AUSTIN, TX - Is waiting in line at the grocery store a thing of the past? For H-E-B shoppers, it might be soon. The Texas-based retailer is bringing a new scan-and-go grocery app aptly dubbed “H-E-B Go” to seven stores in the Austin area. Like its apparent namesake Amazon Go, the app allows shoppers to scan grocery items as they walk around the store, then pay mobily to skip the checkout line
"Grocery shopping is certainly changing and evolving and H-E-B is keeping pace with every way that our customers want to shop," said Leslie Sweet, Director of Public Affairs, according to a report by CBS Austin.
Consumers who download the new H-E-B Go app can mosey around the store at their leisure, scanning each item with their phone and bag as they go. When finished, the consumer scans a unique QR code from their phone on a kiosk in-store, which automatically charges the card on file with the app. CBS Austin interviewed one happy customer, Geoffrey Sanders, who got to try the app first-hand.
"You just scan everything and go. It's much quicker than before when you had to wait in line. I'm very impatient and I don't do lines very well so anything I can do to avoid them is welcomed," Sanders said.
Though only in seven Austin-area locations currently, H-E-B noted the app will be available in more stores come 2019.
While Amazon Go was perhaps the first retailer to get in on scan-and-go technology with its announcement in December 2016, several other retailers have revealed similar programs. Walmart, Kroger, and Meijer, are just a few of those on the list.
TEMPLE, PN - Giorgio Fresh Company celebrated its 90th year of mushroom excellence this year, heading into PMA Fresh Summit last month with a whole slew of innovations to celebrate and showcase.
I had the chance to chat with Greg Sagan, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, to learn more about the endless new products, packaging, and more Giorgio Fresh had coming down the pipeline in honor of its milestone anniversary.
“This is an extremely exciting year. Giorgio Fresh Company, Giorgio Companies, are celebrating their 90th anniversary, and when we thought about our 90th anniversary, we wanted to have a whole new look and refresh everything because we’ve been very innovative in the marketplace and also with the things we’ve done in growing fresh mushrooms,” Greg told me. “We did a lot of consumer research, and we found that there were three things we wanted to do. The first was that we were going to use PMA as the time period and platform to launch. So we decided to develop a new booth and new look."
And, the new booth was one way Giogio displayed its all-new packaging across its product lines. The new packaging, Greg noted, is clean looking, color-coded for segmentation purposes, and recipe driven.
“Also at the PMA, we highlighted and positioned our key three innovative items that we had this year, which are the Savory Wild (which is a portabella jerky), along with BLENDABELLA (which is like a tamponade), and also our stuffed line,” Greg continued. “This year, we’ve got a couple of new flavors along with an ovenable and microwavable tray.”
To learn more about Giorgio's big year, watch our exclusive video above!
Congratulations to Giorgio Fresh on 90 years, and here’s to 90 more!
ORLANDO, FL - When I think of produce and logistics, I think of the Allen Lund Company. Allen Lund has been servicing the produce industry for more than 40 years, and its unique spot at the crux of fresh food and shipping didn't come about by accident.
I recently had a chance to talk to Tracey Lewin, Manager of the company’s Los Angeles office and nearly thirty-year Allen Lund veteran, at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit, to learn more about the company and what makes it more than another freight company.
“The Los Angeles office specializes in produce. About 75 to 85 percent of our load volume in revenue is generated by produce freight. In addition to transportation which is how Allen Lund got its start, we have all kinds of services like manage services—with people on-site. We have a software division with a very robust TMS system that we are selling and installing all over,” said Tracey.
Tracey told me that, this year, the company expects to surpass a 300,000 truckload landmark—running between 25,000 and 27,000 truckloads each month—and over 200,000 LTL shipments.
“The reason why Allen Lund Company is so well known in the transportation world specifically for produce…is because of Allen Lund himself,” Tracey noted. “His love for the business started in produce and our company was grown out of produce.”
For more, watch our complete video interview above.
SEATTLE, WA - Ganaz, a participant in the 2018 class of the Techstars Seattle accelerator program, has announced that Taylor Farms is joining Andrew & Williamson and others, investing in the workforce management platform designed to address shared pain points between employers and workers. Altogether, the company has raised $2.1 million from growers and technology investors.
“Taylor Farms is deeply committed to investing in new technology that improves the overall performance of agriculture and food manufacturing,” said Ted Taylor, Vice President of Business Development for Taylor Farms. “One of the constant challenges in our industry is labor, particularly labor availability and coordination. Ganaz has been a fantastic workforce management platform, allowing our multiple operating teams to be more effective through streamlined communications and collaboration. We have thoroughly enjoyed being a Ganaz customer since 2017, and we excited to deepen this partnership through direct investment.”
In a press release, Ganaz noted that it has gained early traction among several of the leading agricultural employers in the US and Mexico. The company’s current customers include:
- Taylor Farms
- Andrew & Williamson
- Other industry-leading growers in tree fruit and berries.
The company noted, in its press release, that Ganaz offers an opportunity to provide tools for the 2.7 billion global “deskless” worker population, noting that 80 percent of the global working population—2.7 billion people—are “deskless” workers, with agriculture making up the largest single segment at nearly 900 million workers.
“We’re at a tipping point in our industry where we all have to figure out how to attract and retain great people—or our crops will go unpicked,” John Farrington, Chief Operations Officer at Andrew & Williamson, said. “Ganaz lets us take advantage of the fact that nearly all farmworkers own a cell phone now. Connecting with them before the season, pushing out important information about safety and benefits, and giving them a safe way to ask questions and provide feedback has been incredibly valuable for us.”
Andrew & Williamson invested in Ganaz earlier this year, based on the belief that the Ganaz platform will help them improve transparency within their company and in the industry, leading to more profitable growing operations and happier employees.
Ganaz boasts some impressive transparency bona fides. Hannah Freeman, CEO and Founder of Ganaz, previously spent 14 years as a leader at Fair Trade USA, working to promote win-win programs for employers and workers across the global agricultural supply chain, working with companies like Whole Foods, Costco, and Driscoll’s.
Chris DeVore, Managing Partner at Founders’ Co-op, the lead investor in Ganaz’s seed round, said, “Ganaz is addressing a huge and under-served market of growers and workers, with a modern software solution that makes life better for both. This is a massive global opportunity and we’re thrilled to partner with Hannah and her team to play a leading role in transforming the way growers and workers work together to deliver healthy food to American tables.”
Ganaz noted that it would use the newly raised funds to build out its growth, customer success, and engineering teams, providing and end-to-end labor management solution from recruiting through day-to-day administration, communication, and payments throughout North America.
For more on all aspects of the produce industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Potatoes, welcome to the center of the plate. The days of side dish-only tubers are gone, as more and more consumers are looking for plant-based menus that are healthy and filling. Side Delights® is one brand offering solutions for those looking to get in on this “Flexitarian” diet trend. Named one of the top five diets by U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best Diets rankings report, Flexitarianism focuses on plant-based foods, but still allows for animal products in moderation.
“Potatoes have the dual role of being a healthy vegetable while helping a person’s satiety—the ability to feel full despite lower calories,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Side Delights’ parent company, Fresh Solutions Network. “So, as more consumers continue to switch to plant-based ways of eating, we see potatoes becoming much more than America’s favorite side dish, which is another reason to stock more potatoes in 2019.”
Citing a Nestle Professional report on plant-based menus, Side Delights noted that 59 percent of consumers eat meatless meals at least once a week, and 50 percent of consumers order menu items featuring vegetables. And as Triou pointed out, potatoes can be an ideal choice to be part of these vegetable-focused plates due to their nutritional value, filling nature, and versatility in recipes.
According to a press release, potatoes provide the following benefits:
- Cholesterol- and sodium-free
- Only 110 calories (for a medium-sized potato)
- Provides 30% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C
- Provides 15% of the recommended daily value of potassium
- Has one of the highest overall antioxidant levels among vegetables
- Is one of the most satiating items in the produce department
Are your consumers looking for some tips on how they can be part of this “New Year, New You” Flexitarian trend in the coming months? Check out some of Side Delights recipe ideas below:
- Create a vegetable-based main course such as potato and Provencal vegetable tart
- Replace meat and bread-heavy breakfasts with potato-based brunch meals like baked breakfast potatoes
- Trade in meat as an ingredient in favorite dishes, such as replacing pepperoni on pizza for potatoes with this potato and caramelized onion flatbread
Happy potato eating to all you new Flexitarian dieters out there!
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Frutera Del Litoral USA LLC, operating out of Miami, Florida, for failure to pay for produce.
According to a press release, the company failed to pay $698,992 to five sellers for produce which was purchased, received, and accepted in interstate commerce from September 2015 through March 2016. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Frutera Del Litoral USA LLC is prohibited from operating in the produce industry until November 2, 2020, and then only after they apply for and are issued a new PACA license by USDA.
The company’s principals, Francisco Dabike Armstrong, Diana Carolina Lascano Lozada, and Carlos Mauricio Rueda Mesias, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until November 2, 2019, and then only with the posting of a USDA approved surety bond.
USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,350 PACA claims involving more than $63 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $156 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
NEW YORK, NY & ARLINGTON, VA - Hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen! Amazon has selected the two cities that will be home to the company’s new headquarters: New York City and Arlington, Virginia. Amazon noted that it will invest $5 billion and create more than 50,000 jobs across the two new headquarter locations.
“We are excited to build new headquarters in New York City and Northern Virginia,” said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO in a press release. “These two locations will allow us to attract world-class talent that will help us to continue inventing for customers for years to come. The team did a great job selecting these sites, and we look forward to becoming an even bigger part of these communities.”
The New York City headquarters will be located in the Long Island City neighborhood in Queens; the Washington, DC metro headquarters in Arlington will be located in National Landing. According to the company’s press release, hiring at both headquarters will begin in 2019.
In addition to its new headquarters, Amazon announced that it selected Nashville as its Center of Excellence for its Operations business, which is responsible for the company’s customer fulfillment, transportation, supply chain, and more. The Operations Center of Excellence will create more than 5,000 jobs.
For further details, click here to read the press release in its entirety. And stick with us at AndNowUKnow for all developments in the retail sector.
SACRAMENTO, CA - It is a truth universally acknowledged that a user-friendly website is a better website, and that all grocery-savvy suitors will soon come knocking on its door. Such is the case with Raley’s own revamped website, which boasts new tools that highlight the retailer’s vision. I had the chance to talk to Chelsea Minor, Corporate Director of Consumer and Public Affairs, to find out how this updated website speaks to the company’s mission.
“Much of the update centered around the user experience and ensuring that our brand message didn’t get lost,” Chelsea begins. “As we started to go deeper within our brand positioning around health and wellness, we wanted to make it easier for our customers to find the quality products that help build on our brand promise.”
Such updates include a shelf guide, located in the section titled “Our Purpose,” which helps consumers discover what healthy products are right for them. Color-coded icons let you know which items are vegan, non-GMO, or minimally processed, to assist customers shopping online so they can meet their individual health needs. Within this section is information about sustainability initiatives and nutrition, all of which are targeted at consumers who want to know all there is to know about their food before putting it in their carts.
“As our owner says, there’s a domino effect in the grocery business—due to the high level of competition. So, if we can prove that we can do things for our customers in the name of health, then hopefully others will fall behind,” she tells me.
Chelsea explains to me what quickly became my favorite part of the website: its "Be Inspired section." As you can imagine, this section is a gold mine for food lovers. Looking for holiday recipes? Top 20 foods for Super Bowl? This section has got you covered.
This, of course, leads us to another layer of the website: the shopping experience. The new website is fully integrated with Raley’s loyalty program, which ensures that consumers have a personalized shopping experience.
“Through our loyalty program, all the work that we do is about personalization,” Chelsea explains. “For example, let’s say you purchased Triscuits, which is a fairly healthy cracker. But we take it a step further and suggest other cracker options that are better for you. They might not be something the customer has tried before, but that doesn’t mean customers don’t want to know about additional options.”
With positive feedback buoying its success, the new website is certainly one to visit. Most importantly, though, is how it adheres to Raley’s determination to change how we eat, one plate at a time.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - After raising $600 million in its last financing round, Instacart is expanding its exec team in the wake of a national expansion of Instacart Pickup—and it’s picking up some talent of its own from Google. TechCrunch reported that Varouj Chitilian will be Instacart’s first VP of Engineering; Dave Sobota its first VP of Corporate Development.
Chitilian worked at Google for 12 years, where he was a Director of Engineering. He worked on consumer payments services like Google Pay, as well as advertising services.
Sobota held a corporate development role at Google, where he worked for 13 years. He has a background as an M&A lawyer.
In addition to these new hires, the company announced just last week that Instacart Pickup, a new grocery click-and-collect service, would be rolling out nationally. This new service gives consumers the convenience of both delivery and pickup options. Instacart noted in a press release that it will be working with existing retail partners—as well as new ones—to add the Instacart Pickup service over the coming months and through 2019.
"We want to make grocery shopping effortless by helping our customers get the groceries they need from the retailers they love. Our customers want choice and we're excited to now offer the pickup option they've been asking for," said Nilam Ganenthiran, Chief Business Officer at Instacart. "In our house, sometimes the ritual of going to the grocery store is inspiring and helps us meal plan for the week. Other times, we're busy and can't get to the store, so delivery makes life easier for us. For families that are out and about and running errands, a pickup solution might be a better fit for their family rhythm. I'm excited to work with our existing retail partners to now offer Instacart Pickup and look forward to adding more beloved grocers over the coming months and expanding this service to even more families."
Will these new hires and new grocery service put Instacart on top of the e-tail grocery game? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
SANDPOINT, ID - Following the recent refreshing of its core line of dressings and dips, Litehouse is leveraging the design and ethos of its recent brand refresh and extending it to its line of Freeze Dried Herbs. Available just in time for the holiday season, the Freeze Dried Herbs now feature new modernized branding and packaging with easy-to-read labels touting helpful usage tips and eye-popping color with mouthwatering photography.
“Our trend-setting design and color palette was created with consumers in mind, and the bright, bold labels and easy-to-read flavor names help product stand out in-store,” said Brand Manager Theresa Lindholm. “The new look illustrates our commitment to taste, freshness, and real ingredients.”
With over 75 percent of consumers stating that quality and value are the most important factors when it comes to purchasing food, Litehouse Freeze Dried Herbs delivers on both, providing the solution that consumers are looking for when making grocery purchasing decisions, according to a press release. Litehouse’s herbs line undergoes a freeze-drying process that locks in the flavors, colors, and smells one would typically find from freshly picked herbs.
And with no prep time, no food waste, and a three-year shelf life, Litehouse Freeze Dried Herbs are ideal for Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings as the line helps refresh culinary creations with loads of flavor. The line is also available with 17 varieties of Non-GMO Project Verified freeze dried herbs, including a poultry herb blend, which is the perfect blend for homemade stuffing, and a garlic herb blend, which the company notes embodies the full taste of 45 cloves of fresh garlic without the hassle of peeling and chopping.
To get consumers excited for the new packaging and upcoming holiday seson, Litehouse is launching an in-store retail campaign with secondary displays and point-of-sale materials. The campaign also includes consumer initiatives including broadcasting segments hosted by Registered Dieticians, recipe development, and content created by social media influencers.
Offering beloved and staple herbs like mint, basil, cilantro, ginger, thyme, and more, as well as herb blends like guacamole, Litehouse Freeze Dried Herbs are available now in produce departments nationwide for an MSRP of $3.99 to $4.99.
To stay in-the-know on the latest innovations transforming the face of fresh produce, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.