SANTA PAULA, CA - After its recent acquisition of an Oxnard-based lemon company, Limoneira continues to grow and expand. This time around, the company is expanding the depth of its management team. Limoneira announced that Edgar Gutierrez recently joined the company as Senior Director of Agricultural Operations.
“We are very excited to welcome Edgar to Limoneira’s One World of Citrus™ team,” said Alex Teague, Chief Operating Officer. “Edgar’s leadership and knowledge will bolster our farming operations and all aspects of our citrus supply chain. With his proven business acumen combined with his energy, we are confident he will be a strong addition to our management team and enable us to successfully expand our global reach including our stewardship and food safety initiatives.”
Gutierrez comes to Limoneira from Wonderful Citrus, where he was the Research and Development Director of the company’s Mexican division and oversaw 1,400 acres of land under production. According to a press release, he has extensive citrus experience in Mexico and Central America.
Congratulations from all of us here at AndNowUKnow to Edgar Gutierrez on this new chapter, and to Limoneira on this great addition to your team!
LONGWOOD, FL - A new venture has debuted within the industry, bringing a fresh produce veteran to the consulting arena. Doug Kling has launched his new organization Kling Strategic Partners LLC with the goal to drive growth and deliver value for its clients and their partners and end users/consumers by enhancing or creating a strong market position based on their needs and wants.
Doug joins me to share the details of this new move, and what motivated him to enter this sector.
“In consumer goods and agriculture we are at a tipping point for innovation and new thinking regarding product differentiation, broader consumer demographics, and psychographics,”Doug tells me. “The need for fresh strategic thinking and dynamic objectives is now.”
Kling Strategic Partners LLC brings together a network of industry experts in both consumer products and agriculture representing a wide range of senior management experience. This experiential equity promises to bring insights while optimizing new opportunities in declining, flat, and growing markets.
“We are focusing on consumer products and agriculture; in some cases you might say from seed to need,” he adds.
When I ask Doug how his past roles in the industry will determine how he will now help companies execute their vision, he shares that his past experiences have allowed him to create a very specific mindset. That vision encompasses driving viable commercial concepts, outside of the current dimensional thinking beyond what is being done in the commodity and specialty segments in current consumer markets.
Doug was previously Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, for Village Farms International, Inc.
“These are truly exciting times, and the phrase carpe diem has never had more meaning for me,” Doug reflects as we wrap up our chat.
Congratulations, Doug, on your new venture and we are excited to hear more about the road ahead!
DETROIT, MI - Gordon Food Service is expanding its brick-and-mortar presence after setting up its first shop in Detroit, Michigan. The new store opened this past Monday.
According to a report by Crain’s, the new-concept, 16,000-square-foot store will offer fresh seasonal produce, grab-and-go options, fresh juice, online ordering, and more perks that differentiate it from competitors in the market.
“[The Detroit store] is our largest assortment and our next iteration in stores from a décor and product offering standpoint,” said Marketing Manager Mark Dempsey. “What we’re trying to do is make our stores relevant to today’s shopper both for home and for business. So, we’re getting fresher, both in produce and in bakery and in meats. We’re adding convenience items for home shoppers. We’re still here for this business customer.”
The news source also notes that this store opening bolsters Gordon Food Service’s dive into smaller-scale, everyday shopping, broadening its 170-store network in addition to its foodservice and bulk operations.
“We just think the time and the market is ready,” Dempsey continued. “We’re opening on this area of Jefferson Avenue that has seen great population growth and redevelopment, and it seems that they need great shopping to go along with it.”
As more retailers rightsize and launch small-format stores, how will the grocery market and produce industry shift to fit? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for all the deets.
PHOENIX, AZ - Sprouts is kicking off August with a series of auspicious announcements—entering a new market, reporting solid financial results, and adding an experienced grocery executive—Dave McGlinchey—as the company’s new Chief Merchandising Officer.
McGlinchey brings more than 20 years of grocery merchandising and leadership experience to Sprouts in both mass and conventional grocery. Before joining Sprouts, McGlinchey served as SVP of Merchandising and Marketing for Shaw’s and Star Market. Prior to that, he also served in a number of leadership roles at Stop & Shop/Giant Food, including SVP of Merchandising Support and VP of Grocery Merchandising.
“Dave’s experience and passion for delivering consistent, coordinated, and sustainable merchandising strategies across all categories will continue to position Sprouts as a driving force for making innovative natural and organic brands affordable and accessible for everyone,” said Jim Nielsen, President and Chief Operating Officer, in a press release.
According to that press release, McGlinchey will report to Nielson in his new role—a new executive team role created to advance Sprouts' commitment to leadership in the fresh, natural, and organic industry.
Sprouts also reported the results of its second quarter fiscal 2018. The retailer shared the following highlights from the 13-week period ending July 1st, 2018:
- Net sales of $1.3 billion; a 12% increase from the same period in 2017
- Comparable store sales growth of 2.0% and two-year comparable store sales growth of 3.4%
- Net income of $42 million; a 2% increase from the same period in 2017
- Diluted earnings per share of $0.32; a 10% increase from the same period in 2017
- Raised the low end of 2018 EPS guidance
“Double-digit sales and EPS growth in our second quarter reflects the strength of Sprouts’ differentiated business model and our solid execution across new and existing markets,” said Amin Maredia, CEO, in a separate press release. “Our planned 2018 investments in our team members and technology, which increased this quarter, will strengthen our customer service, generate operational efficiencies and support our long-term growth.”
Additionally, the retailer announced that August 15th will mark the grand opening of Sprout’s Mill Creek store—the first Sprouts location in the state of Washington.
For more fresh-focused retail news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
LAS VEGAS, NV - You might not know the name yet, but after this summer, Oasis Biotech will be on everyone’s minds as one of the nation’s largest hydroponic vertical farming facilities. After just setting up shop last year, the company hit the ground running last month, officially launching its consumer-facing brand, Evercress, and opening the doors of its first facility.
“This farming facility has helped us implement, as a company, growing methods that have enabled us to provide local communities and chefs with the highest quality, most nutrient-rich, and environmentally sustainable produce the world has ever seen, while also alleviating hunger in a socially responsible way,” said Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Brock Leach.
After purchasing the building in 2016, the first phase of Oasis Biotech’s 215,000-square-foot vertical farming facility completed this year. The facility features state-of-the-art technology, precise growing methods—including using 90 percent less water than traditional farming, less than one percent of the land, and zero pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides—and a qualified team of experts in order to provide grocery stores, restaurants, and charities with sustainable produce and non-traditional crops year-round. Located just six miles from the Las Vegas strip, the facility will provide its community with over 100 jobs, in addition to fresh produce.
“As the world demands healthier, more environmentally conscious dining options, our vertically farmed produce is the solution that perfectly marries technology with nature. We haven’t changed the way food is farmed—we’ve just made the process more efficient and environmentally sustainable,” Leach explained.
And while Oasis Biotech cares about its immediate community, the company also has the mission to “Feed the World. Better,” which is being carried out through its Evercress brand. Evercress aims to redefine the meaning of fresh produce by offering safe, sustainable, and socially-responsible leafy greens, micro greens, herbs, and more. This goal is further made possible thanks to Oasis Biotech’s partnership with Get Fresh, a southwestern distributor and fresh-cut processor that is helping Oasis Biotech deliver its produce from farm to stores on the same day it is harvested.
“When I think about my family, my children’s future, and the world’s dwindling food supply, I know that developing better ways to produce food is critical. Evercress enables us to help us meet our mission of ‘Feeding the World. Better’ while also providing Las Vegas with safe, great-tasting produce,” said Leach.
One to keep your eye on as our industry moves closer to achieving goals like feeding the hungry, sustainability, and streamlined efficiency, Oasis Biotech is already taking its region by storm.
MONTEREY, CA - Like my foremothers before me, I am a grazer. In fact, I come from a long line of grazers, munchers, snackers, and eaters on both my mother’s and father’s side. So, while I look forward to meeting more of our industry at every tradeshow I attend, I have to admit that what I look forward to the most in my show floor conversations is: “would you like to try it?” Yes, yes, always yes! Here are but a few of the latest produce innovations I kept coming back to snack on at PMA Foodservice…
Tanimura & Antle Artisan Baby Iceberg Lettuce
More and more in our industry are launching traditional fruit and vegetables in less traditional, more innovating sizes, and I’m here for it. One such company is Tanimura & Antle whose new Artisan Baby Iceberg Lettuce is arguably the cutest thing I’ve seen. I can’t possibly be the only consumer who would have to pause just to coo at these baby bulbs. A score for foodservice chefs looking to switch things up with something fun and sassy, at the very least Tanimura & Antle’s Artisan Baby Iceberg Lettuce will always be a sight to behold on any plate.
Duda Farm Fresh Dandy® Fully Shucked Super Sweet Corn
I have a confession: I’m not one to admit when I need help—in the kitchen or otherwise. So, as soon as I stumbled upon Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ Dandy® Fully Shucked Super Sweet Corn, I knew I had met my match. Now, those in foodservice not only have a kitchen helper thanks to Duda’s value-added offering that takes all of the prep out of corn, but also have the same high-quality sweet corn many have come to expect from Duda. The ultimate win-win if you ask me.
Del Monte Pineapple Rings
Pineapple is the most delicious pizza topping—put down your torches and pitchforks, I will not be engaging in any arguments on this subject. And my affinity for putting the tropical fruit on savory dishes doesn’t stop at pizza either, which is why Del Monte’s Pineapple Rings know me and know me well. Cut in the best shapes for stacking on burgers or topping on fried rice, Del Monte’s Pineapple Rings are a no brainer in the value-added and foodservice realms and even more so for those sad souls (me) who still haven’t learned the art of cutting a pineapple.
Babé Farms Purple Ninja Radish
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I like a lot of things just because they’re pretty and Babé Farms’ Purple Ninja Radishes are dang pretty. A stunning combination of dark and light purple hues, the Purple Ninja Radish immediately caught my attention on the show floor. While it is named the Purple Ninja because of its spicy kick in flavor, the tricks it does when you slice it up to get to the gem-like colors inside are noteworthy, too. I would eat only Babé Farms’ Purple Ninja Radish purely for the aesthetic if I could get away with it.
Gold Coast Packing Sunny Superfood Salad
The best kind of salads are bright, crisp, and brimming with lots of different flavorful fruits and vegetables. And Gold Coast Packing has mastered all these attributes in flying colors in its newest Sunny Superfood Salad offering. Not only does the Sunny Superfood Salad bring the sunshine all year long thanks to its array of deep green kale, Napa and green cabbage, bright orange carrots, magenta-hued watermelon radish, broccoli slaw, and hints of cilantro, but it is also all sorts of yummy that foodservice chefs will definitely want to get into consumers' tummies.
Until next year, PMA Foodservice!
WEST DES MOINES, IA - This week, Hy-Vee opened its first-ever Hy-Vee HealthMarket store—introducing a brand-new small-format banner in West Des Moines. The new, approximately 15,700-square-foot store features more than 11,000 items—and will focus on fresh items—particularly fresh produce, high-quality meat, seafood, and dairy, along with frozen food items.
“We can’t wait for Hy-Vee customers to experience this new store concept, which offers products and services to meet all of their health and wellness needs,” said Matt Pertzborn, Store Director at the new Hy-Vee HealthMarket, in a press release. “Shopping for healthy lifestyle and personal care items while picking up your groceries has never been easier.”
According to that press release, the new store—located at 375 South Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines—opened its doors to the public at 6:00 a.m., Tuesday July 31st, 2018. As part of the official grand opening, the store’s first 500 shoppers received complementary goodie bags with items stocked throughout the store.
In addition to an assortment of fresh produce and other product offerings, the Hy-Vee HealthMarket offers many health-related amenities, including a full-service pharmacy, health clinic and hearing aid center, sports nutrition area, and Aisles Online pickup.
The store also offers a hydration station that includes nitro coffee, kombucha, and Bevi infused waters; a nearly 3,000-square-foot Orangetheory Fitness center; and the location will feature Basin, a beauty brand specializing in all-natural bath and body products.
Will Hy-Vee’s venture into a new format pay off? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates on the changing retail landscape.
MALTA - Watermelons, and rock melons, and…cannabis? Oh my! About 200 kilograms of cannabis was found hidden in two vans full of fruits heading into Malta, The Drug Squad confirmed.
Three people have been connected with the attempted importation, according to The Times of Malta, individuals who were 28, 30, and 31 years old. Police said that one of the suspects was a local, hailing from San Gwann, while the other two were Italian, coming from Sicily. All three were held for questioning, and Magistrate Charmaine Galea Sciberras is leading an inquiry into the attempted drug smuggling case.
The drugs were found inside boxes of watermelons and rock melons, among other fruits.
The case is not isolated, either. Prior to this incident, the police who caught these smugglers reported they found about 185 pounds of cannabis hidden in a furniture van.
Will the next smuggler look to other household items to host their illicit substances, or will they return to our beloved fruits and vegetables? Stick with us to bite into more crime plaguing our precious produce.
SANDPOINT, ID - Litehouse Foods has launched a month-long promotion encouraging consumers to build a better salad with Litehouse Organic pourable and spoonable dressings. The promotion seeks to drive consumers to retail stores across the nation and support overall category growth for organic refrigerated dressing.
In a press release, the company cited the Organic Trade Association, which reported that Americans spent more than $45 billion on organic food in 2017, an increase of more than six percent over the prior year. In response to growing consumer demand and category opportunity, Litehouse expanded its organic salad dressing offerings to include two convenient formats—12 oz pourable and new 11 oz spoonable.
All Litehouse Organic dressings do not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The 12 oz pourable Litehouse Organic Dressings are USDA organic, gluten free, and non-GMO. The dressings are available in seven delicious flavors:
- Organic Lemon Herb
- Organic Balsamic
- Organic Ginger with Honey
- Organic Ranch
- Organic Caesar
- Organic Raspberry Lime
- Organic Rosemary Balsamic
New to the Organic family is Litehouse Organic Spoonables. Unlike many organic dressing options—which are thinner, vinaigrette-style dressings—Litehouse developed more traditional, thick, and creamy options. Litehouse Organic Spoonable dressings are available in an 11 oz glass jar in four top-selling flavors: Organic Blue Cheese, Organic Ranch, Organic Caesar, and Organic Coleslaw.
The organic dressing promotion includes an in-store campaign with POS materials, secondary displays, promotional pricing, and discounts for 12 oz pourable and 11 oz spoonable Litehouse Organic dressings. An integrated social campaign and consumer sweepstakes will run August 15-30 on the Litehouse Facebook page and will be further supported by organic recipes and online content from bloggers and influencers.
Litehouse Organic Dressings are available in the refrigerated produce department at grocery retailers nationwide.
SALINAS, CA - Moxxy Marketing recently hired Art Director Renée Balducci and Account Coordinator Katianna Tron.
Balducci brings both her experience in art direction and her design capabilities to the firm. She has created packaging and marketing for multiple brands in the fresh produce, agriculture, and wine industries including Andy Boy, Blue Diamond, Church Brothers, Fernwood Cellars, Holman Ranch, and Mariani. Her skill set includes branding and identity, print and web design, label and packaging design, illustration and photography, and creative concept development.
"I’ll be honest, I wasn’t looking for a full-time agency role; I was very happy running my own freelance business," said Balducci. "Then I started working with Moxxy and everything changed. The clients are diverse and exciting. The culture is open and invigorating. And the team is like a family—sometimes fun, sometimes challenging, but always supportive."
Prior to joining Moxxy, Balducci worked at multiple agencies, including managing her own design studio. Most recently, she ran her own freelance consulting practice. Balducci is a Monterey County native who currently resides in Prunedale. She earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic communication from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Katianna Tron’s career has included roles as a Marketing Consultant for a startup and Marketing Manager for a chain of bakeries and cafés. She brings a passion for working with people and a strong streak of creativity to the agency, according to a press release. Tron is a Southern California native who currently resides in Salinas. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology from the College of William and Mary.
"I feel like this job, and Moxxy itself, are the perfect fit for me," said Tron. "I love creativity, strategy, precise language, and innovative thinking. Moxxy integrates these passions into my everyday work. And I also love working with people to make things happen. Moxxy’s staff and clients make up an exciting and cohesive team that never ceases to impress me."
The Moxxy team is just as excited to bring both of its latest additions on deck to strengthen and support the industry and its businesses.
"Moxxy is in an exciting stage of growth. These two outstanding hires are evidence of that. Renée is an incredible design professional, and she knows the ag industry in a way few other art directors do," Karen Nardozza, President and CEO of Moxxy, added. "Katianna brings contagious energy and creativity to the agency. She has a rare skill set that combines organizational ability, ingenuity, and grace under pressure that makes for a great account team member."
Congratulations from the ANUK team to Renée Balducci and Katianna Tron on this new chapter!