RIVERSIDE, CA - From the Keto Diet to hipster avocado toasts in boozy brunch spots across America, avocados have a home in almost everyone’s heart, and California avocado season is off to a booming start. Index Fresh reported strong weeks throughout March and April, with promotable volumes for the remainder of the season and a new variety for consumers to crave.
“Excellent quality has been driving strong demand as California Hass fills retailer shelves and enhances restaurant offerings,” President Dana Thomas wrote in a recent release. “The California harvest is estimated to be about a third complete, leaving Hass volume for the summer into September. Volume will be available for ongoing promotions as well as the key avocado holidays of Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. Index Fresh is excited about providing quality fruit and promotional support for these summer celebrations.”
A first for the company, Index Fresh launched its GEM program in mid-April. It has since received great responses and support from retailers and growers. A new variety that offers an exciting aesthetic to stand out on the shelf, GEM offers flavors and peelability to intrigue consumers and draw them into the expanding avocado category and complement Hass.
“The 2018 California season is off to a strong start, with tremendous opportunity ahead for the rest of the year," Thomas continued.
On that note, anyone have a guacamole recipe I can borrow for summer festivities?
MIAMI, FL - Part of the joy of summer is getting the chance to incorporate berries into just about anything. Savory dishes, sweet dishes, we don’t care, so long as we can toss some fresh fruit into it. One of our summer favorites is blueberries, and there’s plenty of exciting news to be had in the blueberry category. Crystal Valley Foods announced its partnership with Old South Blueberries, LLC and will begin shipping Alabama-grown blueberries under both the Crystal Valley and Old South Blueberries labels this season.
“We are excited about our partnership with Old South Blueberries, and we are looking forward to being able to continue offering domestic blueberries as our Florida season winds down,” said Katiana Valdes, Director of Marketing, in a press release. “Old South Blueberries is in their 3rd growing year, and the expert staff there along with their facilities, farms, and growing practices have proven to be cutting-edge and top notch. We expect a great season.”
It is the first year Crystal Valley has partnered with a berry grower in Alabama. Old South Blueberries, started by Klein Miller and Chris Schulte, began growing blueberries in 2014 and now have over 60,000 bushes and 7 Rabbiteye varieties. The farm and packing house is located in southern Alabama. Due to an early harvest, Old South Blueberries expects good volume and quality this season.
The first shipments will begin at the end of May and will be available through the end of July. Crystal Valley will continue to ship domestic product throughout the summer until the import season starts again this fall. It will offer a variety of sizes, including pints and 6-ounce clams of its conventional blueberries.
For the latest in fresh fruit, company partnerships, and more, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
BIRMINGHAM, AL and DECATUR, AL - Rapidly expanding discount retailer Lidl and online grocery marketplace mainstay Shipt have announced an expanded partnership and efforts to bring home delivery services from Lidl stores to more markets in the important northern Virginia region.
“Northern Virginia is home for Lidl US, and we are happy to expand our pilot with Shipt to offer our Northern Virginia neighbors another convenient way to experience Lidl’s award-winning products,” said Zara Khaleeli, Senior Project Manager at Lidl US. “Starting today, Shipt customers in Northern Virginia can have Lidl’s high quality groceries delivered directly to their doors.”
Shipt and Lidl's new delivery services will allow shoppers in and around the Ashburn, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Woodbridge, VA communities to enjoy same day shipping on fresh produce and other items. Cumulatively, the expansion gives more than 360,000 households in northern Virginia access to Lidl products, delivered by Shipt in as little as one hour, according to a press release. And, in celebration of its expanded services, Shipt announced that new members who sign up for the service will receive an annual membership for $49—roughly half of the company’s standard $99 annual fee.
“This expansion diversifies our store offerings to include Lidl, a favorite of Northern Virginia residents,” said Bill Smith, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shipt. “Lidl’s affordability and quality make this expansion a natural fit for Shipt, and residents in Northern Virginia will be able to access their staple Lidl products in a whole new way for the entire family.”
Will programs like this give Lidl an edge as it continues to gain ground—literally and figuratively—in the U.S. grocery landscape? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
AUSTIN, TX - While Whole Foods Market made retail history as the first national chain to commit to GMO transparency back in 2013, the grocer is now halting its GMO efforts a few months shy of the initial deadline of September 1, 2018. Last week, Whole Foods President and Chief Operating Officer A.C. Gallo announced in an email to suppliers that the company is pausing its GMO food labeling requirements, according to a report by the New Food Economy.
In the email, Gallo cited suppliers as the primary reason, writing: “As the USDA finalizes the federal regulation in the coming months and the food industry assesses the impact, we do not want our policy to pose further challenges for you and your business.”
Specifically, in recent months, suppliers have voiced concerns over the difficulty of complying with both Whole Foods’ and the USDA’s GMO requirements, as Whole Foods’ GMO rulings are stricter. First announced five years ago, Whole Foods’ rules require suppliers to disclose the presence of all genetically modified ingredients on all packaging and state that QR codes do not count as disclosing the presence of GMO ingredients in products, the news source noted.
While it is unclear when Whole Foods will pick these efforts back up again, the retailer told the New Food Economy: “We remain committed to providing our customers with the level of transparency they want and expect from us and will continue to require suppliers to obtain third-party verification for non-GMO claims."
Is Whole Foods latest move the calm before a tighter ruling storm or a sign that it is straying towards leniency on what’s required? And how will the retailer’s decision affect fresh produce? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
NOGALES, AZ - The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) hosted its annual meeting this month, voting on board members to fill terms that ended this May.
At the May 15th meeting Chairman, Gonzalo Avila of Malena Produce, spoke to the members about change, innovation, and moving forward in the industry, as he passed the reigns to new Chairman Scott Vandervoet of Vandervoet & Associates, according to an association press release. And Leonardo Tarriba from Farmers Best International was elected Chairman-Elect, to take office as Chairman two years from now.
As one of his last official duties, Gonzalo also presented the FPAA Member of the Year Award to long-time board members Bobby Bennen, Jr. of Ta-De Distributing and Gerardo Ritz of Ritz Produce. Bobby and Gerardo both passed away earlier this year, and they had both been recently re-elected as board members in 2017 for a two-year term. The association noted the two recipients’ energy and commitment to the FPAA’s ideals and stated that their spirit embodies the legacy of FPAA.
The FPPA elected eight distributor directors and two associate directors to the FPAA board. Directors include:
- Bobby Astengo of Peppers Plus
- Alejandro Canelos of Apache Produce LLC
- Jaime Chamberlain of J-C Distributing Inc.
- Martin Ley of Shipley Sales
- Enrique Gracia of Flavor King
- Bert Monteverde of H.M. Distributing
- Jose Antonio Martinez of Divine Flavor LLC
- Matt Mandel of SunFed®
Sabrina Hallman of Sierra Seed Company LLP was re-elected for a one-year term as Associate Member Director, and Chuck Thomas of Thomas Produce was newly elected for a one-year term as Associate Member Director.
Additionally, the association re-elected Jimmy Munguia of Del Campo Supreme, as Chairman of the FPAA Tomato Division. Chris Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers continues as Chairman of the FPAA Mango Division, and John Pandol of Pandol Brothers also continues as the Chairman of the FPAA Grape Division.
FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer also was on hand to discuss a variety of activities and opportunities that the association has been working on over the past year, including NAFTA renegotiation efforts, important infrastructure improvements, and Mexico and Washington, DC, advocacy.
Lance discussed the 50th Nogales Produce Convention & Golf Tournament—set to take place this year on Nov. 1st through the 3rd—and urged members to join the FPAA at this year’s produce convention, which will be a huge celebration with multiple events over the course of the year.
At the annual meeting, FPAA members were also presented with the opportunity to discuss key actions from the previous year with detailed updates from the FPAA’s president, chairman, and staff.
For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MIAMI, FL - While Dave’s Specialty Imports has been in the imported berry business for 26 years, the company has doubled down on its own farming operations, domestic partnerships, and organics over the last decade. And to bolster its team for its latest endeavors, Dave’s Specialty Imports has appointed Tom Rawles as Operations Manager to focus on grower relations.
“Tom’s experience in berry operations and managing company growth along with his excellent leadership skills make him a great fit for the Dave’s team,” said VP New Business Development Vince Ferrante.
Rawles previously held positions at both Dole Berry Co. and Sunnyridge Farm, and the extensive expertise he’s collected over the 12 years he’s worked with all aspects of the berry category, including farm development and management, blueberry packing, distribution facility operations, R&D, and managing grower partnerships, make him a great addition to the team, according to a press release.
“I’m pleased to be joining an organization that is focused on great relationships and providing excellent results. I believe Dave’s has the right balance of marketing expertise and providing personal attention,” Rawles said about his new position.
Dave’s Specialty Imports is a family-owned and operated company, and predominately supplies retail and food service operators with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
Congratulations, Tom Rawles, on the new position! For more of the latest produce shakeups, team additions, and more, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
BOISE, ID - As Albertsons Companies competes with Amazon-Go technology, the company is doubling its efforts to design personalized shopping experiences. Enter Guatam Kotwal, whose breadth of knowledge in analytics, data science engineering, and test strategy make him a strong addition to the Albertsons team. Joining Albertsons Companies as its Executive Vice President and Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Kotwal will be responsible for leading the company’s innovation efforts to drive value, create competitive differentiation, and design those personalized shopper experiences wherever—and however—consumers choose to shop.
“Our omnichannel platform is something our organization is deeply committed to, and to best serve our customers who shop each channel, we must begin to look at data across not only our customer base but also within our company to further innovate within our industry,” said Jim Donald, President and Chief Operating Officer in a press release.
Gautam Kotwal will be based at the company’s campus in Pleasanton, CA, and will report to Jim Donald. Donald added, “Gautam possesses a unique blend of technical skill, boundless enthusiasm, and a commitment to developing people and teams, all of which will serve him well in this new role. I’m excited to have Gautam join our company and formalize our data and analytics efforts under his leadership so that we can better engage our customers, no matter where they shop with us.”
For the last two years, Gautam Kotwal served as Vice President of Analytics, Data Platform & Data Science Engineering for Kohl’s Department Stores, where he built Kohl’s BigData team with the overarching goal of enabling an insights-driven organization by democratizing data and science. He joined Kohl’s first in 2012 as the Director of Innovation before moving to Director of Innovation and Data Science. Prior to working at Kohl’s, Kotwal worked as an Engineering Manager at Netflix and was quickly promoted to Director of Engineering.
Congratulations to Guatam Kotwal! For the latest in team additions, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MIDWEST, USA - Hy-Vee is expanding both its store reach and its newly-formed partnership with Wahlburgers. Coming off the announcement late last year that the retailer would halt expansion efforts, stopping the opening of five new stores and a 1-million-square-foot distribution center, the company is now singing a different tune with plans to expand next year and more.
“There are five stores in the Twin Cities that we’re considering for next year’s budget,” Randy Edeker, Chief Executive Officer for Hy-Vee, said in a recent Star Tribune article.
In an effort to expand in the future, the company is looking to the success stories that Aldi, Fresh Thyme, and Trader Joe’s are all enjoying with their stores that are between 30,000 and 40,000 square feet. Hy-Vee, as a result, is gaining inspiration and scaling back in size.
“You’ll see us come down off 95,000-square-feet stores and build 65,000- to 80,000-square-feet stores,” he said. “We’re designing the stores with more e-commerce and digital shopping in mind.”
To cut down on square footage, the company will likely take out designated smoothie spaces and under- or average-performing deli stations.
In addition to the store expansion goals that the company has set for itself, it has also welcomed a new venture with Mark Wahlberg and his family: Wahlburgers. The grocery retailer’s first location in partnership with Wahlburgers made its debut, but the company says it expects another 25 to open their doors by the end of 2021, all located in the Midwestern states where Hy-Vee locations can be found, though none are situated within the retail chain itself.
How will Hy-Vee’s partnership with Wahlburgers increase consumers’ interest in the retailer’s offerings, and, as a result of the burgeoning alignment, what will the new locations look like to push more boundaries? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated with the latest.
MORGAN HILL, CA - Sweet summer treats inherently include melons, and as the Infinite Gold cantaloupe season approaches, Sakata Seed is anticipating a strong one to help retailers keep lasting, tasty cantaloupe on the shelf.
“We are always striving to create a better-quality cantaloupe, like that of what was on the shelf ten years ago before the first long shelf-life (LSL) melons hit the market. We are very fortunate in having Infinite Gold, which I would say is the highest-quality LSL on the market,” Dale Palmer, DSW Area Sales Manager and all around melon expert, tells me. “The flavor, aroma, and feel as far as melons go for this market is the closest to that we associate with a Western Shipper, or traditional domestic cantaloupes.”
Likely to start harvesting late this week at the earliest, the Infinite Gold season is reported to be looking good in both quality and volume. Dale shares that Mother Nature pushed harvest back slightly from the anticipated dates due to a cold spell early on during planting in February, but nothing that would greatly offset the season.
In fact, aside from coming along at a steadier pace than usual, he assures me the fruit itself is doing great.
“Quality has not been bad so far for all our front-end varieties, and we’re expecting the same for Infinite Gold,” he shares. “Infinite Gold will likely be available on the shelf on or just after Memorial Day. After the holiday we will definitely see heavy volume.”
LSL cantaloupes, as their title implies, hold a firmer flesh than the traditional Western Shipper that led to their ability to stay on the shelf for an additional 5 to 9 days. Sakata Seed, committed to answering a need in the market for these longer lasting melons to also bring the flavor, texture, and aroma their traditional counterparts offer, is tirelessly working to bring retailers even more LSL varieties like, or even better than, Infinite Gold.
“We are looking at two new varieties at the moment to complement the Infinite Gold season,” Dale explains, commenting that he no doubt sees hundreds of varieties a year as the company strives to, essentially, bring to market a traditional cantaloupe that offers a longer shelf-life. “One larger variety would be at the ideal size just before Infinite Gold is harvested and the other is smaller and would be ready for harvest around or after Infinite Gold’s season dies down.”
So, as consumers look to add some cantaloupe goodness to their margaritas, fruit salads, grills, or just as raw slices to bite into, keep on the lookout for the variety that meets their flavor desires without adding to your shrink.
QUINCY, MA and SALISBURY, NC - All is not quiet on the Ahold Delhaize USA front. The company is launching a new entity, Peapod Digital Labs, which endeavors to drive digital and e-commerce innovation, technology, and experience needs from customers of its local brands continue to shift and change. In addition to this exciting launch, the company is bringing JJ Fleeman on deck to serve as the President of Peapod Digital Labs and Chief eCommerce Officer.
"We are excited about this new company, which will serve as the engine that powers our U.S. e-commerce and digital strategies," said Kevin Holt, Chief Executive Officer for Ahold Delhaize USA. "As one of the largest grocery retailers and a market leader in home delivery on the East Coast, the great local brands of Ahold Delhaize USA have a strong heritage of innovation. The creation of Peapod Digital Labs and appointment of JJ to lead the new company and serve as Chief eCommerce Officer will enable us to sharpen our focus on leveraging the size and scale of the U.S. brands to provide customers with a personalized and effortless shopping experience."
What the new launch will do is accelerate growth in digital and personalization capabilities for Ahold Delhaize USA’s local brands, as well as be an innovation lab for its U.S. lineup of companies. Peapod Digital Labs will also oversee the company’s Chicago, Illinois-based local brand Peapod, which is one of the nation’s largest online grocery retailers.
"Ahold Delhaize USA is creating Peapod Digital Labs, which will drive market-leading digital and e-commerce capabilities to power the company's six local brands as they create best-in-class customer experiences," said Fleeman. "We have a tremendous opportunity to build upon Peapod's longstanding history of innovating to meet consumers' needs to create an unparalleled omni-channel grocery experience. Whether it's searching for inspiration on meals, shopping online or driving digital and personalization in-store, Peapod Digital Labs will enhance the digital experience to the benefit of U.S. consumers."
Fleeman is well-versed in the company’s ongoings, since he served as Executive Vice President of Commercial Services & Strategy for Ahold Delhaize USA new-to-the-game support services company, Retail Business Services. Two other positions he held with Delhaize have been Chief Strategy and Development Officer for Delhaize America and Global Integration and Program Leader for Delhaize Group during the merger that created Ahold Delhaize. On top of these achievements, Fleeman led the creation of a digital center of excellence at Delhaize America, according to a press release, and his career boasts of senior-level positions in strategy, marketing, operations, and merchandising.
Peapod Digital Labs is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, but efforts to build out will be occurring over the course of the coming months.
How will this new branch-off for Ahold Delhaize USA stir up more competitive innovations, and will we see others create their own cutting-edge digital programs? We look forward to seeing what ripples will occur as a result of this new launch, and we at AndNowUKnow are excited to see how JJ Fleeman’s expertise will bring on more innovations moving forward.