REDWOOD SHORES, CA - Mushrooms offer beautifully unique flavors and textures to bowls that cannot be replaced. With that being said, it comes as no surprise that I am ready to celebrate Mushroom Month, and so, too, is the Mushroom Council. During the month of September, the Council will focus efforts on reminding consumers and chefs of the health and taste benefits when using mushrooms as the main ingredient in favorite bowls. To engage with consumers, influencers, and menu developers through a plethora of activities in an effort celebrate the bountiful experiences provided with the use of the go-to ingredient, the Mushroom Council is launching its Build a Better Bowl with Mushrooms campaign.
“Bowls are continuously ranking among the most trending foods among both foodservice and consumers, and there are plenty of reasons why,” said Bart Minor, President of the Mushroom Council. “For consumers, it’s the ultimate convergence of convenience and the globalization of cuisine. At foodservice, you couldn’t ask for a less expensive, more filling dish on the menu—after all, it’s mainly grains, veggies, and not a lot of meat. When it comes to great bowls, mushrooms are the answer. You need umami in a bowl build, and mushrooms will bring that meaty, satisfying umami flavor.”
According to a press release, the campaign includes the following:
- “Build a Better Bowl” recipes and videos sharing simple ideas for crafting delicious bowls starring mushrooms
- Recipes include: Avocado Farro Harvest Bowl; Blended Mushroom, Beef and Brown Rice Taco Bowl; Enoki Bulgogi Bibimbap Bowl; Blended Mushroom & Bison Shawarma Bowl; Mushroom, Lentil & Wild Rice Bowl; and Breakfast Power Bowl.
- A September 26 Facebook Live session featuring Melissa d’Arabian demonstrating how to build a better bowl using mushrooms.
- Viewers who stay tuned throughout the whole segment will have a chance to answer a secret question to be entered to win special prizes.
- The Council is spotlighting its “Top 5 Bowls at Restaurants Nationwide,” with chefs sharing why mushrooms are a must in their bowls.
- Restaurants include Bubu’s Zen Bowl (Denver, CO), Radio Room’s Barley Buddha Bowl (Portland, OR), ediBOL’s Ginger Sesame Bowl (Los Angeles, CA), Nourish Café’s Golden Gate Bowl (San Francisco, CA), and Sweetfin Poké Miso Eggplant & Shimeji Mushroom Bowl (Santa Monica, CA).
- Media outreach nationwide spotlighting favorite bowls.
- Social media “bowl polls" allowing audiences to vote for their favorite bowl of the week. Audience members who vote will be entered to win weekly giveaways.
Check out MushroomCouncil.com for more details on the Build a Better Bowl with Mushrooms.
Stick with AndNowUKnow for more fresh produce news.
LEAMINGTON, ON - A product that came into being nearly six years ago, Pure Flavor® Fresh Kits have recently made a comeback—much to the delight of consumers who dig ready-made convenience.
I chatted with Chris Veillon, Chief Marketing Officer, about the story behind Fresh Salsa Kits and Fresh Guacamole Kits and how these products have excited both consumers and retailers alike.
“This product actually came to life roughly five to six years ago, so it was ahead of its time, so to speak,” Chris tells me, before explaining that the kits themselves were sold in different formats and were successful at the time. “Matt Mastronardi, our Executive Vice President, was approached by one of our retail partners this spring about Fresh Kits when the buyer was flipping through old produce magazines and saw a story about them. The buyer wanted to bring the product back to life since meal kits and similar items are gaining steam in the marketplace.”
Recreating the product with an updated brand position and consumer-facing content to support it, Pure Flavor relaunched the kits at United Fresh this past June, and consumers have since responded favorably to the resurgence of this popular product.
“Consumers want the power in their hands to create items how they want them created. Giving fresh ingredients in a convenient, five-step process package makes it pretty simple,” he says.
In a time when meal kits are rampant, I wonder how these products stand apart from the pack, and Chris is more than happy to clue me in.
“What’s unique about these two products is that they consist of fresh ingredients—you can add whatever you like to the recipes to give it your personal flare,” he tells me, which is something I feel particularly connected to. Who doesn’t want to put their own stamp on what they’re eating?
In addition to allowing consumers to own their food and get creative with it, Chris also explains that the value of fresh is important: it's what draws consumers’ eyes to the product.
For retailers, Pure Flavor Fresh Kits are a value-added item to the produce aisle and they provide a one-stop shop experience in one convenient package, Chris tells me. No wonder they brought these babies back!
MATTESON, IL - Walmart's Sam’s Club banner made waves earlier this year when the club store chain revealed plans to shutter 63 stores throughout the U.S., but one particular store location will be getting a new lease on life. The retailer is reportedly converting its 21500 South Cicero Avenue, Matteson, Illinois, store into an e-commerce fulfillment center servicing delivery orders throughout the Midwest.
According to a report by The Real Deal, the Matteson location will be only the second such distribution hub in the U.S. for the retailer; this June, Sam’s Club converted another closed property in Memphis, Tennessee, into a fulfillment center.
“The opening comes at a time of growth and investment in the company’s omni-channel shopping experience,” Sam’s Club stated in a press release at that time. “Earlier this year the company announced free shipping on most items for Plus members, and they are responding. In the first quarter of this year, Sam’s Club saw online sales increase about 25 percent, which helped the company see a 5.2 percent comp sales increase, excluding fuel and tobacco.”
The Real Deal speculated that the new strategy could be instrumental as Sam’s Club looks to address a changing retail environment and move away from the big-box format.
“Sam’s strategy to put the two stores back into play within the e-commerce system could be yet another strategy, turning what could be an albatross in the stressed retail market into a desirable asset,” the real estate news publication assessed.
Will Sam’s Club’s shift in strategy be successful, streamlining and meeting the needs of a changing retail landscape? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
EMERYVILLE, CA - Grocery Outlet is welcoming two leaders to new positions. The newly promoted members are set to strengthen the company’s merchandising efforts, with Scott Gonzales taking on the role of Senior Produce Merchandiser for Southern California and Michael Poore walking into the Produce Merchandiser Manager position.
Gonzales joined Grocery Outlet in August of 2015, and he helped to launch the L.A. market at the end of the same year, moving to the region to support its growth. Prior to working with the retailer, Gonzales was a merchandiser for General Produce and was assigned to the chain in 2008. Since joining the company, Gonzales has assisted the opening of 50 Grocery Outlet locations, supported the AOT training sessions, created the FOG training criteria, and launched a new produce bin dry table set, according to a press release.
The company describes Gonzales as the epitome of the term “family man.” He has been married for 38 years to his wife, Michelle, and they have three children and six grandchildren—the oldest of which serves in the Army.
Poore’s promotion will help direct, develop, and support the company’s supplier partner-provided merchandisers. Joining the company in 2016, Poore has contributed much and has been promoted along the way. He was accepted into the FPFC Apprentice program earlier this year. He communicated to the stores the Merchandising Tips and weekly operational news from the buyers and merchandising team each week.
In 2017, Poore looked to the training tools available to operators and AOTs as he began to take on a larger role with the company. Since then, he has become a Subject Matter Expert for AOT Produce Workshops, working closely with the training department in this position, and he has revamped the Produce 101 guide that provides information on the fresh produce department in Grocery Outlets. This year, Poore created interactive training modules to expand the Produce 101 platform, working with Tami Collins to develop training modules that help transform operators learn and teach the best practices in the produce department.
Congratulations to both Scott Gonzales and Michael Poore on your new positions with Grocery Outlet!
MONTREAL, CANADA - When Metro Inc. reported its lower-than-expected earnings in its Q3 report, Eric La Flèche, President and CEO, explained that the dip might be due to tariffs. As the Canadian grocery giant faces pressures from suppliers to accept higher prices in lieu of pending tariffs from the United States, La Flèche stated that consumers should expect higher food prices in the future.
“We’re starting to get demands from some suppliers who are—whose products will be—affected by the new tariffs,” La Flèche stated in a conference call with analysts Wednesday morning after the company released its third quarter report.
As reported on by the Montreal Gazette, the Canadian government implemented tariffs on July 1, 2018 on several American goods, including yogurt, orange juice, and maple syrup, in retaliation for American-imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products—which puts pressure on some Canadian food manufacturers. La Flèche noted that the company is currently reviewing suppliers demands and negotiating prices.
“If it’s legitimate and if it’s industry-wide, sometimes we won’t have a choice, and we will have to accept,” he said, before adding that the retailer has agreed to minor cost increases. Additionally, he expected both the market and the company would have to accept cost increases, even though Metro would fight to keep its retail prices competitive.
In the press release on the quarter itself, highlights included the following:
- Jean Coutu Group acquisition completed on May 11, 2018
- Sales of CAD $4.6 billion (US $3.5 billion), up 13.8% and up 2.4% when excluding the Jean Coutu Group
- Food same-store sales up 2.0%
- Net earnings of CAD $167.5 million (US $127.4 million), down 8.5%
- Adjusted net earnings of CAD $183.4 million (US $139.5 million), up 11.1%
- Fully diluted net earnings per share of $0.69, down 11.5%, and up 7.1% on an adjusted basis
- Declared dividend of $0.18, up 10.8%
Will other retailers see a dip in earnings due to tariffs? How will companies ensure competitive prices? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
MONTEREY, CA - Every day is a berry day to me, so I was exceptionally happy to find out that Dave’s Specialty Imports has big plans as it steps further into foodservice.
Leslie Simmons caught me up to speed with Dave’s foodservice ventures, a master plan to get consumers to eat more berries, and what sets the company apart from others.
“We see a lot of success with retail, but there’s so much to do with foodservice. It’s a way to get our items out there. To really get more consumers interested about berries, get them on the plate,” Leslie explains.
There is always more room to enjoy some delicious berries, Leslie conveys, and to bring the company’s offerings to more consumers, Dave’s has a unique approach that caters to the needs of its customers.
“As a small family business, we have an ability to be very flexible and to offer whatever packaging someone’s looking for,” she continues. “They can really work one-on-one with us to meet whatever needs they have.”
For more insights from Leslie and to see how Dave’s is pushing into foodservice, check out the video above.
Stay with us at AndNowUKnow for more fresh produce news.
MILTON, NY - I think we all can agree, it takes a lot of dedication to give fifteen years of one’s life to a cause. For Pat Ferrara, that cause is Hudson River Fruit. Now, the company is recognizing those many years of dedication, honoring Ferrara’s exceptional sales and service. Before joining Hudson River Fruit in 2003, Ferrara spent over four decades in multiple sides of the produce industry, working his way up to make himself an integral member of the business.
“He is a dedicated employee whose ties and interests are deeply rooted in the produce industry,” the company shared in a press release. “Hudson River Fruit is fortunate to have him on board. We thank him for his many years with us!”
According to a press release, Ferrara started his career at 14 years of age, picking “drop” apples for a local farmer for five cents a box. Next, at the age of 16, he became a produce clerk at Food Fair Supermarkets. Ferrara noted that working at Food Fair through college was a great opportunity for him to absorb produce knowledge that would support him throughout his career.
Through hard work and perseverance, Ferrara was able to become a partner in a Farmers Market in the Hudson Valley after college, where he remained for the next 10 years. Ferrara began one of his more high profile produce jobs in 1983, when he joined Bozzuto’s as a Produce Merchandiser. His tenure there was 17 years.
Now, in Ferrara’s current role, he manages all domestic sales accounts, food shows, promotions, and sales orders at Hudson River Fruit.
Congratulation to Ferrara from AndNowUKnow on 15 fruitful years with another excellent produce business!
SALINAS, CA - Moxxy Marketing is promoting Debbie Cintora to the position of Account Manager—further using her experience and expertise in branding, campaign development, packaging regulations, social media management, and marketing research to enhance the firm’s account service offerings to clients.
Cintora joined Moxxy in 2016. She previously held the title of Junior Account Manager, working with a variety of Moxxy’s clients, including Josie’s Organics, Muzzi Family Farms, PCH Farms, Peterson Farms, Rocket Farms, Sakata Seed America, SmartWash Solutions, Smith Family Wines, Tanimura & Antle, Uesugi Farms, and Wawona Packing Company.
“Working at Moxxy has given me so many opportunities,” said Cintora. “The agency has trained me, stretched me, and challenged me. It’s been two and a half years of growth, new experiences, and expanding my skill set. I’m looking forward to building even more meaningful relationships with our clients, and with the industry as a whole.”
In her new role, she will continue to work with many of the aforementioned clients, according to a press release.
“I’m delighted to make this announcement,” said Karen Nardozza, President and CEO. “From day one, Debbie has been a quick learner, an efficient multi-tasker, and a stickler for details. Her clients trust her. Her co-workers depend on her. Debbie gets things done, and I have the utmost confidence that she will thrive and succeed in her new expanded role.”
One of Cintora’s most notable contributions to the agency, the company noted in its press release, is her depth of knowledge in the regulation-heavy realm of packaging design. Cintora knows the rules and policies while understanding the importance of design and branding—a vital combination of knowledge sets for any consumer-facing produce brand. And Cintora also boasts a list of talents not always expected of account service professionals, notably skills in design, copywriting, and social media content creation.
We at AndNowUKnow congratulate Debbie on the well-deserved promotion and wish her and the Moxxy team the best!
CINCINNATI, OH - While it has been relatively quiet on the Amazon front lately, the e-tailer remains at large at the top of the grocery retail food chain. In response, major competitors Walmart and Kroger have been circling new, overseas markets in an effort to knock Amazon out of the top spot. This week, Kroger announced it is diving into the Chinese market and is teaming up with Alibaba, one of Walmart’s biggest rivals, to launch an online storefront on Alibaba’s Tmall Global platform.
“E-commerce enables Kroger to quickly scale to reach new customers and markets where we don’t operate physical stores, starting with China,” said Yael Cosset, Kroger’s Chief Digital Officer. “We anticipate Chinese consumers will love Our Brands—starting with Simple Truth® products—just like our American customers do. Kroger is proud to continue to lead the way in making natural, organic, and free-from products more mainstream and accessible. Sharing Kroger’s exclusive brands and status as a food authority the world over is exciting.”
Kroger’s new online store introduces Our Brands and Simple Truth products to international customers for the first time. According to a press release, Simple Truth has grown to be the second-largest brand sold in Kroger stores since its launch five years ago, while Alibaba’s Tmall Global platform is one of China’s largest business-to-consumer marketplaces that provides international brands and retailers a place to build virtual storefronts and ship products into China. By combining the two in a strategic move, Kroger hopes to continue its brands' success with Alibaba’s half a billion consumers.
"Kroger is the world's third largest retailer by revenue—$122.7 billion in sales in 2017. We are creating the grocery retail model of the future by focusing on digital and technology," added Cosset.
This week, Kroger’s stock shot up, presumably in response to its new partnership that will significantly expand its international footprint.
How will Amazon, Walmart, and more major grocery players respond to Kroger’s new international strategy? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep report.
THE NETHERLANDS - I slice them up to throw in yogurt. I throw them in with a variety of other fruits to make my favorite smoothies. I laugh when cartoons show someone slipping on their peels. Yes, I’m talking about bananas and the millions of ways they make our lives taste better and run smoother.
However, word on the street is that 700 kilograms, or 1,543 pounds, of alleged cocaine was found in boxes of bananas late last month at a Uitgeest, Netherlands-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler.
According to Dutch News, the wholesaler notified police, which then went to the location with armed guards positioned outside as the drug was confiscated. This was the second big drug haul to be made public during July, the news source conveys—the first was 1,125 kilos, or over 2,480 pounds, of cocaine found hidden in a consignment of frozen fish from Ecuador. Seven people from the Netherlands, Albania, and the U.S. were arrested in connection with the first drug find. The news source makes no mention of arrests made for the alleged cocaine tucked in the favorite tropical fruit.
For more news on how vandals attempt to infiltrate the fresh produce industry and how police continue to thwart their efforts, stick with AndNowUKnow.