GREENSBORO, NC – Fresh-focused specialty grocer The Fresh Market has announced a new addition to the company’s senior leadership team. Mary Kellmanson has joined The Fresh Market team, effective immediately, as the company’s new Chief Marketing Officer.
“The Fresh Market has long been recognized as a brand that offers high-quality, curated products and delicious fare,” said Kellmanson, in a company press release. “I look forward to building upon that reputation through new ideas and programs, and I welcome the opportunity to elevate awareness around the exceptional experience The Fresh Market offers for our guests.”
In her new role, Kellmanson will serve on the company’s senior leadership team and oversee all aspects of The Fresh Market’s marketing and brand strategy—as well as public relations and communications.
“With her impressive track record of successful innovation in driving corporate brand strategy, we are energized by the leadership Mary brings to our team,” said Larry Appel, President and CEO of The Fresh Market. “I am confident that her results-oriented approach and insight into food retailing will put her in a strong position to assess and optimize The Fresh Market’s programs.”
Kellmanson brings more than 20 years of experience in the grocery industry to her new role with The Fresh Market. Kellmanson began her career with Wegmans Food Markets where, as Vice President of Marketing and Advertising, she was responsible for branding, new store openings, market research, loyalty card, and online programs. She would go on, from there, to become SVP of Marketing at Winn-Dixie Stores and Bi-Lo Holdings.
In more recent roles, Kellmanson has served as Chief Marketing Officer for Skeeter Snacks, LLC—an emerging brand specializing in all-natural, healthy nut-free snacks—and SVP of Marketing at Web.com—a global online services provider for small businesses.
We at AndNowUKnow extend our congratulations to Mary on her appointment, and wish her and The Fresh Market the best going forward!
BRONX, NY - Baldor Specialty Foods is readying itself to launch even more products in its popular line of produce-centric kits. Set to debut early 2018, this expansion of the company’s Urban Roots Veggie Side Kits will feature new easy-to-prepare kit varieties designed to make at-home roasting easier than ever.
“With Baldor’s Urban Roots Veggie Side Kits, its like having a skilled sous-chef joining you in your kitchen but you get to take all the credit,” says Senior Director of Marketing & Development, Benjamin Walker. “All the work is done for you, and now with our expanded line of vegetable roasting kits, customers have even more choices in fast prep, quick cooking, and restaurant-quality side dishes without the hassles that come with mail-order subscription services.”
Taking just minutes to assemble and then 30 minutes of roasting in a single pan, the new kits will encompass the following varieties:
- Spanish Style Potatoes
- Caramelized Cauliflower
- Broccoli Cheddar Bites
- Sugar & Spice Butternut
- Spiced Sweet Potatoes
- Hot Honey Carrot Fries
“Now retailers can bring Baldor’s industry-wide reputation for quality to their grocery shelves,” Michael Muzyk, the company’s President added.
According to a press release, Baldor’s Urban Roots kits are made from scratch daily, and feature the same high-quality produce and specialty ingredients that the company has made itself know for. Baldor’s touts that its logistical expertise allows for quick turnaround, allowing for the product’s trip from knife to shelf to be complete in less than 24 hours. The company also notes that no subscriptions or commitments are necessary, unlike other meal kits available on the market, and that these kits can be conveniently found in any consumer’s local produce department.
Want to see what other produce-forward selections Baldor is offering in its Urban Roots Veggie Side Kits line? Visit http://www.eaturbanroots.com, and check in with the company on Instagram at @meeturbanroots.
SALINAS, CA - With berry demand continuing on its upward trajectory, Naturipe Farms has been experiencing sweet success with a portfolio that encompasses strawberries and blueberries, as well as blackberries and raspberries. As a company always evolving, the team at Naturipe has expanded its focus in 2017 to include another popular category and bring even more value to its industry partners: the awesome avocado.
Here to share the latest and greatest on the new Naturipe avocado venture is Joe Dugo, National Sales Director for Naturipe Avocado Farms, who walks us through the program’s highlights.
“This is an exciting time for us at Naturipe. We now offer a year-round supply on avocados to our customers from all of our growing and packing regions,” Joe shares, adding that in its present growing region in Mexico, the program is experiencing very good quality as is normal with the temporal crop. “We expect to see a small drop off in volumes in the second part of December, but volumes will ramp up in anticipation of strong demand in January in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.”
The company has avocado growing and packing operations in Mexico, Peru, and Chile with North American operation centers set up in Texas, California, and the North East with bagged and preconditioned capabilities in all locations.
Naturipe currently has a balanced mix of retail, foodservice, and wholesale business because as growers, Joe adds, the company understands it needs to focus on selling the entire crop, which allows for a diverse portfolio of customers.
“We offer customers multiple packing options such as bagged, single layer, RPC, club pack, and foodservice packs,” Joe says. “We are working with customers with a focus on dry matter and pressures to ensure that we are delivering the optimal eating quality to their consumers. This will, in turn, lead to increased sales for our customers and increased consumer satisfaction.”
So, where did the new venture take root? The Naturipe avocado program was the result of carefully invested time and was several years in the making. It started with two of the company’s berry growers in Peru and Chile. These growers, in addition to growing berries for Naturipe, had also been growing avocados for more than 10 years. They bonded together, along with a Mexican partner, to form Naturipe Avocado Farms. This gives Naturipe a strong presence in two of the fastest growing categories in produce: berries and avocados.
“We are growers first. Our product comes from our own groves, packed in our own packing houses,” Joe tells me. “We can offer year-round, stable programs in what is typically a very unstable environment, because we own the production. We are able to provide the close attention to detail that our customers deserve with the strong consumer and industry brand of Naturipe. We have a lot of synergies with our berry division so we are able to combine operations in several locations, giving customers a one-stop-shop solution for avocados and berries.”
And from what I can see, Naturipe has no plans of slowing its growth making for a very fruitful 2018 path ahead.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Pantone, a global authority on color, sees a purple future for 2018. Ultra Violet has been named the color to tout for the coming year, and as reigning proprietor of all things purple in produce, Frieda’s Specialty is celebrating.
“The description of Ultra Violet hits home with us because purple has been our color from the very beginning,” said Alex Jackson Berkley about the announcement. “My grandmother, Frieda Rapoport Caplan, opened the business with a purple sign in 1962. She was the first woman to own a produce business and purple became a symbolic color for the company’s passion and innovation.”
Pantone chooses a color that symbolizes design trends and the cultural mood each year, and stated on its website, “Inventive and imaginative, Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come.”
The selection also comes out hot on the heels of Frieda’s recent report naming colorful produce, including purple.
“The popularity of purple produce shows no sign of slowing as more shoppers are discovering the nutritional values of purple produce and the photo-friendly color it adds to their plates,” said Berkley. “With Pantone’s latest news, we are already creating some new promotions and programs to increase the customer experience in store. Stay tuned for our announcements in the near future.”
The produce specialty team of purple experts is ready to help produce merchandisers bring #PurplePowerToThePeople, according to a press release, by creating bountiful purple displays showcasing purple cauliflower, asparagus, baby potatoes, kohlrabi, and bay carrots, along with passion fruit, eggplant, radicchio, Treviso, and shoppers’ favorite Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes. To connect, visit the Frieda’s website here.
CALIFORNIA - Like many of you in the produce industry, AndNowUKnow has had our hearts and minds on those that have been affected by a series of wildfires that have been tearing through Southern California. With blazes reaching from as north as Santa Maria to as far south as San Diego, produce businesses across categories and industry members of all types have been impacted.
As of Friday morning, the situation in California has been declared a disaster by the Trump Administration. Federal aid has been ordered, according to a Los Angeles Times article, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has taken leadership of disaster relief efforts.
At 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 10, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles Fire Department reported the following acreage and containment rates for fires that remained active:
- Thomas Fire (Santa Barbara County,Ventura County): 173,000 acres - 15% contained
- Lilac Fire (San Diego County): 4,100 acres - 60% contained
- Creek Fire (Los Angeles County): 15,619 acres - 90% contained
- Rye Fire (Los Angeles County): 6,049 acres - 90% contained
- Skirball Fire (Los Angeles County): 422 acres - 75% contained
- Liberty Fire (Riverside County): 300 acres - 100% contained
In total, ABC News reports that the six blazes have charred over 200,000 acres in California and caused more than 98,000 residents to evacuate.
AndNowUKnow spoke with some of those in the California produce industry who have been affected by the wildfires, and the consensus seems to be that, while many homes and some crops have been lost, there has been an outpouring of support and a reverence for our tight-knit community that has risen from the ashes.
“I was speaking with an industry friend who shared that he has five employees that lost homes. From San Diego to Santa Barbara, there are reports that avocados were lost not only to fire, but to the wind damage,” shared Gary Clevenger, Managing Principal of Freska Produce, which operates out of Oxnard, California. “I was lucky I only had minor damage to my house, but watched over 100 houses in my neighborhood burn to the ground. My partner Chuy Loza also battled flames right up to his house but managed to save his residence. I learned a lot through this, seeing others lose everything. More winds are expected this week, so I think the real story is how this will affect the California Avocado season, as well as how the ash falling and on other crops here in SoCal will be affected. Poor air quality will affect outdoor activity so people will need to be sensitive to workers health as it relates to outdoor activity as well. Our thoughts go out to all those impacted at this time.”
Also in Oxnard, we checked in with Jan Berk of San Miguel Produce, who shared a few notes with me about how the company and its employees are faring in the fire’s wake.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families, pets, farms, orchards, and livestock affected by the recent wildfires in Southern California. While the San Miguel Produce team is safe, we are still assessing crop damages and remain on high alert as the strong Santa Ana winds continue,” said Jan. “Some employees and their families have been evacuated from their homes and are currently displaced by the Thomas Fire in Ventura County. We have harvesting crews throughout the county and are closely monitoring the conditions for their safety. San Miguel has had a few days of intermittent power outages, but power has been fully restored to the office. We want to thank all the first responders who have worked relentlessly to help keep our community safe. To all those affected across Southern California, our hearts are with you.”
Mission Produce, based in Oxnard as well, told ANUK that while they are still surveying damages, their thoughts are currently on helping their employees and their families.
“Our priority this week has been taking care of the needs of our people,” said Robb Bertels, Vice President of Marketing. “Our business operations haven’t been disrupted, but we’ve had a number of people that have been affected by the Thomas Fire—some lost homes, and some are still under evacuation orders. As we work our way through this and assess the magnitude of the it all, we are working hard to take care of the families in our communities who need our help.”
As for berries, our Editor-In-Chief Jordan Okumura spoke with California Giant's Vice President of Marketing Cindy Jewell late last week, who told us that the company expects its workers to resume harvest this week.
“Oxnard is still a developing story since the fires in Southern California are still both ongoing and moving due to the effect of continued winds. The priority for our operations in Oxnard is to ensure we don’t have workers in the field due to the smoke in the area. However, they are hoping to walk our fields in Oxnard some time next week for the first time to harvest new berries for the 2018 season. No real volume is expected from that region really, until closer to the end of the year.”
In a press release, Gladstone Land’s President and CEO David Gladstone shared that his company’s land holdings were able to remain unscathed during the fires.
"We remain fortunate once again to escape damage from the fires in Southern California," said David. "Given the location of our farms and farm-related buildings and the current path of the fires, we believe the probability of any of the fires reaching our areas is extremely remote. As we have in the past, we stand ready to assist our farmers and others in the community should they need our help. We hope the fires will recede soon."
The team at AndNowUKnow would like to express our sympathies for those across our home state of California. To all those affected, our hearts are with you.
ORANGE, CA – It looks like Interfresh is celebrating more than just the holidays this December. The national marketer of fruits and vegetables is welcoming Carolyn Chang on board as the company’s Director of Berry Operations.
“We are very pleased to have Carolyn on the team,” said Chris Puentes, President, in a recent press release. “We expect great things in the coming months as we seek to serve our customers and growers in more and better ways.”
The hiring of Chang in this position comes as no surprise to those aware of her extensive and impressive resume, which boasts of 31 years of experience bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice distrubutors.
With so much industry know-how, Chang is well-prepped to expand grower and customer bases for the company’s berry program. Prior to this next step in her career, Chang spent time in the grower and shipper community, retail, and berry marketing.
“I am honored to join the talented team at Interfresh and am looking forward to working together to strategically grow their berry programs. I feel my passion for berries, along with Interfresh’s solid reputation in the industry, will ensure our success,” said Chang.
The addition of Chang to the team will further establish the company’s commitment to selling high-quality products throughout the year with passionate dedication to providing consistently great services and high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables supplies.
From all of us at AndNowUKnow, we wish Carolyn Chang and the Interfresh family a merry and bright holiday season full of bountiful opportunities for success!
LOS ANGELES, CA - The ever-popular Cotton Candy Seedless Grapes have arrived for Pacific Trellis Fruit, and the team reports that the fruit is delicious.
“We are excited for the opportunity to extend the season on this very popular grape variety with our retail partners,” explained Josh Leichter, General Manager. “Very limited volumes will be available for this first trial season. With the success of the fruit arriving in good condition and strong consumer demand, we are looking to increase volumes next season.”
The fruit arrived in excellent condition, according to a press release, with the “cotton candy” aroma and flavor the variety is known for.
This is just the latest fruit to bear from Pacific Trellis’ partnerships in Brazil. As we recently reported, the company announced its having entered a strategic partnership with Brazilian table grape grower Labrunier in October. The Bahia-based grower offers more than 900 hectares in production.
In addition to partnering with expert growers in California and South America, Pacific Trellis Fruit owns and operates a grape ranch in Mexico. The result is the team’s ability to provide grapes and other fruits year-round to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – With mere weeks left in 2017, SuperValu is ending the year on a high note, completing its second acquisition of the year. Continuing to strategically invest in growing its wholesale business, SuperValu has acquired the Associated Grocers of Florida in a transaction valued at approximately $193 million. With annual sales of approximately $650 million in its last fiscal year, the Associated Grocers of Florida will add to SuperValu’s growing national distribution network and bolster the retailer’s expansion strategy.
“The addition of Associated Grocers of Florida is another important step on our journey to becoming the wholesaler of choice for grocery retailers,” said Mark Gross, President and CEO of SuperValu, in a company press release. “AG of Florida has a tremendous retailer base across central and south Florida, and we’ll immediately gain a vibrant group of customers as well as an ability to expand internationally with AG’s customers in territories that include the Caribbean, and Central and South America.”
Along with the acquisition, the retailer is also appointing the Associated Grocers of Florida's former President Christopher Miller as the President of SuperValu Florida.
“Chris has built a great team, and we’re very excited that they’re now a part of our SuperValu family,” continued Gross. “Between the Unified Grocers and AG of Florida acquisitions, we’ve added substantial talent that will help us meet the rapidly changing needs of the markets we serve, including the growing specialty, organic, Latino, and Hispanic markets.”
Will 2018 continue the upward trajectory SuperValu began this year with its latest acquisitions? AndNowUKnow will continue to report as we leave behind 2017 and look forward to 2018.
VANCOUVER, BC – With customers increasingly demanding consistent quality and quantity regardless of season, year-round supply of burgeoning produce categories can be a boon to any produce department. And with this in mind, Oppy is offering organic varieties of some of the top ten new club apple varieties, and bringing year-round supplies to market with exclusive supplies from New Zealand as well as its Washington-grown offerings.
I spoke with David Nelley, VP of Categories and Global Exports for Oppy, to find out more about organic Jazz, Pacific Rose, and Envy Apple Varieties.
“Continuing on from our exclusivity with the organic crop from New Zealand, we’re now offering organics out of Washington,” David explains. “So the quality standard is absolutely consistent. Jazz, Envy, Pacific Rose—although there’s lots of organic club varieties out there, these ones are year-round, from the same brand, with the same consistency.”
With three immensely popular club varieties, “the tip of the spear in terms of new flavors and new varities” as David notes, and a new, high-graphic 2 lb pouch bag for each variety, Oppy has all the tools to drive organic apples sales this season—and throughout the year.
For more, see our brief video interview above. And for the latest in fresh produce news, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
MONTEREY, CA – With health and convenience trends converging in the produce aisle, new value-added mushroom products are sure to resonate with time-strapped and health-conscious consumers. I recently had a chance to chat with Mike O’Brien, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Monterey Mushrooms to learn how the company is helping its customers capitalize on the opportunity with its latest retail offering—Let’s Blend.
“Everybody knows about the trend The Blend, blending chopped, diced mushrooms with ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork—makes it healthier and tastes better,” Mike explains. “However, sometimes that’s a little difficult because to get the consumer to chop the mushrooms up, to cook them, takes time. And we know convenience is important, so we came up with a new product called ‘Let’s Blend.’”
The pre-diced, pre-seasoned Let’s Blend line offers consumers three different varieties of ready-to-go fresh mushrooms—in a convenient, high-graphic pouched package.
“We’ve got three flavors,” Mike continues, “Classic—which is the burger, Italian—which is for your meatballs, and Mexican—for tacos. I think the consumer is going to love it, and people will be healthier, and they’ll be eating mushrooms; they’ll be part of their everyday diet.”
For more, watch our video interview above. And stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more on new product offerings in the produce aisle.