KINGSVILLE, ON - Select retailers are providing Shazam!™ Shishito peppers, recently introduced by SUNSET® in its innovative Chef Inspired line. Already one of the more popular appetizers on restaurant menus this year, consumers can now find these slim, flavorful peppers in produce departments.
“Shishito peppers have been growing tremendously in foodservice and we saw a huge opportunity to provide this to consumers at a retail level,” commented CEO Paul Mastronardi. “We believe the pepper category is ripe for innovation. We are pleased to introduce Shazam! to our roster of unique and exciting products.”
Now among the top five fastest growing categories in foodservice, according to a press release, Shazam! joins SUNSET’s Chef Inspired collection and delivers a unique and exciting flavor experience to consumers. The company’s Culinary Director, Roger Mooking, gave some insight to the flavor and its appeal to consumers.
“Nine out of ten of the peppers have a mild and savory flavor, with a faint citrus note, while one of the ten has a zesty, but not overpowering burst of heat,” explained Mooking. “Although great in salads or as a snack, I recommend Shazam! Shishito peppers roasted in olive oil with a dash of sea salt.”
With a vibrant green color and beautiful, aromatic flavor, the company noted that Shazam! Shishito peppers are perfect for backyard entertaining at summer BBQs and pool parties. Available at select retailers, keep on the lookout for these flavorful peppers that appeal to consumers’ adventurous side and add an element of anticipation and excitement to any meal.
SACRAMENTO, CA - The first of anything is always really exciting—the first time going to a restaurant, creating a new dish, visiting a new country… the list goes on and on. West Sacramento-based Raley’s knows this firsthand, after its new Market 5-ONE-5 opened to the public on Tuesday, March 15th, at 7:00 a.m.
The market opened up in urban downtown Sacramento at the corner of R and 10th Street, bringing an inventory that is uniquely focused. ONE is an acronym for its organic selection (O), its nutrition focus (N), and its educational opportunities (E), both online and in the store; the number 5 is symbolic of the five senses and the beauty found in quality foods that cater to them.
"We think that we are doing something really different and exciting—we are changing how people view what a grocery store is, and we are really eager to offer the community some better options and at an affordable price for everyone,” Levi Wingo, General Manager for Market 5-ONE-5, tells me. “We have a really strict set of standards for each department, and that can be seen throughout the store. For example, all of our produce is organically farmed. Right now, everything in produce is certified organic. Our meat department is hormone free, antibiotic free, and responsibly raised. We have grass-fed beef, and our seafood is wild and sustainable.”
The benefits of being based in California go beyond the coastal views that are, at their worst, a few hours of driving away. Levi tells me that being based in the heart of growing country is a lucky thing for the new market, with a lot of items grown in Northern California and some sourced from other places. All of which are up to the retailer’s unique set of standards for organic and quality.
“One of the people on staff is our registered dietician, and she helped curate all the assortment down the aisles to make sure we only have products that meet our strict standards and are truly better for you—minimally processed, no artificial ingredients," Levi adds.
With such committed gusto, the company carves its own path in this arena, catering to an audience all its own. The focus is so direct that the market sits at approximately one-fifth the size of standard supermarkets, as the retailer hones in on its consumers’ wants and needs for all things organic- and nutrition-focused. I can’t help wonder if this is the first of more-to-come, and Levi provides me some insight into the long-term goals for the market.
"What we want to do here is really learn what the customers want and need, and then make adjustments to meet those needs. That will trigger our response to expand more,” he explains, sharing that, in its entirety, the market provides a devotion to a consumer-base that is all its own. “You can go around to other retailers and find pieces of what we are doing here, but no one is doing this in one place and no one is putting as much emphasis on health and wellness and then the education that goes with that—being able to speak to everything that you sell on where it came from, why it’s better for us, and how it is of better quality in general. I really think the service we provide here is what customers will really come to want and love."
Will this latest launch become a catalyst for other retailers to adopt a smaller format that caters to specific aspects of the grocery industry? Will this niche concept become more widely duplicated by other retail chains, and, if so, what will those concepts shape up to be? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with the latest industry trends.
PAKISTAN - Cutting a watermelon is not necessarily the easiest task—it’s messy and laborious and requires the largest of kitchen knives—unless you’re Rashid Naseem. Unlike the rest of us mortals, Naseem only needs one extra melon (his head) to crack open and enjoy the delicious summertime fruit. This week, in Karachi, Pakistan, Naseem nabbed a Guinness World Record after smashing 51 watermelons with his head in one minute.
“It takes a lot of practice to break a world record. I’ve been practicing the attempts for [the] past several months,” Naseem said, according to Ary News. “My aim is to make 50 world records and make my country proud; setting up new records is giving me a lot of happiness as it gives my fellow a feeling of pride.”
The former record holder, Germany’s Tafzi Ahmed, had previously smashed 43 watermelons in one minute.
But before any of you try this at home, Naseem is trained in martial arts and runs a martial arts training school. Not to mention, he isn’t new to world record breaking. Along with cracking the most green coconuts with his head, smooshing the highest number of drink cans, and removing the most bottle caps, Naseem also claimed the most walnuts crushed after his watermelon success when he smashed 281 walnuts in one minutes, beating the previous record of 251.
And while I couldn’t take my eyes away from the video of Naseem crushing watermelons with his cranium, I can’t help but wish someone would edit in Beyoncé singing “watermelon” every time Naseem successfully smashed one open. Internet don’t fail me now. Check out the unedited video above!
For more of the latest fruit smashing fun from around the world, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - United Fresh has released two quarterly retail and foodservice trend reports: The FreshFacts® on Retail Q1 2018 and Fresh Insights for Foodservice Spring 2018, respectively.
FreshFacts® on Retail is produced in partnership with Nielsen Fresh and measures retail price and sales trends for the top 10 fruit and vegetable commodities, as well as other value-added produce categories. The report is sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce. Q1 2018 showed positive growth at retail, thanks to consistent growth of fresh vegetable sales, along with increasing availability of organic produce. The report features a seasonal category deep dive on cherries, sweet corn, and tomatoes, as well as a look at opportunities for fresh produce in the emerging meal kit channel.
The Fresh Insights for Foodservice Spring 2018 report uses data from Datassential’s, a leading market research firm dedicated to the food industry. The company’s extensive menu database, MenuTrends provides a comprehensive look at how chefs and restaurants are featuring fresh produce on their menus, along with broader applications for retail, meal kits, and more. The report looks at “in season” menu options like cantaloupe and broccoli, along with how fruit is being incorporated into desserts. The “on the horizon” section looks to fall appetizer trends in mandarin oranges and carrots. The report closes with a “view from above” look at produce’s role in Quick Service Restaurant menus.
“The entire fresh produce supply chain benefits from understanding retail and foodservice consumer trends,” said Miriam Wolk, Vice President of Member Services at United Fresh, in a recent press release. “Companies across the supply chain can leverage the data in these reports to plan sales and merchandising strategies to meet customers’ needs, develop seasonal menu promotions, and predict how their company will take advantage of trends in the season ahead.”
Both reports are developed with input and guidance from the United Fresh Retail-Foodservice Board, a United Fresh market segment board focused on the needs and issues of retail and foodservice operators with the goal of providing supermarkets, restaurants, and emerging channels with tools and services to maximize the value and sales of fresh produce to consumers.
In addition to this research, industry professionals can put their newfound knowledge to the test at a focused education event taking place June 25-27 in Chicago at United Fresh 2018. Session topics will cover everything from consumer marketing to launching new product categories. For additional information on the session topics and a more in depth look at the quarterly reports, click here.
OXNARD, CA - A company might experience growing pains when it adds new positions, but San Miguel Produce is nothing but excited to bring on passionate individuals as the company sets its eyes on expansion and growth. It announced changes to its Sales Management Team in the West and Midwest regions. Megan Stallings and Gary Zych will take on the newly created positions of Western Region Sales Manager and Midwest Region Sales Manager, respectively. In their new roles, Stallings and Zych will be responsible for overseeing existing customer accounts and developing new business.
“We are excited about the new sales team at San Miguel Produce,” said Bob Cummings, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “As our business continues to grow, we plan to build upon our success and bring talented and passionate individuals on board to continue to develop and maintain relationships with our customers.”
Stallings has been with the company for three years. She began her career with San Miguel as an Inventory Analyst, and prior to the Western Regional Sales Manager promotion, was the company’s Procurement Manager. With a background in clinical nutrition and foodservice management, she has a strong appreciation and passion for the produce industry. Gary Zych joins San Miguel Produce with over 15 years of experience in value-added produce, and an additional 20 years in Meat and Deli Sales, holding positions at Armour Foods and Farmland Foods.
Congratulations to both Megan and Gary on their new positions! We look forward to seeing how San Miguel Produce will flourish as a result of these new additions to the Sales Management Team!
CHERRY HILL, NJ - Procacci Brothers is emphasizing its roots and community after supporting Camden Catholic High School’s “Estrella Naciente” (Rising Star) Scholarship Program. As a part of its efforts, the company presented the school with a check for $17,400.
“We established Estrella Naciente because most of the people that work for us are Hispanic,” said Procacci Brothers’ CEO and Camden Catholic alumnus J.M. Procacci. “We’re honored to have this opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much to our family’s businesses.”
According to a company press release, the Estrella Naciente Scholarship Program at CCHS is a partnership between Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation, Santa Sweets Inc., and the Spanish Sports Network to provide generous tuition assistance to Hispanic students at Camden Catholic.
To this day, the scholarship is funded through a pledge made by J.M. Procacci prior to the 2016 season to donate $100 for every home run hit by the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, with the Phillies hitting a total of 174 home runs in the 2017 season.
During the ceremony in which Procacci Brothers presented its donation, Demetrio Sampson and Robert Parcheco-Montes were recognized in front of their classmates as the 2018 scholarship recipients.
"The Estrella Naciente Scholarship continues to be a wonderful opportunity for our students and their families,” said Camden Catholic President Mary Whipkey. “We are grateful and blessed to have the Procacci family as an integral part of the Camden Catholic community and we look forward to witnessing the dedication, motivation, and success of these promising students".
Procacci Brothers and Santa Sweets have also established an Estrella Naciente Scholarship program at Bridgeton High School in Cumberland County NJ, which so far has been presented more than $50,000 after the first annual Estrella Naciente Golf Classic helped raise proceeds. This year’s tournament will be held on October 1, 2018 at Medford Village Country Club in Medford, NJ. For more information, please visit https://www.estrellanaciente.org/.
For more news like this, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
LONDON, UK - Many consumers look to their fruit processors to give their fresh produce a new life, but some have ulterior plans for the kitchen staple. A 32-year-old Spanish national was arrested in her in her Southeast London home after 9 kg of crystal meth and 250 kg of cocaine was found inside her industrial-sized fruit-processing machine. The shipment of drugs—worth £22 million, or $29+ million USD—was imported into the U.K. from Mexico through London Gateway Port on March 17th, according to a recent BBC article.
Border Force topped the 3.5-ton fruit processor when they found the illicit substances tucked inside, the NCA said.
"Here we have a potentially lucrative plot by organized criminals to smuggle 259kg of Class A drugs into the UK, which would have eventually found itself being sold on the streets of London,” NCA’s Head of Specialist Operations John Coles said, according to the news source.
The accused woman will appear in Kingston Crown Court on June 7th to enter a plea.
For more information on how drugs are infiltrating the fruit industry, check back with us at AndNowUKnow.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Cal-Organic Farms, a division of Grimmway Farms, debuted its original three-part mini-series, “Handled with Care.” The mini-series focuses on the passionate people behind organic farming and chronicles the process and passion behind organic farming, lives up to its name. Both the farmers represented and the way in which they are presented is done in a carefully crafted way to best showcase the multiple aspects of organic farming. Each 5-6 minute episode is loosely-based on the different phases of organic farming: Soil Preparation, Planting & Growing, and Harvesting.
“So much work goes into growing our Cal-Organic vegetables,” said Jeff Huckaby, President, in a company press release. “We take great care to make sure everything we put in front of consumers is healthy, safe, and grown according to the standards they believe in. That’s where the inspiration for ‘Handled with Care’ came from.”
“Handled with Care” is told firsthand through the words of actual Cal-Organic farmers who work throughout the product lifespan. The mini-series was shot on location at Cal-Organic farmland throughout California, and underscores the additional challenges of organic farming. Directed by James Beard Award Winning Director James Mann, the series documents multiple aspects of organic farming—including soil management, planting techniques, pest control, and harvesting.
“Previously, we hadn’t taken an active role in telling our story directly to consumers,” added Kellen Stailey, Vice President of Marketing. “And our research confirmed that, now more than ever, organic shoppers are looking for more from the brands they trust. We wanted to connect the dots for consumers between the product they love and the farm and farmers behind their produce.”
The series made its debut on Tastemade on May 17, where you can view the videos. Tastemade is an award-winning food, home, and travel media company that reaches more than 250 million active viewers per month.
"We're honored Cal-Organic chose Tastemade to tell their story to consumers for the very first time," added Andrew Saunders, Tastemade's Head of Global Brand Strategy. “Farming is an important part of our country's heritage and future, and we're thrilled to leverage our award-winning team and platform to showcase innovators leading the organic movement.”
Director James Mann added, “What excited me the most about this project was the opportunity to meet so many passionate and knowledgeable people and get a first-hand look at the process of organic farming—which is usually so invisible to us as consumers. Organic farming really does matter. It’s an issue of health and wellness, of course. But it’s also about land stewardship, sustainability, and social responsibility.”
For more news regarding the latest in organic produce, keep following AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - Kroger’s recent $200 million acquisition may have an unexpected beneficiary; after news that the Cincinnati-based retail giant acquired meal-kit delivery company Home Chef, competitor Blue Apron’s stock jumped more than five percent.
According to Business Insider, the surge may have been caused by speculation that Blue Apron would follow Home Chef’s lead. The financial news source mused that investors may be buying Blue Apron on the hunch that Kroger’s acquisition could prompt another retailer to attempt a buyout of Blue Apron—a potential bargain considering that the meal kit maker’s shares have lost nearly 70 percent of their value since the company went public in June of last year.
Business Insider also cited a seven percent spike in Blue Apron’s stock price this February after an analyst from Gabelli & Company told CNBC that Walmart may be a “logical buyer” for the ailing fresh food provider.
Will speculation prove accurate and investors reap rewards from Blue Apron’s strategic position in the fast-growing meal kit market? News of the company’s latest stock leap comes just weeks after Blue Apron appointed a new Chief to oversee its finances. AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this and other important retail news.
SALINAS, CA - I have a confession to make—I rarely eat breakfast. Between making myself appear office ready to making sure my four month old puppy isn’t destroying anything in the house, there’s not a lot of “me time” in my morning routine—or any time of my day, for that matter. Here to make sure I get a healthy snack in my body without all the fuss is Naturipe Snacks™, with its new, 5 oz fresh fruit cups.
As Jill Overdorf, Director of Business Development of the Value-Added Fresh Division, tells me, the new line taps into the potential of the grab and go category in ways not yet explored by the produce industry.
“Our fresh fruit cup line is really focused on grab and go. The packaging is designed to sit right in the cup holder of a car,” Jill explains before unveiling the real kicker for these new products. “We did something unique and added an eating utensil: a spork. You just rip the top off and the spork sits above the fruit—nobody wants to grab an eating utensil that’s all sticky. It’s designed to keep in mind that busy person who is always in their car or taking their kids to soccer practice, or just someone who is always on the road and looking for a healthy snack in the afternoon.”
For its initial debut, Naturipe is offering the following combinations of fresh fruits:
- Strawberries
- Strawberries and blueberries
- Apples, grapes, and blueberries
- Grapes and blueberries
- Apples and blueberries
This year’s Canadian Produce Marketing convention in Vancouver was the first major unveiling for the line. There, the company had a French-English bilingual version on deck for Canadian buyers with plans to hit stores by the end of May—perfect for summer promotional tie ins and outdoor holidays. Whereas many snacks you see during this time of the year are full of sugar and preservatives, Naturipe Snacks’ fruit cups are 100 percent fresh, Jill notes.
“I think what’s great about our fruit cups is that it is a fresh product, unlike a lot of other items in the snacking category,” she says. “ A lot of other fruit cups on the market have either preservatives or are in a sugary sweet liquid. But as both consumers and the snacking industry is trending more towards fresh, we decided to stay away from the concept and focus on what Naturipe does best—delicious fresh produce.”
The cut fruit section of the grocery store is now a 2.7 billion category, Jill tells me, adding that Naturipe’s would fit very well being merchandised in that same sector, standing out amongst product types that have been done and done again by other produce companies.
“The cut fruit category is dominated by apples,” Jill explains. “We’re really the only ones who are doing a berry as part of a snacking product. There’s a huge opportunity gap for us that exists between vegetable snacking products and what’s happening with apples. Household penetration for berries is off the charts—strawberries are in the high 90s and blueberries are rapidly getting to that same level. Berries are now the largest category in retail, and we’re filling a need for consumers who are wanting more on the go, convenient, and healthy snacks.”
Naturipe Snacks’ 5 oz fruit cups will be hitting stores soon, so make sure to keep the company in mind when filling out the fresh cut section at your store. You might even catch me driving down the street spork in hand in a location near you!