IMMOKALEE, FL - Lipman Family Farms, one of North America’s leading fresh produce suppliers, has acquired Farm Fresh, a fresh-cut fruit and vegetable operation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Farm Fresh, a leading fresh-cut player in Phoenix, is located a few miles down the road from Lipman’s repack operation in Glendale. The two facilities will complement Lipman’s service in a market where coverage and capabilities are growing.

This is the second western Lipman acquisition in recent months, after Inland Premium Packers in Riverside, California. Lipman’s footprint continues to grow nationally, with a focus on surety of supply and solutions to their partners.

The Farm Fresh facility prepares a variety of ready-to-eat produce, providing customized solutions for customers looking for a lineup of convenient, food-safe, and freshly cut produce.

As Lipman expands its footprint in the fresh-cut category, it also expands its team’s expertise as fresh produce continues to evolve.

“Investing in fresh-cuts in the Arizona region emphasizes our goal of supplying fresh produce solutions that are accessible to all,” said Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farms, in the recent release. “As we expand, this also means ensuring we have the right people in the right places that we can count on. Through Farm Fresh, we acquired experienced professionals who know fresh-cut and produce distribution. They bring a level of knowledge and customer service that we are thrilled to join forces with.”

In recent years, the company has made several investments to meet the growing demand for convenient, ready-to-use fruits and vegetables. Lipman is dedicated to national distribution in their fresh vegetable category, now with fresh-cut operations spanning from Mexico to Phoenix, Northern California, Colorado, Portland, and Texas, as well as Florida, North Carolina, and New Jersey. As Lipman builds on its vertically integrated model out west, its new Phoenix location makes the company an even more consistent, reliable and strategic supplier for its retail and foodservice customers.

To learn more about Lipman Family Farms, visit LipmanFamilyFarms.com.

IRELAND - New Kantar research released by Fyffes highlights growing consumer recognition of Trudi’s® in Norway, with aided brand awareness reaching 27% just over a year after the brand launched in the market. The research also found that every fifth Norwegian consumer would consider purchasing Trudi’s® the next time they buy bananas.

The findings underline the growing appeal of Trudi’s®, a banana brand created to combine high-quality fruit with a commitment to supporting banana-growing communities. Through its long-term partnership with CARE International, Trudi’s® helps fund programs that support women, families and communities in key sourcing regions.

Commenting on the findings, in the recent release, Adriano Di Dia, Chief Marketing Officer at Fyffes, said in the recent release: “These findings are particularly encouraging because they show that Trudi’s® is building meaningful recognition among Norwegian consumers in a relatively short period of time.

“For a relatively young brand, awareness of 27% is a strong indicator that the proposition is resonating with shoppers. Increasingly, consumers want confidence not only in the quality of the products they buy, but also in the positive impact behind them.

“We believe the combination of high-quality fruit, strong retail partnerships and a genuine commitment to supporting banana-growing communities continues to differentiate Trudi’s® in the marketplace. These results give us confidence that the brand is connecting with consumers with an emotional message that is both relevant and meaningful.”

Trudi’s® has also delivered strong commercial performance in Norway. Fyffes reported last year that the brand achieved 8% value growth at Coop Norway, outperforming growth across the total banana category.

Since launch, Fyffes has supported Trudi’s® through its compelling “Little Voices” campaign, combining out-of-home advertising, digital storytelling and in-store activations across retailers including Obs, Coop Mega, Coop Prix and Extra. The campaign has helped build awareness of the brand’s dual focus on quality fruit and positive social impact.

One of the foundations of the brand is its partnership with CARE International, which reinforces Trudi’s® commitment to creating positive impact in banana-growing communities while delivering high-quality fruit for consumers.

The findings build on wider European consumer research previously released by Fyffes, which confirmed bananas as consumers’ favorite fruit, with 89% of consumers reporting that they had eaten bananas within the previous four weeks.

The Kantar findings form part of Fyffes’ wider consumer insight program, which supports evidence-led marketing, brand development and category growth across key European markets.