PALO ALTO, CA - In another seemingly fantastical turn in Tesla Inc.’s long-distance semi-electric truck odyssey, Jim Monkmeyer, President of Transportation at DHL Supply Chain and one of the first to order trucks from Elon Musk (the trucks are projected to roll out in 2019), stated that the trucks will pay off the difference between themselves and traditional diesel trucks in less than two years.
“We are estimating that we could have pay back within a year-and-a-half based on energy usage as well as lower maintenance cost,” Monkmeyer told Reuters. “The maintenance savings can be enormous as well. Just because the engines are much simpler in terms of the number of parts and the complexities of the parts.”
With the cost of diesel fuel expected to remain high and the decreasing cost of electric vehicles, the savings brought on by an electric semi-truck may be even greater than anticipated.
“Am feeling optimistic about beating the Semi specs announced at the unveiling for the same price. The Tesla Semi will be something really special,” Musk tweeted last week.
To which possible specs could Musk be hinting? Could it be software for the vehicle, as Musk claims, already existent self-driving hardware?
With Sysco already signed on for 50 tractor-trailers and Meijer signed up for a semi-truck test drive, we here at AndNowUKnow await all future advancements with bated breath and hope you’ll stay with us.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA – With SEPC’s 2018 Southern Exposure expo fast approaching, our industry is abuzz with companies preparing to showcase their best and brightest ideas. And Frieda’s Specialty Produce is no exception. The company will be featuring some of its most show-stopping retail support innovations and product offerings, bringing its three-tier display unit and sampling dragon fruit to the Tampa, Florida-event.
“Produce managers tell us these displays are a definite traffic stopper,” said Alex Jackson Berkley, Assistant Sales Manager, in a recent press release. “Shoppers love to check out new produce being displayed on the unit.”
According to Frieda’s, the company’s eye-catching three-tier display unit is easy to set up in the store and takes up little space. Its attractive design is engineered to draw customers and promote specialty sales, and the company also offers a customized “Pick of the Month” program to help retailers make the most of the display.
At Southern Exposure, Frieda’s will also be sampling high-flavor red and white pitaya—or dragon fruit—from Ecuador and Israel. As one of the nation’s largest direct importers, distributors, and shippers of dragon fruit, Frieda’s noted, the company is committed to offering the best variety options from all over the world—from growing operations in Vietnam, the U.S., Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Israel. And, Frieda’s dragon fruit are available almost year-round.
“There are many options for dragon fruit (aka pitaya), and we offer the most extensive selection that consumers are looking for,” said Berkley. “With our suite of great tasting fruits to choose from, retailers can keep dragon fruit sales going year-round at low retail prices.”
Interested parties can visit the Frieda’s team at Southern Exposure—booth #205—on March 3rd in Tampa, Florida to sample pitaya and learn more about the company’s product offerings and retail support.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart’s Sam’s Club announced today, February 27, that it will begin offering same-day delivery in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and St-Louis, through Instacart. Current Instacart partners include Costco, CVS Health, and Whole Foods Market. Recently, Instacart signed with Albertsons and Kroger, but faced some setbacks when Target purchased Shipt for $550 million, which is only a fraction of Instacart’s current valuation of $4 billion.
“We know our members love our mix of exciting items and appreciate it when we make life a little easier for them. Whether it’s Scan & Go, Club Pickup–and now delivery in as little as an hour–shopping with Sam’s Club is getting easier and more convenient, and we’re just getting started,” said Sachin Padwal, Sam’s Club’s Vice President of Omnichannel and In-Club Product according to a press release from the company. “Instacart is a trusted partner by so many customers, we are thrilled to be launching this service with them.”
Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods has furthered the push for grocers to partner with delivery services.
"As Instacart continues to expand to new markets and reach new customers at a blistering pace, valued and respected brands such as Sam’s Club are the driving force behind it," said Sarah Mastrorocco, Instacart’s Vice President of Business Development. “We are thrilled to add value to their existing operations, while bringing the convenience of same-day delivery to more North Americans every day."
In addition to a push back against Amazon, this move is part of CEO John Furner’s effort to compete with Costco by moving into more affluent part of the country, Fortune reported. This move follows a consolidation of Sam’s Club’s membership structure, a shuttering of roughly 10% of stores, and a lay-off of more than 10,000 workers as we previously reported.
To stay in the know on grocery innovations, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
OGDENSBURG, NY — ‘Tis the season for cabbage wraps, cabbage soup, and some corned beef and cabbage! However, it appears that someone had alternative plans for a head of cabbage that was shipped to a correctional facility in Ogdensburg, New York. A type of synthetic marijuana, known as K2, was tucked inside a head of cabbage in a shipment sent to a Riverview Correctional Facility inmate on February 13th.
“This recent seizure certainly serves as an example of how dangerous contraband continues to make its way into our state prisons. Since the Vendor Pilot Program was suspended, the ongoing problem of contraband being mailed to prisons or being brought in by visitors highlights the need for serious policy changes on how inmates receive items from outside of the facilities. The officer who discovered the drugs did a great job picking up on irregularities in the package that led him to make the discovery. The contraband problem continues to be a recurring theme that needs to be addressed,” said Northern Region Vice President John Roberts, according to a New York Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association recent press release.
The medium-security prison discovered the substance within the shipment at about 1 p.m. during an X-ray screening. When the package was deemed irregular, an officer opened the package and discovered that a rectangular-shaped hole had been cut into the head of cabbage, which housed 13 grams of K2 bundled into two clear plastic bags.
The inmate to whom the package was to be delivered is currently serving 3-6 years for burglary 3rd and robbery 1st charges. This shipment has now been placed in evidence, and the investigation is ongoing.
Where will this illicit substance appear next, and to whom will it be shipped? AndNowUKnow will fill you in with the latest drug busts and more industry happenings, so stay tuned!
NASHVILLE, NC – Nothing brings me home quite like the smell of sweet potatoes baking in the oven: sugars caramelizing on low temperature, the exposed flesh slowly darkening to chestnut. For an update on how the popular staple is faring out of North Carolina, I spoke with Tami Long, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Nash Produce.
“Demand remains high,” said Tami. “Sweet potatoes are crazy healthy, and taste great, so they are becoming more and more popular. My goal is to educate the consumer on the many, many ways you can cook sweet potatoes. Most people see a sweet potato as a casserole or baked but are not aware of the many ways to incorporate sweet potatoes in their diets. Sweet potatoes can even be used as a sweetener component for recipes. As consumers understand sweet potatoes better, the demand will continue to increase.”
With the strong demand for sweet potatoes this year, Nash has been able to respond with an “excellent harvest,” as Tami puts it, and a particularly large yield of organics and Murasaki.
Tami elaborated on how education will help improve sales of the root veggie.
“People still think there is a difference between a yam and sweet potato, but in the U.S. yams are actually sweet potatoes. Covingtons were labeled yams, because they have a softer texture,” Tami shared. “They don’t see how versatile sweet potatoes can be. I have visited several elementary schools to discuss sweet potatoes. I always start by asking who has never had, doesn’t like, or likes sweet potatoes. Since sweet potatoes are a vegetable, there are many ‘do not’ like hands up. By the end of my presentation, they all want to know how to make sweet potato ice cream! Education and communication are what brings change to everything.”
Challenging this season is also the new ELD mandate which has been impacting costs at multiple levels of the business and across the industry.
“Truck costs are continuing to rise, so this will put a big strain on many companies that are not prepared,” Tami added.
Nash Produce’s inventory of fresh produce comes from the company’s grower-owners throughout eastern North Carolina. Reaching over a 200-mile radius, these farms have some of the best soils in the world for growing the fresh vegetables. Collectively, Nash’s growers devote over 10,000 acres to sweet potato production.
Despite ELD challenges, it looks like the hearty root is on the up and up! To track its progress, stay with us here at AndNowUKnow.
TYLER, TX – After rumors that the ailing grocer would file for bankruptcy earlier this month, and the recent sale of seven locations, Winn-Dixie has reached an agreement to part with an additional eight stores—selling them to Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC).
The stores in question are located throughout Louisiana, according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph, and BGC plans to reopen stores in New Roads, Breaux Bridge, Franklin, New Iberia, Abbeville, Crowley, Rayne, and Eunice under the Super 1 Foods after “a brief transition period.”
“We’re excited about this agreement and the opportunity it provides us to further grow and expand in this region,” said Brad Brookshire, BGC's Chairman and CEO, in a statement reported on by the Telegraph. “These stores are a strong fit for our Super 1 Foods banner, and we look forward to welcoming new customers and employees in Acadiana.”
Current Winn-Dixie employees will reportedly have the opportunity to interview at the newly BGC-owned stores.
“We are pleased to have found a strong partner in Brookshire Grocery Company, who shares our focus on customers and who respects and values their employees,” said Trey Edwards, Winn-Dixie Regional Vice President for Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, reportedly. “We know BGC very well and are confident that the eight stores being transferred will see continued success in their communities.”
Will these store sales translate to greater opportunities for BGC and buoy Winn-Dixie as the Southeastern Grocers-owned organization struggles to achieve solvency and then success? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods is expanding its Spring Scoop line for 2018, highlighting 26 new products from its Serve Good program. And, with consumers and industry members keeping sustainability top of mind, these latest additions to the program are right up the ally of current demands.
"Sustainable menu options are more than a trend, they're a movement that's here to stay. With Serve Good, we are committed to delivering a responsible approach to foodservice while equipping independent restaurants with high-quality products diners will pay a premium for," said Stacie Sopinka, Vice President of Product Development and Innovation. "As we continue to deliver on our Great Food. Made Easy. strategy, our Serve Good portfolio empowers foodservice operators to source a wide variety of food and non-food items that have been carefully developed to help them succeed."
The latest additions span a number of categories—with organic produce items, sustainable seafood, and foodservice tools all in the mix. Amongst the highlighted products are:
- Cross Valley Farms® Organic Fingerling Potato Blend: This first-to-market, versatile Fingerling Potato Blend is USDA-Certified Organic and includes colorful yellow, red, and purple potatoes.
- Devonshire® Premium Banana Chocolate Swirl Cake Made with Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Bananas and Fair Trade Certified™ Chocolate: Inspired by a Minnesota State Fair award-winning recipe, this cake is made with Fair Trade Certified semisweet chocolate and cocoa powder from Callebaut, Fair Trade Certified granulated and powdered sugar, and Rainforest Alliance Certified banana purée.
- Metro Deli® All Natural Prosciutto Raised Without Antibiotics: An artisanal prosciutto made with only pork and Nova Scotian coarse salt and aged for nine months according to centuries-old Italian techniques. Perfect for charcuterie boards, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas.
- Harbor Banks® Coho Salmon: Four-star BAP-certified, this salmon is fed fish protein combined with nutrient dense algae, so it produces more fish protein than it uses while retaining top-quality flavor, texture, and nutrition.
67 percent of consumers state that they would have a better impression of a restaurant that offered sustainable foods, according to a press release, and at least 80 percent of diners say they want to know more about their food sources.
Spring Scoop also features a new partnership with BentoBox. US Foods customers can now receive exclusive discounts and support from BentoBox. Other value-added services, along with further details, can be found here.
Since its initial launch in 2016 with a line of 24 products, US Foods’ Serve Good program has grown to more than 300 versatile products falling into one of the following categories, many coming with third-party certifications:
- Including sustainable seafood
- Organic
- Non-GMO
- Animal care
- Responsible disposables or waste reduction
Delivered in packaging developed according to strict standards that help reduce waste and prioritize the use of recycled material, all Serve Good products meet rigorous criteria for responsible sourcing or waste reduction.
Visit the website to learn about the exciting launch.
WENATCHEE, WA - Though fall apple picking trips may feel like a sweet and distant memory, apples themselves are still at the forefront of produce departments as category sales are thriving. To better understand this market climb, I spoke with Steve Lutz, Senior Strategist, and Rochelle Bohm, Brand Manager, at CMI Orchards on the success its apples are experiencing.
"From what we are hearing from our global partners, Kanzi® is the number one emerging apple brand in Europe," said Bohm. "KIKU®, JAZZ™, and Pacific Rose™ are also soaring to new heights, and Envy™ and Ambrosia™ apples have a huge global prominence with extreme popularity. Envy™ carries the highest retail of all apples with some of the strongest consumer demand we've seen of any apple-topping even the coveted Honeycrisp, according to Nielsen Perishables Group data."
"The Ambrosia™ is so popular as a branded apple variety, that it now ranks 8th overall in total sales in the U.S.," said Steve Lutz, Senior Strategist at CMI Orchards, attributing the stats again to Nielsen Perishables Group.
"We are extremely proud to be the only grower that grows, ships, and markets all of the world's hottest apples. Competitors may carry one or two, here or there, but CMI carries them all—Jazz™, Envy™, Pacific Rose™, KIKU®, Kanzi®, and Ambrosia™," said Bohm. "CMI is a one-stop shop offering the winning six apple brands poised for success."
Bohm added that CMI has a winning trifecta with some of the world's hottest branded apples, year-round availability with strong domestic grower alliances and import partnerships, and branded organic apple offerings.
"In addition to the success our conventional club apples are experiencing, data continues to show the success of CMI's Daisy Girl Organics™ brand," said Lutz. "Nielsen data shows that CMI holds the number one selling organic apple package in the United States with our 2 lb. Gala pouch bag. Sales of our Daisy Girl 2 lb. Gala are so strong we out-perform all other organic brands, private label brands and unbranded organic packages. No other company can make that statement."
CMI hopes to drive sales and profits for retailers as its suite of brands continue to gain momentum in the U.S. and abroad.
To follow the progress of rising apple varieties and the continued expansion market-wide into organic offerings, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SANTA PAULA, CA - Limoneria recently announced that the company’s Chief Executive Officer Harold Edwards and Chief Financial Officer Mark Palamountain will present at the 30th Annual ROTH Conference.
The two execs for the world-renowned leader in agribusiness—which has prime agricultural land and operations, as well as real estate and water rights in California, Arizona, and Chile—will be attending The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, California-based conference, held March 11-13, 2018.
The company’s investor presentation will take place Monday, March 12, at 1 p.m. PT., and it will be webcast live, as well as archived on the company’s website: www.limoneira.com. Once visitors have made their way onto the company’s website, they can find the presentation under the “Investor” tab, and then they must go to the “Events & Presentations,” the company explained in a press release.
For more details on industry events like the this 30th annual ROTH Conference, keep checking back with us at AndNowUKnow!
MONTEREY, CA – Agriculture industry consultant Measure to Improve is teaming up with Greener Fields Together (GFT) to launch a new sustainability program to reduce waste across the supply chain. Ten of PRO*ACT’s top suppliers have already signed the Waste Reduction Pledge to help reduce waste sent to landfills from their facilities.
“Based on our experience helping the Ag companies tackle their waste challenges, we see GFT’s new Waste Reduction Pledge program as a game changer,” said Nikki Rodoni, CEO and Founder of Measure to Improve. “Rather than dictating change, this unique collaboration will help identify solutions that are economically and environmentally beneficial across the supply chain.”
Instead of conducting surveys, Measure to Improve and GFT’s new approach will focus on diverting waste throughout the entire fresh produce supply chain. By starting with supplier participants and expanding to distributors, foodservice, and retail business, Greener Fields Together is able to target each component of the supply chain to offer practical tools and resources to divert waste.
“At Ippolito, we believe sustainability is not a destination, but an investment in our continuous improvement. It becomes a culture as opposed to words on paper,” said Dan Canales, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Processing at Ippolito Interntaional.
Participants will work together to make sustainability improvements, collaborate on the toughest waste problems in the industry, and ultimately work toward Zero Waste both within individual organizations and across the supply chain.
Participating organizations include the following:
- Church Brothers Farms
- Coastal Fresh Farms
- HMC Farms
- Ippolito International
- C. Watson Packing Co
- Mann Packing Co
- Mission Produce
- NewStar Fresh Foods
- Sunkist Growers
- Taylor Farms
“We are proud to work with our National Farm Partners that are leading the industry in incorporating sustainable practices into their operations, demonstrating a commitment to responsibly supplying their communities for generations to come,” Joe Cimino, Vice President of Procurement at PRO*ACT, said in a press release.
Reducing waste that ends up at landfills is not only good for companies, but also is important for communities. Currently, waste in the agriculture industry impacts food security, resource conservation, and landfill methane emissions, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that less than 35 percent of the 258 million tons of waste generated in the United States in 2014 was recycled or composted. Benefits of reducing waste across the supply chain include this list:
- Collectively solving some of the most challenging packaging issues
- Meeting buyers’ sustainability expectations
- Cost savings
- Supporting and extending food safety programs
- Engaging and educating employees
- Reducing environmental impacts
For more on initiatives and sustainable action taking place in the produce industry, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.