PAUL, MN – CMI Orchards’ Kanzi® apples are helping folks walk out of January feeling proud of their achieved New Year’s resolutions after sponsoring Matt Johnson at Red Bull Crashed Ice, a well-renowned intense action sports event, which is packed with adrenaline as those competitors race down an ice track at up to 50 mph and navigate jumps, drops, and steep banks. That sounds like one wild ride, but one that Kanzi apples wanted to bite into.
The branded apples partnered up with a Minneapolis-based retailer to offer shoppers the chance to win a VIP Red Bull Crashed Ice event experience in St. Paul, MN, which ran January 19th-20th. After aligning with the retailer for the promotion, the apples saw an increase in sales—1,471 percent increase in bulk sales, 875 percent increase and 299 percent increase in two-pound pouch bag sales in CMI’s Orchards’ Daisy Girl Organics™, respectively.
“Kanzi apples have always performed well in our stores, but the results from this promotion really blew us away,” said Vadnais Heights, Minnesota-based Paul Leslie, Manager of Produce, in a recent press release. “The energy in our stores was awesome. The efforts by our entire produce team not only created impressive displays for our customers, but those same displays drove huge sales.”
The promotion has helped CMI’s branded apples to segue into the market with ease and a punch of fun that is only matched by its punch of flavor.
“Kanzi is officially on the map here in Minnesota,” said Minnesota-based produce supplier Paul Lerom, Buyer for H. Brooks & Company. “Minneapolis has for many years been the top Braeburn market in the United States. We think the Twin Cities have discovered a new favorite apple.”
Kanzi seems to be involving the flavor varieties that are boosting sales and exciting customers, with the help of promotions such as this one highlighting the accessibility of the branded apple.
“The cross of the sweetness of Gala and the tang of Braeburn gives Kanzi the perfect balance of sweet and tart,” said George Harter, Vice President of Marketing for CMI Orchards. “Allowing consumers to taste this great apple during in-store promotions, along with the absolutely phenomenal displays created by the highly creative produce managers, made this promotion a home run.”
Matt Johnson, a Kanzi-sponsored athlete from the event, will be adorned in his Kanzi jersey at Red Bull Crashed Ice events through the 2017/2018 World Championships, which concludes March 9th and 10th in Edmonton, Canada. He jumped at the opportunity to discuss the promotion.
“I’ve always been a Honeycrisp fan. I mean, the apple was born here in Minnesota, just like me. The moment I tried Kanzi I knew I had a new favorite,” Johnson explained. “I’ve had so many of my fellow athletes compliment me on my jersey and having Kanzi in our prep room, available to all of the athletes in St. Paul, was so cool.”
Educating and celebrating unique traits that this branded apple has to offer, like two and five-box shipper displays and retail point-of-sale materials, Kanzi’s program looks to catch every eye perusing the produce aisles.
“We have the tools to help retailers get the word out that Kanzi apples are something special,” Harter added. “One of Europe’s favorite apples, the popularity of Kanzi is exploding in the U.S. Retailers can work with us to build promotions that capture Kanzi sales.”
How will this promotion trickle into sales development throughout the year? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you up-to-date with the latest fresh produce industry trends!
GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - If you aren’t yet a vendor for Dollar General, the retailer is currently paging companies and manufacturers with exciting new products. Encouraging new suppliers and those who have not sold products to the company within the past 18 months, Dollar General is inviting applicants to attend its inaugural Innovation and Supplier Diversity Summit in April of 2018.
"As part of Dollar General's continual commitment to provide quality products at everyday low prices to our diverse consumer base, we are thrilled to announce our first Innovation and Supplier Diversity Summit scheduled for this spring," said Jason Reiser, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. "Having the right products to best meet our customers' needs is a foundational cornerstone at Dollar General. As such, we look forward to meeting with potential new vendors, learning about relevant products for our customers, and expanding the number of unique and specialized offerings available in our stores."
According to a press release, suppliers must sell items in at least one of the following categories to be eligible to attend:
- Grocery
- Beauty, Personal Care and Over-the-Counter/Wellness
- General Merchandise/All Non-Food
Dollar General is currently listed #128 on the Fortune 500 list and posted $22 billion in sales for fiscal year 2016. This event aims to pair its respective buyers and category managers with potential new vendors.
Selected companies will be subject to a $500 participation fee and notified via email by Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) of the time, date, and location of their meeting with a member of the Dollar General merchandising team.
Interested suppliers, companies, and manufacturers may submit product information at www.rangeme.com/dollargeneral from tomorrow, January 30 through end of day Tuesday, February 20, 2018, to apply.
ATLANTA, GA - The produce industry dream team of Grimmway Farms and CHEP is showing no signs of stopping—coming together once again at last week's inaugural Global Organic Produce Exposition & Conference (GOPEX) to show attendees how the duo works together to improve sustainable practices and increase operations efficiency. With CHEP and Grimmway having together transitioned from white wood pallets to pooled pallets, the team reported both economic and environmental benefits.
“Grimmway Farms is always looking for sustainable options that improve operations,” shared Jason Higbee, Director of Materials Management for Grimmway Farms. “CHEP understands the fresh produce industry and the need to keep our supply chain moving as efficiently as possible so we can meet customer expectations, while also cutting costs and carbon.”
According to a press release, the sustainability savings Grimmway has realized since shifting 2.9 million pallets to CHEP’s circular model in 2009 include:
- Elimination of more than 1.63 million pounds of solid waste
- Reduction of more than 1.23 million pounds of CO2e (the equivalent of eliminating 1.4 million miles driven by an average passenger vehicle in one year)
Now, continuing to build on the success both companies have found in their partnership, Grimmway Farms recently brought CHEP into its Cal-Organic Farms facilities to help develop process improvements for goals such as reducing pallet damage, cutting costs, and further improving sustainability. Suggested changes were identified by the CHEP Supply Chain Solutions team, tested at the CHEP Innovation Center, and include adjustments in pallet handling and sorting. As CHEP explained in the release, reducing pallet damage and properly sorting pallets help to benefit sustainability in the following ways:
- Reduction of natural resources (timber) needed in the first place
- Less wood waste going to the landfill, reducing costs and carbon
- Fewer returned pallets, reducing the frequency of trips and related costs and carbon
“CHEP created one of the world’s most sustainable logistics businesses through the share and reuse of our products,” says Laura Nador, President, CHEP North America. “Our work protects forests and reduces landfill. By collaborating with Grimmway Farms, we can do even more to solve shared challenges—from taking out transport miles to fighting food waste. There’s no end to what we can achieve together.”
CHEP’s Supply Chain Solutions leverage the company’s end-to-end supply chain expertise with the goal of helping customers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase sales. CHEP Solutions include Transportation Optimization, Unit Load Optimization, Product Damage Reduction, Packaging Performance Testing, Environmental Sustainability, and Customer Pallet Storage programs.
FOWLER, CA – Bee Sweet Citrus is primed to help consumers celebrate this season, with a strong supply of lemons—ideal for driving produce department sales as shoppers entertain family and friends.
“Lemons are a must-have for festive and seasonal celebrations,” said Director of Communications Monique Bienvenue, in a press release. “They are perfect for adding flavor to traditional Lenten meals and are a staple ingredient for Super Bowl party essentials, like guacamole and salsa.”
Beyond the staple citrus offering’s suitableness for festive dishes and beverages, lemons are an excellent source of antioxidants, and lemon juice can add flavor to numerous meals and can act as a substitute for sodium and salad dressings. And lemons are perennially popular in beverages, such as iced tea and water.
“With spring right around the corner, consumers are looking for healthy ways to add flavor to their meals,” continued Bienvenue. “Lemons are perfect for those looking for flavorful ways to boost their nutrition while indulging in seasonal dishes and snacks.”
Available year-round, Bee Sweet Cirtrus noted that lemons should be a staple in households everywhere. And the company noted, one medium-sized lemon contains about 20 calories and is an excellent source of pectin fiber and vitamin C.
For more on perennially popular fresh produce offerings, stick with AndNowUKnow.
BELGIUM – Today, Greenyard Foods announced that in an effort to expand and grow, Hein Deprez will take on the CEO position, and will jointly steer the company with current CFO Carl Peeters, who will soon take on the new COO position.
Greenyard also announced Marleen Vaesen, the current CEO, will leave the company in mutual consent on January 31, 2018. After becoming CEO in 2012, Vaesen successfully led the company’s merger in 2015 and was responsible for building its future, including aligning the three entities and bringing new people on board.
“I would like to thank Marleen for her valuable contribution by transforming Greenyard into today’s modern, strong company,” Hein Deprez said. “We wish her the very best in her future endeavors. After this initial transformation period following the merger, the announced management changes are a next step to further execute our strategy. By doing so, we will focus even more on our strategy and priorities to continue generating profitable growth and strengthening our global leadership position in fruit and vegetables.”
As he enters his new role, Hein Deprez will step down as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors but will remain a member of the Board of Greenyard. Koen Hoffman, a member of the Board since October 4, 2017, will take on the role of Chairman. Charles-Henri Deprez will resign from the Board to concentrate on his new role leading Long Fresh and will be replaced by Valentine Deprez, who will be co-opted as Board member with her nomination to be submitted for approval at the next AGM.
In a company press release, Greenyard also revealed it was time to bring the company to the next level and strengthen its organization at the business level. The company also stated Tim Van Londersele will lead all Fresh operations except the Greenyard Bakker operation, which will be managed by Irénke Meekma, with Stefaan Vandael continuing to lead the Horticulture segment. The company is currently looking for someone to takeover as CFO.
For more news like this, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest in our industry.
SEATTLE, WA — Amazon may have interrupted Kroger’s efforts to acquire Boxed.com according to the NY Post.
In the last two weeks, The Post’s sources reported that Kroger made an offer to acquire the meal kit company for between $300 million and $400 million, but Boxed rejected the offer just days before a scheduled visit to Amazon headquarters—possibly because the meal kit provider is holding out for a higher offer. A Forbes report published earlier this month noted that Boxed may be targeting a $500 million mark after receiving a $470 million valuation last year.
Amazon invited Boxed’s CEO Chieh Huang to meet at with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to discuss a possible acquisition sources with knowledge of the trip and discussion informed The Post. The meeting was reportedly to take place on Wednesday, January 24th, at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters.
The Post speculated that a partnership between Boxed and Kroger would aid Kroger as it attempts to bolster its online presence and offset the impact of Amazon’s partnership with Whole Foods.
Although Kroger has also been in talks with Alibaba, as we previously reported, this strategic move on Amazon's part could put Kroger and other brick-and-mortar stores looking to expand into e-commerce at a disadvantage. If Amazon acquires Boxed, The Post speculated, the acquisition could threaten Costco’s customer base. Boxed, like Costco, specializes in bulk sales. With Amazon’s backing, Boxed could further push the e-commerce trend, having gained foothold in every aspect of the grocery market—from health-conscious Whole Foods to convenience-oriented Boxed.
For updates as the occur, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
WENATCHEE, WA – Stemilt Growers is giving organic shoppers cause to rejoice this year. The company has announced plans to expand its Apple Lover 5lb. pouch bag program by adding multiple Artisan Organics™ apple varieties at the end of January.
“The Apple Lover pack increases the shopper’s purchase size, so we see a rise in volume, which leads to increased sales for the retailer,” said Roger Pepperl, Marketing Director, in a company press release. “We expect to see a considerable amount of success with the Artisan Organics Apple Lover pack due to the convenience of the bag and the overall increase of the organic category.”
The company also noted that Pepperl believes that organic varieties available will engage well with organic shoppers who consume large amounts of apples each week, as the entirety of the organic category continues to expand. Stemilt’s popular Apple Lover program was launched in 2016, and the company noted, the program has since captured the attention of the biggest apple shoppers in stores helping retailers to boost volume sales of apples.
The Artisan Organics Apple Lover 5lb. bag will feature four popular organic varieties including: Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious.
“These varieties will bode well with organic apple shoppers as they are long-lasting varieties, that are popular among every age group,” noted Pepperl. “The bag is brightly colored so it really pops in the refrigerator, encouraging kids and adults alike to grab an apple—resulting in quicker consumption.”
According to Stemilt, the Artisan Organics Apple Lover pack design and packaging was created in-house by the company’s marketing team. The pouch bag was designed to appeal to shoppers with its grab-and-go convenience, and each pack also has the ability to stand up, making it easier for the consumer to store in their refrigerator and for retailers to create unique displays to show off the fruit.
“The capabilities that these Artisan Organics Apple Lover 5lb. pouch bags have allows retailers to really get creative about how to display the fruit,” added Pepperl. “The DRC’s match the bright and colorful personality of the bag and are essentially like building blocks, so you can make prominent displays to catch the eye of the consumer. Plus, the vibrant color of the Granny Smith variety will really pop against the red varieties, allowing for some fun color blocks.”
Stemilt Growers has been growing organics since 1989, when Founder Tom Mathison transitioned a large amount of acreage from conventional to organic. Today, Tate Mathison, Tom’s grandson and Director of Sales at Stemilt, is focused on ensuring that Stemilt’s Artisan Organics program is consumer-driven.
“Today, Stemilt focuses on its Artisan Organics apple program on growing modern varieties that shoppers want,” said Mathison. “Pouch bags are extremely user-friendly, while organic is a top choice among fresh produce consumers, making the combination of the two very profitable among retailers.”
Pepperl, who foresees continuous increases in the organic category after Stemilt’s organic apple volumes increased by more than 50 percent year-over-year, added, “Our Artisan Organics program is only getting larger. We are excited to watch the expansion of organics and continue to provide consumers with the flavors they want through the Artisan Organics programs.”
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics Apple Lover packs will be available until early summer. For more fresh produce news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
RIO RICO, AZ – The folks over at SunFed are excited to bring a new face to the team; Laura Reyes has been hired as the company’s new Director of Food Safety. In light of the newly-implemented Food & Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Reyes will assist in adhering to the Act’s guidelines.
“As the landscape in which we operate continues to change, we too must change along with it,” said Matt Mandel, Vice President of Operations, in a recent press release. “In order to ensure that SunFed is positioned as the leader in not only quality, but also food safety, I am proud to announce the addition of Laura to our team. While the responsibility of food safety has always lived within SunFed’s DNA, our continual growth and expansion necessitated that the roles and responsibilities be concentrated into a single, highly-qualified and capable individual.”
Laura’s experience includes her recent role at PrimusLabs, and her expertise boasts of food safety science training and up-to-date knowledge on upcoming auditing schemes. From regulations and compliance knowledge to on-the-job daily implementation of these requirements, Reyes’s experience is expansive and makes her a great asset for SunFed’s food safety culture, which establishes vigilance and compliance at every corner.
“Laura brings a wealth of experience including technical expertise in food safety and post-harvest practices. While SunFed has always held itself to an incredibly high standard, as we continue to grow, Laura will be able to help us guide the ship with a broader perspective of the landscape and allow us to be more pro-active to changes in food safety laws and regulations,” Matt continued.
In her role, Reyes will work with SunFed’s territory managers in Mexico, monitoring the supply chain for compliance best practices in its entirety and looking for ways to improve when possible. She will also train and aid food safety specialists at the company’s growing/packing locations, as well as ensure auditing operations are completed on-time to keep valid certifications at all times.
From all of us at AndNowUKnow, congratulations, Laura and the SunFed team! We wish you every success moving forward with this exciting new addition to the company!
PALMETTO, FL – Though winter tomato markets have experienced some volatility over the last few months, our industry is resilient, and Sunripe Certified Brands has weathered the storm with aplomb. The company’s winter tomato crop is in full swing, with excellent quality and promotable pricing.
“We’re now into full production of our winter crops,” Chief Executive Officer Jon Esformes told me. “We’re in our normal cycle. Quality is outstanding. Mother Nature blesses Florida with beautiful growing conditions. We have the occasional threat of cold weather as it skirts along the Georgia-Florida border. We had a couple cold fronts that came down, but it was more conversational than it was an actual event for us. Strawberries in the Wimauma and Plant City area were effected, but as far as tomatoes go, harvest is now in southwest Florida and there have been no ill effects.”
Sunripe is currently offering promotable prices out of both Florida and Mexico on a number of popular tomato varieties.
“We always have our round tomatoes—mature green round tomatoes and vine-ripe round tomatoes coming out of Florida. We’re in full production on our Sunripe Certified grape tomatoes coming out of Florida,” Jon said. “I think what we’re most excited about this year is our second full year of production on our proprietary Bella Roma brand Roma tomato. It’s met the market where it’s at. So far our varieties have exceeded our own expectations and the expectations of our customers.”
Jon tells me the company anticipates bloom drops to occur in the next month or so as a result of inclement weather, but Sunripe expects only brief hitches in the company’s schedule.
“Based on our assessment of the damage that took place, we’re looking at a week to ten days, twice in the next forty days,” Jon explained. “There will be one week periods where we’ll have a thirty percent drop in production, but then we’ll pick right back up again.”
A less passing concern, though, may be shipping and transportation costs—costs that skyrocketed this December. Jon noted that turbulent weather and shipping costs this holiday season brought a problem that has been steadily building over several years to the forefront of our industry.
“With all the weather challenges this winter, what really took the industry by surprise—with the depth of its impact—was the trucking and transportation situation. The challenges that had been building quietly over the last several years hit us full-force in December,” Jon said. “Quite frankly, we have been very blessed in North America to have as efficient a delivery system, from one end of the country to the other, as there is in the world. It’s something I think an awful lot of folks have taken for granted, and frankly, the infrastructure has been degraded to a state where we’re at a critical point. It’s not even a matter of how much you will pay for freight, in some cases; it’s a matter of whether a truck is even available.”
Jon continued, “The demand for trucks is tremendous. There’s a shortage of drivers, a shortage of trucks. Rail is one alternative, but it can’t pick up the slack, and I see it as a going concern and issue for a lot of industries. We operate on such slim margins, and when we have a critical component of the cost jumping massively—sometimes two to three times what the cost was two months ago—it really shakes things up. It’s going to put farms in a very difficult position; it’s going to put retailers in a difficult position; everyone throughout the chain is really going to be challenged by this. There may be no more critical issue facing us right now, in agriculture, than the transportation issue.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates on seasonality and important issues in our industry.
ORLANDO, FL – This week, Darden Restaurants announced Dave George will be taking on a new position with the company. Appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), George will continue to oversee Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, and International Franchising, while also adding Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen to his leadership portfolio.
"Dave is a seasoned and trusted leader who consistently delivers strong results. As we continue to simplify our operations across all brands, he is uniquely qualified to drive strategic prioritization and accountability, with a laser-focus on operational excellence," said Gene Lee, President and CEO, in a company press release.
With over twenty years of experience in managerial roles, George first began his career at The Capital Grille in 2000 and LongHorn Steakhouse in 2001, where he served as Senior Vice President before becoming President. In 2007, he joined Darden as President of LongHorn Steakhouse, and later in 2013 he was appointed President of Olive Garden, before being appointed Executive Vice President of Darden in 2016.
Darden Restaurants also announced that Dan Kiernan was named President of Olive Garden, effective immediately.
"Dan is a great restaurant operator. His ability to make the complex simple, motivate more than 90,000 team members and lead teams dedicated to delivering memorable guest experiences makes him the perfect leader for Olive Garden," said George.
Kiernan joined Olive Garden as a Manager-in-Training in 1992 and worked his way through the operations system, moving from General Manager to Director of Operations to Senior Vice President, Operations. He was named Executive Vice President, Operations in 2011, playing an integral role in Olive Garden's transformation of memorable guest experiences.
"I am excited that Dave has accepted this new challenge that will broaden his influence across the organization and ensure a smooth and effective transition at Olive Garden. I am confident that under Dave and Dan's leadership, Olive Garden will continue to deliver outstanding food and service to our guests," Lee said.
Congratulations to Dave George and Dan Kiernan on their new positions! For more on the latest industry news, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.