“We are also very excited to have Casey on board as our new President and CEO,” continued Holmes. “The Board conducted an extensive search process and interviewed viable candidates from across the country. We ultimately found the right person in our own backyard. His prior experience working for a sister commodity organization and his work representing growers on water issues made him an ideal selection. Over the last year his knowledge of the citrus industry has greatly expanded, and he has quickly become a valuable member of the CCM team on behalf of the industry.”
Congratulations, from the ANUK crew, to both Casey and Joel on the new phases in their careers.
SALINAS, CA - Church Brothers Farms announced that it has made a deal to acquire the commodity vegetable business of Growers Express. With the deal, Church Brothers Farms will also acquire a licensing agreement to extend the Green Giant™ Fresh brand to new varieties in partnership with Growers Express. All in all, the company is expected to expand its overall annual production by 15 percent to 20 percent through the deal.
“We built a superior land base over the last decade making this a great fit,” said Brian Church, CEO of Church Brothers Farms. “Church Brothers Farms is positioned to align this new business into an existing vertically integrated program, which helps make the shift in business a seamless change for Growers Express customers in terms of the consistency of the field packed vegetable product line.”
According to a press release, assets acquired by Church Brothers Farms include the growing, harvesting, and selling of field-packed vegetable commodities currently branded under Growers Express’ Green Giant Fresh license. Under the deal, Growers Express will retain the segment of its business that helped develop product innovations such as Cauliflower Crumbles®, Vegetable Noodles, and Green Giant Fresh Vegetable Bowls.
“The transition of our commodity vegetable business allows us to better leverage our expertise as innovators and marketers,” said Jamie Strachan, CEO of Growers Express. “It also gives us bandwidth to deliver more new products, consumer-focused innovation, and value-added products to advance the business of our customers. We are a business rooted in farming, and we’ve been serving the commodity category for 30 years, so it was vital we find a partner that allows for seamless continuity for our farming operations, and Church Brothers Farms is an ideal partner.”
The Growers Express commodity sales team will transition to operate under Church Brothers Farms’ leadership before the end of the desert winter growing season. The company also noted that customers will receive the same quality, service, branded product, personnel, volume, and service levels throughout the transition.
“This move increases efficiencies and leverages the strengths of both organizations,” Church continued. “There will be no overlap of customers by combining these programs; our existing program is predominantly food service and Growers Express’ is retail. Existing customers of both companies can be assured their designated volume is still in place, just shifting all under one company.”
The fresh produce industry is always evolving, and as AndNowUKnow continues to learn the latest from those with boots on the ground, we will share it all with you.
CINCINNATI, OH - The Kroger Co. has big plans for 2019. As part of its Restock Kroger plan, the retailer is making serious senior management changes, with an eye on technology and new management positions. Stuart W. Aitken is being appointed to the newly-created role of Senior Vice President, Alternative Business, and Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Christopher T. Hjelm will be succeeded by Yael Cosset, currently serving as the company’s Chief Digital Officer.
Restock Kroger is the company’s three-year plan to create shareholder value by serving America through food inspiration, and the staffing changes are in an effort to further this plan. With a strong focus on technology and digital development, it is no surprise that some of the staffing changes are tech-related. Cosset will be assuming responsibility for the Kroger Technology function in addition to his current Kroger Digital portfolio.
"Yael and Chris have worked collaboratively to support Kroger's technology evolution," said Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen in a recent press release. "Consistent with Kroger's history of thoughtful succession planning, Chris and Yael have a deliberate transition plan to ensure continuity while successfully delivering on our Restock Kroger technology initiatives to redefine the grocery customer experience."
Joining Kroger as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer in 2005, Hjelm will be retiring on August 1, 2019, though Cosset will be taking over the role of Chief Information Officer, effective May 1.
"Chris has been a key member of the senior leadership team at Kroger for over a decade, playing a transformational role in making Kroger a respected technology company," said McMullen. “We are grateful for his leadership during this important time in our company's history. We know Chris will enjoy spending more time with his new granddaughter and close-knit family in retirement, while continuing to pursue his on-going entrepreneurial technology interests."
Cosset brings to the position a wealth of experience and was elected as Kroger’s Group Vice President and Chief Digital Officer in January 2017, where he successfully led the company’s digital growth strategy.
"Yael is driving Kroger's business forward in support of Restock Kroger," McMullen commented. "He is a passionate advocate for applying technology, innovation, and customer science to make a difference in the lives of our customers. Yael has the qualifications, skills, and strategic mindset to ensure technology and digital are key accelerators of Kroger's future success."
In another realm of the company, Stuart Aitken will be appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Alternative Business, effective February 3, 2019. As part of this role, Aitken will assume oversight of the company’s successful existing alternative profit businesses including Kroger Personal Finance (KPF) and 84.51°, along with leading the development of a full portfolio of alternative businesses to support the transformation of Kroger’s growth model.
"Stuart is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of value creation in businesses that further monetize Kroger's successful core," said McMullen. "Throughout his time at 84.51° and as a member of Kroger's senior leadership team, Stuart has been instrumental to the successful development and growth of the alternative profit stream portfolio. That portfolio makes the transformation of Kroger's growth model possible, by developing successful asset-light, margin rich businesses."
Will these staffing changes further the company’s Restock Kroger plan? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for all further developments.
IRVINGTON, NY - Produce aisles around the nation are getting a leafy green makeover as BrightFarms expands its customer base to new stores and markets, meeting rising consumer demand for local produce that’s available year-round. Specifically, the hydroponic greenhouse grower is heading into the likes of Dierbergs, Food Lion, Jungle Jim’s, Misfits Market, and Tops Friendly Markets.
According to a press release, the following BrightFarms greenhouses will be helping to supply locally grown packaged salads to the following markets:
- BrightFarms’ greenhouse in Wilmington, Ohio, will supply salad greens for the grower’s new partner: Jungle Jim’s International Markets
- The Wilmington greenhouse will also supply 140 Tops Friendly Markets located in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont
- BrightFarms’ Culpeper, Virginia, greenhouse will supply Food Lion stores in Richmond and Lynchburg, which are just two hours away from the greenhouse
- BrightFarms is entering the St. Louis market and supplying Dierbergs Markets with unique lettuce varieties like Sunny Crunch and Fresh Kick from its Rochelle, Illinois, greenhouse
In addition to these local retailers, BrightFarms is doing its part to reduce food waste by partnering with imperfect produce delivery box service Misfits Market, which delivers produce to shoppers in Pennslyvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. As part of the partnership, the greenhouse grower will supply excess yields from its Bucks County, Pennsylvania, greenhouse.
BrightFarms notes in a press release that its hydroponic greenhouses use 80 percent less water, 90 percent less land, and 90 percent less shipping fuel when compared to long distance growers, and the proximity of its greenhouses to stores add that extra affirmation that only the freshest pesticide-free and non-GMO greens line store shelves.
In addition to the aforementioned new markets and partners, BrightFarms’ salads are also available in stores around the country, including Walmart, Ahold Delhaize, and Albertsons.
For more of the freshest produce news like this, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
STELLARTON, NS - Sobeys parent company Empire Company Limited is introducing the Great White North to its FreshCo banner as it makes moves to expand its businesses into Western Canada. The retailer announced plans to open 12 locations in British Columbia and Manitoba this year, with many of the shops taking the place of former Safeway stores.
“We are in the midst of turning around our Western Canadian stores. We have improved our standards, execution, and marketing,” said Michael Medline, Empire’s President and CEO. “We are extremely proud of the progress our teammates in the region are making. This decision in B.C. is a major building block in improving our customer service, employee relations, profitability, and flexibility in the West.”
The move not only advances Sobeys’ plans to expand FreshCo into new markets, but also implements a strategy to improve store profitability and allow conventional Safeway stores to compete in a level playing field in B.C. According to a press release, 25 percent of Empire’s 255 Safeway and Sobeys full service stores will be converted to the FreshCo banner, with the company offering voluntary buyouts to eligible long-service Safeway employees that could cost approximately $35 million.
The first five FreshCo stores are slated to open this spring in B.C. and Manitoba, with the additional seven stores opening in B.C and five additional Safeway stores closing in the first half of fiscal 2020.
To stay ahead of grocery retail happenings, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest.
BURLINGTON, MA - In a first-ever collaboration, the New England Produce Council (NEPC) and the Organic Produce Network (OPN) are joining together to put on the first New England Organic Produce Conference. The two associations announced the new educational event—to be held May 1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts—this week and noted that Shannon Allen, creator of the restaurant grown, will be the keynote speaker.
“This will be a do-not-miss event,” said Matt Seeley, Co-Founder and CEO of Organic Produce Network. “Working collectively with the New England Produce Council...will help increase the knowledge base of all of our members. The program will be first class.”
Developed in a partnership with Massachusetts-based New England Produce Council and California-based Organic Produce Network, the event will feature a number of educational and edifying opportunities including Neilson Report, Organics 101, and a Retailer Roundtable feature.
“We are very pleased and excited to invite Shannon Allen back home to New England to share her expertise on organics,” said Anthony Sattler, President of the NEPC, in a press release. “Also, we are very happy to be working together with the Organic Produce Network on this event.”
According to that press release, grown is a first-of-its-kind 100-percent USDA organic-certified fast food restaurant aiming to fill a void in the market with “real food, cooked slow, for fast people™.” The innovative concept attempts to marry the quality of farm-to-fork cuisine with the convenience of fast food dining with a focus on delicious, organic, nutrient-dense fare.
Shannon first developed the concept for grown after her son Walker was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. After a frustrating evening driving up and down Route 9 searching for real food with the convenience of a drive thru, she developed the concept for grown. The formula proved to be a success and the flegling restaurant chain quickly expanded to five locations—including locations inside of HardRock Stadium, the Wesleyan University Campus Bookstore, and a Walmart Supercenter in Lake Nona
The flagship grown restaurant is located in Miami, Florida, where Shannon lives with her husband, two-time NBA champion Ray Allen, and their five children.
grown will begin awarding franchises in 2019, and remain dedicated to its mission—“chang[ing] the world one 100-percent USDA organic-certified fast food meal at a time.”
“Having Nielsen, Tonya Antle, Matt Seeley, and Shannon Allen presenting their absolute best as experts in the area of organics in one venue will make this a powerful event,” noted Tom Murray, V.P. Produce Roche Bros, in the associations’ joint press release.
For more on this and other goings-on in fresh produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - Organics are about to get some major advocacy, as 22 farmer members of the Organic Trade Association’s Farmers Advisory Council head to Washington on February 5-6 to meet with new and incumbent members of Congress. The group will help familiarize incoming lawmakers with the organics industry and discuss the implementation of the organic provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill. A national coalition of organic farmers and organic farming organizations representing nearly 8,000 organic farms, the Council is able to offer unique insights for the betterment of the agricultural industry.
“The 116th Congress has 101 new members of the House and 10 new Senators, and many of these new lawmakers aren’t familiar with organic,” said Laura Batcha, Executive Director and CEO. “It’s important that we help our members get connected to these freshmen Congressional members so they can educate the new policy makers about the benefits of organic agriculture, the unique challenges that organic producers and businesses face, and the importance of federal policies that advance American organic agriculture and the organic sector.”
The event, coordinated by the Organic Trade Association’s Farmers Advisory Council, will bring in farmers from 11 states across the nation. According to the press release, this diverse group will include grain and specialty crop growers, dairy farmers, and egg and livestock producers. The implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill is set to be a key discussion point.
“The Organic Trade Association and its members worked hard to get top organic priorities included in the Farm Bill, and now we want to ensure that this bill—and all of its gains for organic—is implemented in a timely manner,” commented Batcha.
While the group is scheduled to attend meetings with over 40 lawmakers and national agricultural organizations, it will also be hosting an organic farmer's roundtable for congressional staff regarding important organic issues. Included in the roundtable will be a discussion moderated by farmer members who were featured in the recently published National Geographic article, We don’t have enough organic farms. Why not? The roundtable will expand on the highlighted themes in the article, and moderators will lead a conversation about overcoming challenges of organic transition and closing the gap between consumer demand and domestic acreage.
The member organizations of the Farmers Advisory Council include Georgia Organics, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), Montana Organic Association, Organic Egg Farmers of America, Oregon Tilth Certified Organic, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, Tilth Alliance of Washington, and Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.
AndNowUKnow will keep you posted on all the developments relating to the 2018 Farm Bill.
FOWLER, CA - Growing your online presence is a must in today’s day and age, and Bee Sweet Citrus is keeping up with the times. The citrus provider recently announced that its marketing efforts are now targeting consumers through YouTube.
“Behind every amazing product is an even greater story, and that’s exactly what Bee Sweet’s YouTube channel aims to communicate,” said Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications. “From the advanced technology we use to bring citrus to our consumers, to celebrating the characteristics and history of our varieties and employees, we want to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look into the many incredible facets of California’s citrus industry.”
According to a press release, the company’s #EatMoreCitrus campaign launched in 2015 as a way to educate consumers on the health benefits of citrus. Over the last four years it has morphed into an educational movement highlighting Bee Sweet’s citrus varieties, its innovative technology, and the employees who make up its history. Across its social media platforms, Bee Sweet’s marketing team focuses on giving consumers a peek behind the curtain at the everyday functions of one of California’s largest agribusinesses.
“As marketing trends continue to take the produce industry by storm, we’ve noticed that consumers aren’t just interested in learning about the product; they want to know the story behind it as well,” stated Joe Berberian, Sales Representative. “Our YouTube channel offers customers and the everyday consumer a chance to learn more about our product, as well as the technology and people that make production possible.”
The most recent uploads to YouTube highlight Bee Sweet’s state-of-the-art palletizing system and its new lemon wash and production line. As the company’s domestic season continues, subscribers can look forward to international videos regarding specialty varieties and recipe tutorials.
“As food and health trends continue to take shape, we want consumers to have all the information they need to make informed shopping decisions,” concluded Bienvenue. “There are many steps that go into providing quality citrus to our consumers, and our YouTube channel gives the public a chance to better understand our history, mission, and brand.”
For the latest in innovative industry news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
UNITED KINGDOM - Across the pond, one of the United Kingdom’s largest grocery retailers, with 3,400 stores and 300,000 employees, is attempting to brave the waves of a tumultuous retail market by cutting 9,000 staff jobs. In addition to job cuts, Tesco is also simplifying its operations and implementing cost saving strategies that include altering the makeup of its stores, according to a report by Reuters.
“We’re making changes to our UK stores and head office to simplify what we do and how we do it, so we’re better able to meet the needs of our customers,” Tesco Chief Executive Jason Tarry said, according to The Guardian. He also noted that the market continues to pose a challenge that Tesco is currently adapting to. Overall, the retailer asserts that a smaller staff is needed for stock control, merchandising, and head office operations.
One way the UK-based retailer is adapting is by closing its fresh meat, fish, and delicatessen counters in 90 stores, with the remaining 700 switching to a “full or flexible counter.” Tesco’s head office will also witness a restructuring and simplifying.
“Staff at Tesco are shocked and dismayed by the scale of yet another round of potential job losses, which clearly demonstrates the pressure retailers are under in the current very difficult and uncertain economic climate, as the cost-cutting continues,” said Pauline Foulkes, Usdaw Union’s National Officer. “This is devastating news for staff, who have played a crucial role in Tesco’s turnaround project, contributing to 12 successive quarters of growth, solid Christmas trading, and over £1bn of profit.”
The Guardian notes that Tesco estimates that about 4,500 of the 9,000 workers will be able to find “alternative roles across the business, limiting the impact on staff.”
For more from the front lines of the grocery retail landscape, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest.