EL SEGUNDO, CA - Just a little over a month after Chef’d announced that it was expanding its brick-and-mortar presence at Walgreens, the meal kit company abruptly shut down services on Monday.
According to a report from Business Insider, customers were unable to place orders through the meal kit provider’s website. The publication cited four sources with knowledge of the situation and an internal email it had viewed which alerted Chef’d’s employees that the company was ceasing operations.
"We have had some unexpected circumstances with the funding for the business," Founder and CEO Kyle Ransford said in an email to employees on Monday evening. "Due to setbacks with financing, unfortunately, we are ceasing operations for all employees, effective today, July 16, 2018. If we had been successful with these funding efforts, this difficult decision would have been avoided."
According to the email, workers will receive wages through their last day of work, as well as accrued vacation days.
"I want to personally thank each of you," Ransford continued in the Monday email. "It was an amazing run and while we didn't get to where we wanted to go, I hope you each take something away from this experience that will help you in the future. I will miss you and I will miss Chef'd."
Chef'd declined to comment following Business Insider's request for more details.
Does this bespell doom for other meal kit companies? AndNowUKnow will be on the lookout for the latest.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The Allen Lund Company has been a transportation expert and go-to in the produce industry for 42 years and counting. With such a longstanding tradition, I speak with Eddie Lund, President, to find out more about the company’s history and its plans for the future.
“My dad was a produce man. He always loved this business. This is where he got started. It’s important to us to continue my dad’s legacy and that was taking care of your customers, taking care of your employees, and taking care of your community,” Eddie tells me. “It’s a big part of our business and we started with all those exempt commodities, which included produce. Because of those 42 years, we have a lot of great experience. It’s considered probably a niche market in the trucking industry, but it’s one we thrive at because of our expertise.”
With deep roots in both the trucking and produce industries that has helped the Allen Lund Company build itself up to where it is today, I ask Eddie what the next steps are to continue the company’s legacy into the future?
“There’s a couple of different avenues where we can grow, and we have been growing. We’ve hit 500 million in 2017, and now we’re on pace for 600 million,” Eddie says. “How we behave and how we interact with our community—people like United Fresh and other industries are really important to us. We’re happy to be here. We’re excited for where we’re going.”
For the full story and insights from Eddie, watch our exclusive video above.
For more stories and news like this, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
CINCINNATI, OH - I was always told that when one door closes, another one opens. This certainly rings true for Kroger’s executive team, who is seeing the retirement of one long-term industry staple and the promotion of another in his stead. Atlanta Division President Bruce Lucia is retiring from his post after 44 years with the company, effective September 1, and Tim Brown, who is currently serving as Cincinnati/Dayton Division President, will succeed him. In turn, Scott Hays, Michigan Division President, will take over Brown’s role.
"In his more than 40 years with Kroger, Bruce has earned the admiration and respect of his teammates by forging real, genuine connections with associates and customers," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO. "Bruce has been a tremendous mentor to countless associates throughout our business. He will leave a legacy of strong, hard-working teams who care about each other. We wish Bruce and his family all the best in retirement."
Lucia’s roots with Kroger reach as far back as 1974, when he started as a clerk. He graduated from the University of Georgia and then moved into his progression of roles as Store Manager, Field Specialist, and District Management in the Atlanta Division. Between 1987 and 1996, Lucia tackled leadership roles in Nashville, Central, Columbus, and Michigan Divisions, and from there, he was named Michigan Division President in 1996, according to a press release. Just one year after being appointed to his role as Michigan Division President, though, he was named Columbus Division President.
He returned to Atlanta, where he is serving in his current role, in 2000, and there, he is an active community member, working with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, ALS Association, Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance, Special Olympics of Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, MDA, Boy Scouts of America, and United Way. Now that he is retiring, however, Lucia and his wife, Tammy, have big plans to hit the road—traveling, playing golf, and spending quality time with family.
As Kroger says goodbye to Lucia as its Atlanta Division President, the company welcomes Brown to the position, effective August 1.
"Tim is passionate about our customers, our associates, and our community and dedicated to our purpose, To Feed the Human Spirit," McMullen said. "His leadership in supporting Restock Kroger will continue to drive business results in our Atlanta Division and help us achieve our vision to serve America through food inspiration and uplift."
Brown, too, has spent much of his life dedicated to Kroger’s growth, after joining the company at the young age of 17. In 1981, Brown stepped into management training and has since flourished, holding leadership command in nine of Kroger’s retail divisions. Among his roles at Kroger, Brown was named Vice President of Meat, Seafood, and Deli/Bakery Operations in General Office, Vice President of Merhcnadising in both Columbus and Atlanta Divisions, Vice President of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic Division, President of the Delta Division, and, finally, his current role, President of Cincinnati/Dayton Division.
In Brown’s place, Hays will step up to the plate. The current President of the Michigan Division, will now be President of Cincinnati/Dayton Division, with a successor for his title to be named at a later date. Hays joined the Kroger team in April of 2017, when he was named Vice President of Operations for the Fry’s Division; from there, he stepped into his most recent title in September of 2017.
"In just a short time with the company, Scott has already made a lasting impact," McMullen shared. "Scott's passion for people and wealth of grocery and retail experience makes him an ideal leader for Kroger as we work to redefine the customer experience. We look forward to Scott's leadership of Restock Kroger in our Cincinnati/Dayton division."
Hays might be much newer to Kroger than both Brown and Lucia, but he is steeped in the food retail industry and comes with a vast array of knowledge as a result. Beginning his career in 1983 as a grocery clerk at a Provo, Utah, Albertsons, Hays went on to promotions as Store Director, District Manager, Area Vice President, and Division Vice President for Albertsons’ San Antonio Division. Hays assisted in the development of Texas and Louisiana markets for Albertsons, as well as served as Vice President of Operations for Jewel Osco in the Chicagoland market and Division President for Albertsons’ Dallas-Fort Worth Market. From there, he joined Kroger and has excelled ever since.
Where to next? We wish you all the luck in your next chapters.
For more industry happenings, check back with us at AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - In urban markets, companies are trying to stay ahead of big players like Amazon and Walmart. Recently, Walmart outlined plans to open up a same-day delivery service in the Bronx using its Jet.com fulfillment center. Perhaps with this competition in mind, FreshDirect, an online fresh food grocer, recently announced the opening of its FreshDirect Campus (FDC), a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in New York City’s South Bronx community.
According to a press release, the facility reimagines farm-to-fork food distribution and manufacturing. The company noted that this will help provide its customer with higher-quality, fresher food.
“The launch of the FreshDirect Campus is the culmination of 16 years of learnings that have enabled us to reinvent the grocery industry with customer experience, food quality, and sustainability at its core,” said CEO and Co-Founder, Jason Ackerman. “This marks a pivotal moment for our business, while positioning us for future growth. We can also better serve the community by providing greater access to fresh food and significantly reducing food waste, cardboard use, and energy consumption. We are thrilled to officially be a part of the Bronx community and are very thankful for the local support we’ve received throughout this journey.”
The facility is equipped with robotic pick towers, smart routing technologies, and nine miles of conveyor belts. It is energy efficient and enables FreshDirect to transition from cardboard delivery boxes to recyclable bags. It also enables the company to add thousands of new products and accelerate its expansion into new markets with its FreshDirect, FoodKick, and FreshDirect At The Office brands.
Will we see more facilities like this pop up throughout the nation? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop.
MADERA, CA - Perfect when fresh and eaten by the handful or frozen in a glass of chardonnay, grapes bring a certain kind of happiness to snacking that is uniquely easy to simply pluck and enjoy. With a need to know how one of consumers’ favorite treats was doing this season, I head straight to the source for the inside scoop.
Because of a light crop in the southern district and a hurricane that swept through Mexico, the market is strong for good grapes right now, Kirk Cerniglia with Royal Madera Vineyards explains to me, sharing that the weather in Madera has been kind to the company’s produce. He tells me that Royal Madera Vineyards’ crop is looking excellent this year, as the company focuses on quality to deliver the best product yet—including its newest additions.
“The new varieties that will be available this year are Scarlet Royal, Allison, Autumn King, and Autumn Royal. Other standard varieties—such as Thompson Seedless, Fantasy, Crimson, and Red Globe—round out this year’s offering,” Kirk explains. “Coming soon will be Timpson and Ivory, with Flame Seedless available in 2019. The addition of these new varieties helps keep our cost down with an increase in production.”
Kirk tells me that the company’s new varieties are not the only thing to get excited about. With so much to offer, Royal Madera Vineyards has point-of-sale materials to boost retailers’ sales and consumer engagement, all available through the California Table Grape Commission. In addition to promotional resources, it’s all about the look of the produce and the support offered to make the magic happen, and Kirk tells me that the company has retailers covered on that front too.
“We offer all phases of packaging—standard pack with bagged fruit, pre-weighed bagged product, clamshell—basically, we offer it all,” Kirk says of its packing options.
Further, Royal Madera Vineyards is bringing more than quality service and incredible produce to the table—the company just released two new premium labels to adorn its offerings, which are sure to capture the hearts and interests of consumers meandering produce aisles. For the American label, a bald eagle is proudly positioned next to the American flag. On the other hand, the Rosebud's label takes on a softer tone with a pink rose next to ripe and freshly rinsed grapes.
“The company’s mainstay is service. When an order is placed with us, the customer can depend on getting the very best in quality and service,” Kirk assures.
With promises like that, I’m at ease knowing our summer staple is in great hands, and I look forward to finding these gems of produce; fresh and ready to be eaten!
HERMOSILLO, SONORA - Organics are continuing to boom in all sectors of the food industry; bananas being no exception. One grower taking that arena by storm is Coliman, which has hit peak production in the category and is ready for harvest.
Organics bananas from Coliman come with a bevy of benefits, including the company’s substantial land holdings, technologically equipped facilities, and one of the largest packinghouses in Latin America. These innovations help the company to control the entire growing process from planting and harvesting to washing and packing, Coliman said, which in turn provides customers with the high quality and fresh product. In addition, the company shared that it is one of the only organic banana growers with Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certification.
It's no secret that there is a growing trend and demand for organic products with Fairtrade certification, primarily from the United States and Europe. According to a press release, every certified Fairtrade purchase supports every worker at the farm and their family, which frees workers to decide on how to use the funds from each box sold in a way that will best benefit them and the community.
In a similar vein, having its organic farms Rainforest Alliance certified aims to protect the earth and soil while protecting the surrounding ecosystem, including wildlife and waterways. Coliman hopes this leaves a strong positive impact on the environment in which it grows its bananas.
Last but not least, Coliman Organics is located close to maritime ports such as Manzanillo and Veracruz, allowing the company to have a more efficient logistics operation and shipments to the United States, Japan, and Europe. And because of its further available distribution channels, Coliman is able to ship via any route: land, sea, or air.
As peak production rolls around and consumers clamor for more and more products bearing the organic, Fairtrade, and Rainforest Alliance labels, Coliman is well-prepared to thrive this season.
HURON, OH - Mucci Farms is setting up shop on U.S. soil after beginning production in its new Huron, Ohio-based facility. With lots in the works to bring the very best tomato offerings to American consumers, I caught up with Nick Williamson, Sales and Marketing, to learn more about Mucci Farms’ latest endeavors.
“We have been predominantly a Canadian-grown company for many years. This year marks our U.S.A. introduction into U.S.A.-grown greenhouse product,” Nick tells me. “Very new for us to be able to have American-grown product offered to our American customers. The first phase of many phases to come in the future.”
Nick explains that the new facility is in business 365 days a year and has a lit culture in all of its greenhouses in order to maintain the perfect environment for growing tomatoes year-round.
“We’re going to be doing tomatoes, tomato on the vine, and specialty tomatoes,” Nick says. “One of the tomatoes specifically is our Cherto tomato. It’s a specific cherry tomato on the vine, which is bite-size and incredible.”
For all the details on Mucci Farms and its new facility, watch our video exclusive above. And for the latest happening in fresh fruit and vegetables, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Drama is swirling around Blackwells Capital, and SuperValu is once again sharpening its claws. As we’ve previously reported, SuperValu issued a letter asking investors to vote for its choice of directors and reject Blackwells’ nominees. Blackwells released its own letter urging investors to shoot for a fresh start and elect the firm’s choice six candidates to SuperValu’s Board of Directors.
During a presentation in connection with the company’s upcoming 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, SuperValu insisted that Blackwells' nominees are not additive to the board, and that the firm is not offering any meaningful new ideas. The company urges stockholders to vote “FOR ALL” nine of SuperValu’s Director candidates.
According to a company press release, the reasons behind this are multiple. Given SuperValu’s plan to best position itself in the evolving grocery industry, the company feels as though Blackwells' Director nominees do not bring any expertise to the Board, nor are they necessary to the continued execution of the company’s initiatives. The following is a list of the investment firm's Director nominees, which includes Rick Anicetti and Frank Lazaran, former CEOs for The Fresh Market and Winn-Dixie, respectively:
- Rick Anicetti
- Steve Baer
- Chris Kreidler
- Frank Lazaran
- Jim Martell
- Sandra Taylor
By attempting to replace six of the nine Board members, SuperVau asserted that Blackwells is essentially trying to seize control of SuperValu without paying a premium to all stockholders, meaning the firm is seeking a level of representation disproportionate to its ownership in the company. SuperValu noted that Blackwells has used options contracts to significantly reduce its economic exposure to SuperValu stock.
As more shots are fired, I’ll be sitting here sipping tea and waiting to see who says what next.
Will Blackwells Capital release another statement in response to this? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
ST-RÉMI, QUÉBEC, CANADA - Canadian grower MR Farms is ringing in the middle of the warmest season by harvesting and shipping its summer crops. This includes root vegetables, leafy greens, and dry vegetables, all grown out of MR Farms’ growing regions in Canada.
“It was a slow start due to the cold winter and spring, but weather has been on our side for the last couple of months and we expect good volume and strong supply this summer. We have already started harvesting and shipping cauliflower, lettuce, radish, and spinach and expect to start beets and squash in a few weeks,” Dominic Riendeau, VP of Sales, said about his outlook for the 2018 season, according to a press release.
When asked about what sets Canada apart as a strong growing region, Riendeau noted the rich soils and cooler Canadian nights help create stronger growing patterns, especially when compared to warmer east coast regions.
Along with this season’s crop, MR Farms also grows and ships carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, romaine, peppers, and zucchini and ships all commodities to major east coast markets within 24 hours, which helps fresher product reach customers’ shopping carts.
“We are a family-owned company, growing and distributing fresh produce to retailers and wholesalers for over 30 years. My father Michel Riendeau started growing a variety of vegetables and developing the farm in 1984 and we have grown year-after-year expanding our crops and acreage,” said Riendeau. “Our facilities, our farms, and our growing partners are all Canada GAP certified and meet all U.S. standards. Our recent partnership with ADS Management enables us to ship more items to U.S. retailers and expand our offerings.”
Like Riendeau mentioned, MR Farms recently joined ADS Management, which also includes A.D.S., Freshouse, and Hapco Farms.
For more on what’s happening crop-side, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
VALENCIA, CA - Sunkist Growers is adding a veteran produce expert from US Foods to its list of executives, welcoming Christian Harris as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President
At US Foods, Harris was most recently Vice President of Fresh Produce, tasked with overseeing 60 distribution centers across the U.S. But prior to US Foods, he also held positions across the produce supply chain, including working with lettuce growers, management positions with retailer Fresh & Easy, and supply-side positions with Robinson Fresh. Harris also holds an MBA from Pepperdine University.
“We are excited to welcome Chris to the Sunkist family and look forward to his contributions and perspectives,” commented Russ Hanlin, President and CEO, in a press release.
Cheers to Harris on this next step in his produce career! And for more on big executive changes in the produce industry, AndNowUKnow has got you covered!