NEW YORK, NY - The cultural avocado invasion has now reached the depths of Shark Tank, with ABC’s high profile investors going gaga over ANUK article regular Avocaderia. Alessandro Biggi, the Modena, Italy-native and Owner of Avocaderia took to the tank in an episode of the hit show that aired earlier this week.
As we’ve previously reported, the Brooklyn-based, millennial-pandering eatery tackles such well-loved chartreuse dishes as guacamole and avocado toast, to more globally-inspired dishes such as shichimi from Japan and duqqa from Egypt. According to Eater, Biggi was able to show the Sharks earnings of $75,000 in just January alone, and estimates of $4.3 million in earnings for next year. And now, with ambitions to expand Avocaderia into 20 locations in the New York area and locales beyond, the avocado mogul shot for the fences with an offer of 10 percent equity in his company for the low-low price of $300,000—with a snack of Mediterranean avocado toast to sweeten the pot.
How did that go over with the notoriously difficult-to-please cast?
As a testament to the power of the avocado, Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban teamed up to give Biggi a pretty delicious counter-offer, according to The New York Post, and after just a little haggling, the new business partners settled on a $300,000 for 25 percent of the business.
Now that’s something to dip your chip into.
ST. LOUIS, MO - In an attempt to survey its properties from sea to shining sea, Aldi is moving forward with renovation plans on dozens of St. Louis-based stores as it scouts out new locations to settle on within the region. This is just part of the company’s $1.6 billion master plan to renovate hundreds of stores in the U.S., and $49 million of this overhaul is going toward 37 stores in the St. Louis area.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aldi’s University City store, sitting at 7701 Olive Boulevard, will reopen on February 12th after major renovations have been completed since its closing last year. Further, the O’Fallon, Missouri, store, which can be found at 8615 Veterans Memorial Parkway, is moving into renovation-mode soon, with a March 16th reopening date. On top of these two stores, two Florissant-based stores, located at 2505 North Highway 67 and 11296 Florissant Avenue, are also set to get a redesign later this spring.
Dazzling consumers with a more modern design, natural lighting, and eco-friendly materials, the remodels are expected to be finished by 2020.
“We know there’s only one way to attract and keep fans: continually providing the highest-quality products, while staying true to what our competitors can’t match—everyday low prices,” said Rob Jeffries, an Aldi Division Vice President, in a statement.
While these stores get their facelift, Aldi is stepping into new locations across the market—including 1125 South Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, a space where Petco currently resides, according to Kirkwood City Planner Jonathan Raiche. In addition to Kirkwood, St. Peters has been scouted by the retailer for possible locations, according to City Administrator Russ Batzel.
With all of the excitement swirling around expansion opportunities, Aldi has yet to comment on new locations. However, the retailer stated its plans to hold almost 2,000 U.S.-based locations by the end of the year; it currently has 1,600 up and running.
While Schnucks had the largest stake in St. Louis-area market share, with 29.2 percent, Aldi’s expansions have increased its market share from 2016’s 2.7 percent to the start of 2018’s 5.3 percent, according to the retail industry-monitoring firm F&D Reports.
How will these mass expansion plans push the industry’s evolution moving into 2018 and beyond? Will we see more international chains sprout up throughout the nation? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you informed with the latest developments in fresh produce industry news.
CHICAGO, IL – Hazel Technologies, Inc. has successfully completed research trials with Cornell University to validate a new post-harvest technology, which expands the shelf life of the delicate fruit by three-times. Hazel Technologies, Inc. will make the Hazel® Pear technology available to growers and packers during the 2018 pear season.
“Growers and packers want to see third-party data on new products from trusted academic institutions,” said Adam Preslar, COO and Co-Founder of Hazel Technologies. “The project with Cornell University, an institution highly-respected by the pome fruit industry, has already caught the attention of some of the largest pear brands in the industry.”
The fragility of pears has consistently posed a problem for growers in the past, when overripe, pears become particularly vulnerable to shrinkage. This adaption, which researchers tested in an environment analogous to the retail marketplace, will curve the impact of the fruit's delicacy.
Dr. Christopher Watkins, a post-harvest tree fruit specialist, lead the study through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. In the study, Watkins and his team found that treated pears have 95 percent internal color retention following three weeks of treatment.
Read details of the trial here and to stay in the know on all produce innovations, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Hortau, which provides precision irrigation management systems and agriculture services, and Agrian Inc. have joined forces to offer extensive precision irrigation service for commercial agriculture.
“With the partnership, Agrian will be able to offer additional services in precision irrigation to their partners, giving them the ability to provide a complete service as the growers’ trusted advisor,” said Hortau’s Vice President of Business Development, Trevor Mechan, in a recent press release.
Agrian’s roots reach back to 2004 in Fresno, California, when the company used a cloud-based record-keeping system to inform those residing in the Western U.S. of regulatory requirements. From there, the company stepped into digital capabilities, consisting of a platform approach to assist agronomists, growers, and food processors as they work together within a singular system to achieve many undertakings. These tasks included food company reporting, crop planning, scouting, imagery, soil and tissue sampling, logging and transferring wireless data, and managing nutrients to record crops in every market, such as specialty fruit crops, cereal grains, and oil seeds.
“Hortau’s technology complements our platform in that it will help our customers meet compliance and regulatory needs in the irrigation space,” said Agrian CEO Nishan Majarian. “By better monitoring irrigation management, it will help the industry streamline water and energy savings while increasing productivity.”
During 2018’s season, Agrian dealers will offer Hortau’s services in the Western U.S.
“We’re excited about this partnership because it continues to solidify our service, being offered through trusted advisors in the field,” said Hortau CEO Jocelyn Boudreau. “In commercial agriculture, it’s important to not only provide real-time data growers can use to make informed decision, but provide that data in an easy-to-use platform.”
In 2002, Hortau began its endeavors to manage crop stress, reporting how crops are doing to growers in real time. This coverage is sent to growers before stressors like drought and lack of aeration have the opportunity to negatively impact crops. Making sure that crops reach their optimal growth potential, lowering water and energy usage, and reducing environmental impacts like leaching, the plant-centric and proprietary approach processes crop stress using soil tension. Hortau claimed a spot on the 2017 Global Cleantech 100 Ones to Watch list, took home the 2017 North American Smart Irrigation New Product Innovation Award, made to the final round for the 2017 CognitionX Best AI Product in Agriculture award, and named to the THRIVE AgTech Top 50 Growth companies list.
To further embed itself in the industry, Hortau is sending its Director of Grower Support, Ben Smith, to the Tulare, California-based World Ag Expo, where he will deliver a seminar on irrigation on February 15th at 1 p.m. at the Seminar Center in Trailer One. Smith’s seminar, “Advantages of Real-Time Soil Tension Data for Irrigation Management,” will dive into real-time soil tension and weather data. The information Smith shares in this seminar will aid growers in the optimization of production and crop health when withstanding agricultural challenges. Further, Smith’s seminar will discuss soil tension and its direct correlation to crop health, as well as data detailing soil profiles to help growers better grapple with water movement, wetting patterns, and water uptake from the crop.
Working with his crew Grower Support Specialists and growers hailing from the Central Valley, Smith has created irrigation management plans that reflect soil tension monitoring with the assistance of Hortau’s real-time precision irrigation management system.
This is a great opportunity for those looking to get a better grip on managing crop health. Hortau’s booth, located at K-46, will be offering demonstrations, giveaways, and happy hours throughout the week of the show.
Wanting more details on agriculture and industry happenings? Stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
GREENSBORO, NC – While many on the retail side of our industry are kicking it up a notch for the New Year with new partnerships, technology, and more in the works, The Fresh Market has implemented a different strategy for 2018–one that focuses the company’s efforts inward instead of outward. According to a Triad Business Journal report, the retailer’s Senior Vice President Scott Duggan confirmed that The Fresh Market has halted all expansion plans in 2018 and will instead work on improving its current stores and team.
“The Fresh Market is proud to be a member of the communities, which our 176 stores serve. At present, the company believes the most efficient growth vehicle is to focus on improving core operations within its existing footprint, so it has decided not to open any previously announced new stores for 2018,” Duggan said in an email sent to the Triad Business Journal.
In 2016, The Fresh Market was purchased by Apollo Global Management, with Larry Appel taking over as CEO in late 2017. This news followed a total of twenty-three store closures across New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas in 2016 and 2017.
Despite the closures over the past two years, Fresh Market currently has 12 stores in development—four under construction, five planned with signed leases with developers, and three proposed stores in pre-development. However, the change of plans has only affected one store that was under construction and set to open this year in Florida so far.
“The company does not plan to comment on individual properties or leases at this time. Our focus remains on strengthening and growing our in-store operations, guest service program, merchandizing selections, future offerings, and, of course, our team members, as well as planning and executing new store openings after 2018,” Duggan continued.
Will The Fresh Market’s new strategy strengthen its footing on the retail field? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with the latest.
UNITED KINGDOM – One of Britain’s biggest supermarket chains is reportedly working in secrecy to develop a new retail strategy and a new discount format designed to take on discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl. According to a report from The Guardian, Tesco is working to create a new brand that specifically targets discount shoppers in an effort to retain customers as Aldi and Lidl expand across the U.K.
The new chain will reportedly offer a far more limited range of products than the traditional Tesco store—stocking something like 3,000 offerings compared to a Tesco Extra’s 25,000 items.
According to the Guardian, Tesco has hired key advisors from Boston Consulting Group to help strategize, and the retailer has also reportedly asked a number of private-label suppliers to sign non-disclosure agreements in relationship to the new project.
This latest development follows regulatory approval of Tesco’s proposed $4.95 billion acquisition of Booker late last year. The acquisition is expected to close during the first half of 2018, and will give Tesco further penetration into food distribution and catering markets.
Will Tesco’s new plans pay dividends and help the retailer compete with Lidl and Aldi—two retailers encroaching on more and more British grocery market share? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
CHILE - Karen Brux stands in a blueberry orchard in the south of Chile holding a cluster of plump blueberries in one hand. She flashes a bright smile. Behind her, rows of blueberry bushes stand firm in the still, warm air.
"My name is Karen Brux and I work with the Chilean Blueberry Committee," she begins. "Today I am standing in this beautiful blueberry orchard in Valdivia in the south of Chile."
She smiles and raises her hand, palm up, in an extended gesture of delight.
"And guess what? It's time for blueberries," Karen exclaims.
She plucks some berries off the bush and pops them into her mouth. Raising her hand in excitement, she declares, "Three at a time!"
"Mm," she finishes, "crunchy, juicy, full of flavor and antioxidants: blueberries from Chile."
"This season, the Chilean Blueberry Committee has estimated total global exports of Chilean Blueberries at 101,700 tons. The North American market receives more than 60% of the total," Karen says. "The North American market is in the peak period of supply for Chilean Blueberries. The Chilean Blueberry Committee partners with U.S. Marketing Services, who monitors blueberry displays in 21 supermarkets in 9 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Chile currently commands dominant market share for blueberries. During Week 5, Chilean blueberries were available in 18 of the 21 retailers we monitor, with small volumes of Peruvian and Mexican blueberries seen in the marketplace."
Blueberries are in strong demand throughout the year, states Karen. After the domestic blueberry season wraps up, there's always great anticipation for the start of Southern Hemisphere supply. When Chilean blueberry volumes start to ramp up in December, retailers are ready to promote. Big promotions launched in late December and will continue through February.
"Roughly 75% of the blueberries exported from Chile during Week 5 were of the Brightwell, Legacy or Brigitta varieties," Karen continues. "The remaining 25% of volume was composed of 33 varieties, as the Chilean blueberry industry not only strengthens its focus on the best varieties, but also engages in new variety development to strengthen its offering to the global market.
As the waves of blueberries roll in from the Southern Hemisphere, bringing with them the taste and feel of summer, the Chilean Blueberry Committee will continue to work with retailers to develop social, in-store/POS campaigns and other programs to engage shoppers. To follow the blueberry through its seasonal peaks, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
BENTONVILLE, AR – The battle for the best of buy-side rages on, and the fields are both brick and mortar and digital. Amongst the slew of traditional and e-commerce retailers teaming up for the best offerings to consumers, Walmart is said to be in talks with rising e-commerce operator Flipkart Online Services to invest “several billion dollars.”
A person close to the matter, who wished to remain anonymous, stated the retail giant could be in for as much as 20 percent of the India-based company, according to a Fortune report. The deal could mean boosting Flipkart’s valuation as high as $20 billion, up $8 billion from where Fortune said it had been according to researcher CB Insights.
What could this mean for the broader buy-side market?
“Walmart will make Flipkart a stronger rival to Amazon,” said Arvind Singhal, Chairman of the New Delhi-based retail consultancy Technopak Advisors. “Strategically, combining forces makes sense for both.”
Though both Flipkart and Walmart did not respond to the news source’s request for comment, the talks are reportedly in the advanced stages.
“Walmart doesn’t have much of a choice in India,” said Singhal. “They either have to go it alone or partner with someone else as Indian e-commerce has the potential to become really big.”
A key move to make, with projected growth for the country’s market raising the attention of forward thinkers like Amazon’s Founder, Jeff Bezos, who Fortune noted has vowed to spend $5 billion to gain ground in India’s online market.
Amazon itself recently met with the leader of Boxed.com to discuss an acquisition, while Kroger was discussing possible partnerships with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. Walmart itself, just announced a partnership with Japan's Rakuten Inc. as well. As retailers continue to lineup their chess pieces, AndNowUKnow will report the latest.
VINELAND, NJ - Low and behold—the vision of Catania Worldwide CEO and 3rd generation leader Paul Catania Jr. has come to life in the form of a new 40,000-square-foot facility in Vineland, New Jersey. This state-of-the art and multifunctional cooling, packing, storage, and distribution facility will give Catania Worldwide the ability to boost its presence and capabilities across the United State’s Eastern Seaboard, as well as build on the success the company has already seen at its M.L. Catania and Stellar Distribution facilities in Mississauga, ON, and Madera, CA, respectively. The facility officially became fully operational February 5, 2018.
“When Catania first found the facility, it was completely empty. There were no coolers or machines and no set up. It was a blank canvas on which my vision came to life,” shares Paul as we discuss the new facility. “I have been doing this for almost 40 years. I’ve worked on the line, I’ve worked in the fields—produce is what I grew up with and produce is all I’ve known. From the inspection, receiving and shipping, coolers, and storage, to the placement of the bagging machine, the facility was designed very carefully to allow efficiency and quality in all services we provide.”
Under the leadership of General Manager Dan Carapella, Catania Worldwide expects the New Jersey facility to become a fully independent facility under the Catania Worldwide umbrella that also builds upon both its presence in the region and its relationships with nearby customers. The company says that sales, storage, and production will all be major focuses on its New Jersey operations, as well as the scope to submerge itself in not only the wholesale market, but in the retail market as M.L. Catania and Stellar have done in Ontario and California.
With a 1,600 pallet, triple racked storage capacity in four different coolers, Catania is answering the region’s demand for storage in full force. The facility will house four separate coolers, in which the company can store different products under different temperatures, making it ideal to service many of different types of customers and commodities through customer specific storage.
Catania also now has the space to package and distribute imported fruit, as well as its fruit from at Catania ranches, such as California figs, Mexican figs, Mexican limes, California persimmons, and California kiwi. Packaging options are fully customizable in any pack style and size specific to the customer’s needs.
In addition to its strategic value to the region, the Vineland facility will also come equipped with the following key features, Dan says:
- Repacking options for grade and condition
- Restyle for various consumer packs, including trays, clamshells, bags
- Bagging machine for various fruits and weights.
- QC inspection services
- Storage
With full control over the commodities it services, from the soil the fruit is being planted in till its delivered to the customers table, stay tuned for the same high-quality produce the industry has come to expect from Catania, and much, much more.
VEVEY, SWITZERLAND – On Friday, Nestlé announced that it purchased a majority stake in the natural and organic plant foods company Terrafertil. Terrafertil is an Ecuadorian company, founded in 2005, which has expanded through South America and Britain and into the United States. Terrafertil grows and produces goldenberries—a fruit packed with vitamin A, vitamin B, fiber, and iron.
According to Reuters, Nestlé has purchased this valuable stake in an attempt to sway the negative impact of the falling packaged food sector and to expand its profile in healthy foods.
Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé Zone Americas said, "We are excited to welcome Terrafertil and its employees to the Nestlé family. Its natural, organic, and healthy products fully support Nestlé’s purpose to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. This investment allows us to strengthen our presence in fast-growing categories such as plant-based foods, beverages, and healthy snacks, known as ‘superfoods’ due to their high natural nutrient content. Terrafertil will continue to be managed by its founders. It will operate as a stand-alone entity, to leverage its unique corporate culture including entrepreneurial spirit, agility and flexibility."
According to Reuters, Nestlé has not yet reported how much the purchase has set the company back, or exactly how large of a share the majority stake is. For reference, in earlier attempts to increase the brand’s healthy image, Nestlé spent $2.3 billion on Atribum Innovations, a Canadian vitamin maker, last December. In addition to those efforts, Nestlé announced deals with Sweet Earth vegetarian foods and Blue Bottle coffee this past September, as well as a deal for Chameleon Cold-Brew coffee last November.
"Nestlé brings several benefits and synergies. Beyond expanding our presence and distribution around the world, we will capitalize on its experience in areas such as Research and Development, marketing knowledge, and operational efficiencies," said the Bermeo brothers, Founding Partners of Terrafertil. "Above all, we share Nestlé's commitment to society, to the communities where it operates and the environment."
We will keep you in the loop if any more details concerning Nestlé’s acquisition of a majority stake in Terrafertil arise, and, until then, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.