NEW YORK CITY, NY - It’s the season of baking and all through the land, apples are flying off produce shelves and into consumer's hands. With the holidays kicking off in a just a few weeks, Hudson River Distributors is making sure retailers and shoppers aren’t lacking something sweet. After debuting just last year, Hudson River is relaunching its 8-pound Red Delicious bag because, as we all know, the more apples, the merrier the season!
“Our 8-pound Red Delicious bag, which is known as our family-pack bag, is a great product for holiday promotions thanks to its larger pack size. It’s perfect for retailers who carry high volume during the holidays and for consumers who love to bake and need bulk fruit,” Pat Ferrara, Director of Sales, explains to me.
Pat tells me the 8-pound Red Delicious bag will hit retail in the next couple of weeks—just in time for the Halloween push. Each bag emphasizes the uniqueness of New York apples, features Hudson River’s family story, and is packed to order.
“Our New York grown Red Delicious apples have always been a fan favorite so we’re looking forward to promoting this apple in a larger-sized bag. The rich soil & climate where they are grown lends to a more flavorful apple, with a full red color. Its unique packaging will make it stand out toconsumers and retailers, and offers a great value.” Pat says.
The 8-pound Red Delicious bags also come in ready-to-display cartons that retailers can easily drop in the produce aisle to prepare for the holiday masses.
It’s the season of Red Delicious and all through the land, Hudson River Fruit Distributors is making the holidays easy to plan!
MONTEREY, CA - The Organic Grower Summit announced the second in its slate of six 2018 educational sessions. This month, summit organizers announced a session focused on managing the challenges of plant health in organic production systems entitled “Managing Organic Production Systems to Promote Plant Health.”
“In our national survey of organic farmers, pest and disease management emerged as a top priority, along with soil health,” said moderator Brise Tencer, Executive Director at the Organic Farming Research Foundation. “There's a wealth of new research available that addresses the unique challenges facing organic farmers and ranchers, and we are excited about the opportunity to get the latest information and resources out to more producers.”
According to a press release, the latest educational session to be announced will feature organic industry experts in plant health offering a deep dive discussion on maintaining plant health without the use of synthetic inputs to enhance plant nutrition or control pests and disease.
The 50-minute long educational session will address current research on organic crop fertility management practices and organic strategies for managing insect pests and diseases. Organic industry leaders will discuss new agronomic tools and organic products available to organic growers, as well as ecologically-based approaches to disrupt pest and disease cycles and improve plant health.
Panelists for the session, moderated by Tencer, will include:
- Ehsan Toosi, Director of Research and Development, True Organic Products
- Pam Marrone, Founder and CEO, Marrone Bio Innovations
- Tim Schultz, Vice President of Research and Development, Lundberg Family Farms
For more on this and other important news in the produce industry—organic and otherwise—keep reading AndNowUKnow.
ELGIN, MN - Is there anything that screams autumn more than a basket of freshly picked apples? The correct answer is no. As we make our way through October, Honeybear Brands is wrapping up its Washington state and Midwest harvests and zeroing in on helping all of its apple varieties make it off the shelf and into consumers’ carts.
I caught up with Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, to get some inside tips on what varieties retailers should push this year to give fall promotions that extra pizazz, if you will.
“It has been a great fall with nearly perfect weather for finishing the apple crop, giving it great color and brix. On the marketing side, we are shipping nearly the full line of varieties right now, including the Midwest’s RiverBelle and our brand-new variety First Kiss® MN 55—both of which have been early season winners for our customers,” Don revealed to me. “We are also excited about the Honeycrisp crop, which is eating great and looks amazing coming out of all our growing regions. And it’s go time for Pazazz of course.”
Don told me that it is looking to be Pazazz’s biggest season yet, with the variety growing 300 percent at retail last year—almost unheard of when there are so many new varieties on the retail deck still trying to get a foothold—and is expected to be a hit again this year. Don is anticipating larger volumes shipping to more stores nationwide to support the variety’s establishment as a guaranteed retail performer for Honeybear Brands’ partners.
“Pazazz received a lot of consumer love right out of the gate when we first introduced it into select markets. And every year consumer response has grown and grown. We’ve done a lot of sampling and demo events across the country in support of retail partners and we’ve seen for ourselves consumers experience the wow factor when they taste Pazazz. In a produce category where it’s easy to be a commodity, Pazazz has become a standout,” Don said.
To keep consumers coming back for more Pazazz each and every year, Honeybear works with its retail partners to ensure the appropriate POS and in-store materials (signage, bins, totes, and more) are available and ready to go each season to attract and engage consumers. Don noted that since its launch, the Pazazz brand continues to evolve.
“Our team also works to provide a whole suite of marketing support services that gets the Pazazz name out into the local market, including social media, digital couponing, sampling at local events, and press,” Don continued. “We’re also working with influential food experts, bloggers, and local chefs to come up with exciting new Pazazz recipes to give people even more opportunities to enjoy Pazazz. Without giving too much away, we think retailers and consumers are going to be delighted by the playful personality the brand is developing and the efforts we’re planning to attract existing, new, and repeat customers.”
As Pazazz apples hurtle into retail—with crop expected to hit shelves as early as November in select markets and by January in all participating markets—retailers better buckle up for another exciting autumn because there’s no telling what Pazazz is going to do this year.
ISSAQUAH, WA - Costco is expanding its Issaquah headquarters after receiving a final land-use approval from the city. According to The Seattle Times, the Issaquah corporate campus expansion will include a nine-story, 620,000-square-foot office building and parking garage, which will make room for over 4,000 employees.
Costco’s headquarters have held residence in Issaquah since 1994, with the city and the wholesaler entering a 30-year development agreement four years ago, which granted the wholesaler the ability to expand by 1.5 million square feet. As part of the agreement, Costco will fund half the cost of three road projects near its campus, the news source relays.
Construction is slated to begin next year, with Costco planning on having everything up, running, and operable by 2020.
Will Costco’s headquarters expansion lead to more advancements for the wholesaler on the retail chess board? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you apprised of the latest in grocery retail.
ORLANDO, FL - Attendees at the National Mango Board’s (NMB) Annual Mango Industry Reception, held October 19, 2018 at the PMA Fresh Summit Convention & Expo, saw the board hand out its 2018 Mango Retailer of the Year award. The NMB named ShopRite its top retailer—awarding Perno W. Young III, Category Manager at Wakefern Food Corporation and Derrick S. Jenkins, Vice President of Produce/Floral at Wakefern Food Corporation for the banner's efforts to go above and beyond and offer strong, consistent support to the mango industry.
“Being named the 2018 Mango Retailer of the Year is not only an honor, but a testament to the hard work that everyone in our organization has given to ensure that our customers’ needs are met,” said Perno, in a press release. “The mango category has grown exponentially in sales as the communities that we serve have become more diverse.”
ShopRite was selected from over 100 retailers that partner with the NMB across the U.S. For many years, the NMB noted, ShopRite has raised the bar by aggressively promoting mangos through channels including ads, expanded displays, and social media.
“This Northeast retailer’s commitment to driving mango volume with a fully integrated retail marketing approach 12 months out of the year not only delivered exceptional results but gave us even greater confidence in our vision for mangos to move from exotic to a daily necessity in the U.S.,” stated Valda Coryat, Director of Marketing at the NMB. “This sends a clear message—mangos are an integral part of a healthy, flavor-filled diet for all seasons and all eating occasions. We look forward to our continued work with Perno and the ShopRite team, as well as all our retail partners in helping them achieve mango success.”
ShopRite has made a consistent effort to promote mangos 12 months of the year—with promotions that incorporate multiple varieties of mangos and both fresh-cut and case sales, the NMB noted. The retailer was also acknowledged for using and reinforcing mango messaging through their supermarket dietitian program; promoting mangos through demos, blogs, and ongoing nutritional information; and reaching millions of potential mango customers in their market.
All told, ShopRite’s marketing efforts reportedly result in consistently achieving one of the highest volumes of mangos per store per week in the country—roughly 700 mangos per store per week.
Congratulations to ShopRite on a truly sweet award.
SOUTH AFRICA - Carving out the insides of a potato make me think of making crispy potato skins, but others might have more nefarious plans for the delicious spuds. For those of us who can’t imagine using potatoes for anything outside of mashed potatoes, you’re in for a root awakening. Two men will appear in the Upington Magistrate’s Court for smuggling drugs in hollowed out potatoes. The men were arrested on the evening of October 21 for drug dealing and possession of suspected stolen property, Arrive Alive said in a statement.
According to the information received, police were conducting stop and searches on the N14 road, where they saw two men who seemed restless when they saw police. One threw his bag on the ground before running away; he was caught and his bag was searched. Within it were vegetables concealing 248 mandrax tablets.
This use of spuds stands in starch contrast to my own.
How are criminals attempting to infiltrate our market with their dealings? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to keep up to speed on where and how the action is occurring.
MEXICO - Although Hurricane Willa decreased from a Category 5 storm to a Category 3 when it made landfall, it still unleashed destructive winds and heavy rainfall on parts of western Mexico from late Tuesday, October 23, into Wednesday, October 24. By Wednesday morning, Willa had weakened to a tropical depression.
The storm is expected to dissipate over northern Mexico by Wednesday afternoon, but it will bring downpours and flooding/mudslide risks to the states of Durango, Zacatecas, and Coahuila into Wednesday night. AccuWeather reported that moisture from Willa will be pulled northeastward into the southern United States, which could cause additional flooding problems in the coming days.
Shedding light on this northeastward movement is CBS Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli, who predicts that the remnants of Willa will cross the Gulf of Mexico, dump heavy rain on parts of Texas and the Southeast, then merge with a cold front to form a powerful storm that will travel the eastern seaboard form Virginia to New England.
According to a report by Reuters, the storm brought winds of over 100 mph, causing widespread power outages and damage to homes and businesses. No crop damage has been reported at this time.
For more on how this hurricane season will pan out for fresh produce, stick with us here at AndNowUKnow.
ONTARIO, CA - When FiveStar entered the fresh meals category five years ago, it saw a chance to innovate. Since then, the company has developed a brand platform that is resonating with consumers across the country and is on a billion dollar annual sales trajectory. With its fresh salad, snack, and fresh meal options, FiveStar is here to stay.
“Simply Fresh by FiveStar Gourmet Foods is more than a brand name, it is a brand promise,” says CEO and Founder, Tal Shoshan. “The Simply Fresh brand sums up exactly what consumers are looking for: pure, clean ingredients, great flavor, and visual appeal. There is a lot of science behind our food safety, quality assurance, and packaging, but in the end, it’s the culinary pairings of amazing salad toppings, dressings, and the freshest produce, that keep our consumers coming back for more.”
Top retailers like Costco, Publix, Wegman’s, Target, and Aldi have capitalized on the value Simply Fresh provides to its customers. According to a company press release, Simply Fresh Salads® are amongst the highest grossing items in the entire fresh category.
“When we assessed the category, we saw that there was absolutely no brand that targeted a more sophisticated consumer. Simply Fresh Salads were launched on the simple premise that if you provide recognizable premium quality at an affordable price, consumers will respond,” Shoshan added. “We basically redesigned the salad bowl from the ground up. Everyone was featuring a round bowl—we designed and patented a square bowl. The category featured phosphate-injected chicken —we featured antibiotic-free, natural chicken. The existing dressings were generic and bland‚—we created our own fresh made, signature dressings that we produce in- house."
When Simply Fresh salads were merchandised next to value and premium salads, retailers experienced increases in year-over-year sales.
“What’s amazing about what we have done with Simply Fresh is not only that we created a premium category that did not exist, but we have helped reshape an entire industry. Everyone started to take note and make changes to compete with us. We brought much needed competition to the category,” concluded Shoshan.
For the latest in innovative new lines, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - Drum roll please! The United Fresh Start Foundation has named members of the newly formed FreshStart 2019 Advisory Committee, and it’s looking to be a star-studded crew! With the goal of increasing children’s access to fresh produce, this group of industry leaders will work with the Foundation staff to get FreshStart 2019 off the ground and bring our industry together at the Foundation’s annual event.
“The Foundation succeeds only through the support and involvement of our industry’s leaders,” said United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel. “This year’s FreshStart Advisory Committee members, along with the commitment of our Board of Trustees and our long-standing advocates and supporters, will help us ensure the continued success of the Foundation in increasing kids’ access to fresh produce.”
According to a press release, the FreshStart 2019 Advisory Committee will include:
- David Rajkovich, Giant Eagle Markets – Golf Tournament Chair
- Michael Muzyk, Baldor Specialty Foods – Auction Chair
- Kim St. George, Mann Packing Company – Gala Dinner Chair
- Alex DiNovo, DNO Inc. – Conference Chair
- Helena Beckett
- Gabriela D'Arrigo, D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York
- Kent Ford, Taylor Farms Tennessee, Inc.
- Jessica Harris, Earthbound Farm
- Jenny Maloney, Bayer Crop Science
- Tony Mitchell, Caito Foods Service, Inc.
- Amy Simeri McClellan, Martin’s Super Markets
- Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, D’Arrigo Brothers of California
This year’s show takes place January 15-17, 2019, at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, CA. FreshStart 2019 kicks off with an annual golf tournament and “Bids for Kids” auction and gala dinner honoring Ron Carkoski, President and CEO of Four Seasons Family of Companies, with United Fresh’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The show is also full of activities, like a keynote breakfast and conference, that are geared toward helping show-goers find business growth opportunities and connect with schools and community groups serving the next generation of product consumers.
To register for FreshStart 2019, visit www.unitedfreshstart.org. The event is open to all United Fresh members for $200, with a non-member rate of $400. Participation in the United Fresh Golf Tournament is $300.
Congratulations to the FreshStart 2019 Advisory Committee members!
For more of the latest going on in the produce industry, keep following AndNowUKnow.
WESTBOROUGH, MA - BJ’s Wholesale Club is taking “New Year, New You” to the next level, announcing an expanding footprint of new stores to come. First, the company is taking root in Clearwater, FL, with a scheduled open date set for 2019. The news comes just four months after the retailer launched its successful IPO in June.
“At BJ’s, we’re committed to offering the best value to our members and we’re thrilled to bring those savings to the Clearwater community,” said Chris Baldwin, Chairman and CEO, in a press release. “BJ’s is the perfect one-stop shopping destination, helping families save money and time on everything from fresh produce, deli, and meat to fashionable apparel and the latest in tech, health, and beauty.”
BJ’s has seen a lot of growth over the course of 2018. Since January, the company’s stock price has grown exponentially, starting at around $37 per share and most recently hovering around $65, according to Google Finance. Earlier this year, BJ’s went public for the first time in nearly a decade, boosting its market cap up to $2.78 billion at the time. Now that the dust has settled and the company looks toward future growth, the company’s market cap is around $1.33 billion.
As of an interview with CBS News in June, Baldwin said the company’s plan is to add three to five new stores per year.
Want to keep an eye on BJ’s as the company continues to look toward growth? ANUK will have the details.