MISSION, TX – With its new brand, Lone Star Citrus Growers is tackling misperceptions about grapefruit, elevating the category and educating consumers while expanding seasonality through its Winter Sweetz brand.
To find out more about Winter Sweetz, I spoke to April Flowers, Marketing Director for Lone Star Citrus, to learn more about the grapefruit category, the unique character of winter grapefruit, and the growing opportunities to turn young consumers onto the sweet citrus treat.
“When we look at seasonality, winter grapefruit has a slightly different taste profile from summer grapefruit,” April explains. “So we knew if we could take seasonality into the picture, that would be very, very helpful.”
With its new Winter Sweetz brand, Lone Star Citrus is hard at work showing consumers that grapefruit is more than pith, peel, and tang, regardless of season; it’s a sweet, flavorful citrus offering, agreeable to many different palates. And to this end, the company has integrated “segmenting” into its various consumer marketing campaigns—showing consumers that they can cut the fruit away from the albedo for a perfectly sweet bite of grapefruit.
“We have launched many many PR campaigns. We work with food bloggers; we are very active on social media and even inbound marketing to really try to feed the consumer many, many recipe options,” notes April. “We know that if we can show them segments that are outside of that pith and peel which create that tangy taste that some people don’t like, we can give them a flavor that’s going to be more agreeable to most…It’s an exciting flavor, and when it’s brought to a recipe that’s just okay, it elevates it to the next level.”
With a brand identity and consumer campaigns that appeal to grapefruit enthusiasts and skeptics alike, Winter Sweetz is primed to hook consumers on grapefruit and keep them coming back for more.
“Branding obviously helps the consumer come back and say ‘that’s the one I had last time; I know it’s going to be good again,’” April says.
For more, check out our complete video interview above.
And for more goings-on in fresh produce, check in with us at AndNowUKnow.
SANTA PAULA, CA - Limoneira is bringing on a new chief exec to handle its finances, promoting Mark Palamountain to the role of Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary. Effective January 8, 2018, Palamountain will fill the position held previously by Joe Rumley who announced his decision to pursue other opportunities on September 26th after serving in this role since 2010.
“I look forward to leveraging my capital markets and operational experience to continue building upon Limoneira’s strong heritage in the citrus industry,” Palamountain commented upon his appointment. “Over the past number of years, our team has put the elements in place to significantly grow our agribusiness operations in the coming years, following a series of investments in new orchards and infrastructure. I look forward to the opportunities that are ahead for Limoneira and our long-term shareholders.”
Palamountain has been with Limoneira since 2012, most recently serving as Senior Director of Agriculture Operations. In his time with the company, Palamountain has been instrumental in building and managing “a deep pipeline of acquisition activities,” Limoneira says, and successfully acquired over 3,000 new acres, created and implemented Limoneira’s “Net Zero” renewable energy portfolio expansion, managed capital growth strategies and acreage redevelopment activities, and worked directly in all investor relations-related activities.
“We are excited about Mark’s transition to the role of Chief Financial Officer and would like to thank Joe for his work in establishing a strong financial reporting infrastructure at Limoneira,” shared Harold Edwards, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer in a press release. “Mark has been a valued member of our leadership team in his nearly six years with the Company, leading our business development efforts and renewable energy initiatives, as well as managing our agriculture operations. Combined with his background in capital markets, he will be well suited to execute the Company’s capital allocation framework and ensure we are maximizing value for shareholders.”
Before joining the Limoneira team, Palamountain was a CEO and Founder of Perpetual Power LLC, a solar integration company specializing in finance and product technology. In addition to this role, he served as a Managing Director, Head of Nasdaq trading for Broadpoint Securities from 2003 to 2008, where he was responsible for all trading desk management functions for a team of 25 traders. Between 2001 and 2003, Palamountain was Principal at Thomas Weisel Partners, and from 1997 to 2001, he was a trader with JPMorgan Chase.
Congrats to Palamountain on this next big step forward in your career, and here’s to more success with Limoneira!
AUSTIN, TX – Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods was the talk of the town earlier this year, and even more so after price-cuts were highly-publicized, easing the duo’s transition and luring in new customers for the grocer. According to analysis by the research firm Gordon Haskett, however, Whole Foods’ prices are back on the rise. The firm price checked over 110 items at a Whole Foods Store in Princeton, New Jersey, and found that the average price increase of each item was about 1.6 percent, according to a Business Insider report.
The current rise puts prices back to almost the same numbers they were at before the Amazon acquisition, with prices just 1.1% lower than what they were. While most of the latest price increases affected dry, packaged goods, the firm also reported there were some price cuts in fresh produce. Their findings include:
- Prices of produce fell 4.9%
- Prices of snack foods rose 5.2%
- Prices of dry grocery rose 2.5%
- Prices of beverages and bakery rose 1.3% each
- Prices of frozen goods rose 1.3%
“The findings are surprising, given the myriad of positive press around Amazon’s price cuts at Whole Foods since the acquisition. Whole Foods will have to keep offering lower prices if it wants to keep new shoppers around,” wrote Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom, according to Business Insider.
With Amazon facing off against competitors in a retail stand-off, how will Whole Foods’ increased prices affect its position as current top dog? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
WENATCHEE, WA - Another edition of Stemilt’s Fruit Tracker Fast Facts is here, and data shows clearly that apple season has arrived! With the apple category’s total contribution to the average U.S. produce department jumping an entire percentage point—from 5.9 to 6.9 percent—in just one month’s time, the slow start to Washington State’s apple harvest doesn’t seem to be making too much of an impact for overall apple dollars.
“October is National Apple Month, and the latest set of Nielsen retail scan data tells us that retailers definitely got behind the celebration, even though the later harvest in Washington State delayed promotions for a few key varieties,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt Communications Manager. “Though we are lagging on performance from October 2016, when apples harvested in Washington State earlier than ever before, apples were retailing at higher prices year-over-year, led by higher volumes of the high-priced Honeycrisp apple.”
According to a press release, Honeycrisp apples were hot in October, trailing only Gala in terms of volume sold, and was also the top variety when it came to dollars sold. Honeycrisp accounted for 27.7 percent of apple dollars due to its $2.48 per pound average retail price. Overall, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious rounded out the month’s top five apple varieties.
“It’s clear that Honeycrisp is the sought after apple, and retailers must continue to dedicate space and promotions towards this shopper favorite,” advised Shales. “That being said, it can’t be the only apple promoted as there are many shoppers looking for a value. Running multiple apple varieties on promotion, in a price range that fits every shopper, is the best way to keep your apple category healthy.”
Further date showes that SweeTango® was the top club apple variety for October 2017, showing a volume increase of 10.9 percent over last October. Like Honeycrisp, SweeTango® enjoyed a high average retail price at $2.22 per pound.
When looking regionally, the Central region took a majority's share, topping the national average at 8.2 percent of total produce department dollars. The East met the national average at 6.9 percent, while the West and South regions was just short. All regions were down in apple dollars from last October due to the later Washington State crop.
Bagged apples are once again showing growth in sales, with the percentage of apples sold in bags up nearly 3 percent over last October, and accounting for 35.8 percent of apple sales. Stemilt shared that this can be attributed to an increase of smaller-sized apples from Washington State, as well as typical bag supplies from other regions. The average retail price for bags in October 2017 was $1.45 per pound, up 7 cents from last year. The average price for bulk apples in October 2017 was $1.71 per pound, just 5 cents higher than last year.
“With apples from Washington State one to two sizes smaller on average when compared to last year, its great to see retailers put more emphasis on bags this early in the season. The higher retail price on bulk fruit will likely remain this year, and the opportunities for promotion will be centered on bags in order to drive more volume through the register,” said Shales.
All in all, three and five pound bags continued to be the dominant package sizes, Stemilt added, with a combined 75 percent of bag volume and 71 percent of bag dollars. The volume of two-pound bags rose from last year, but average retails for two pound bags dropped 13 percent, or by 30 cents. If this trend continues, Brianna warns, it could cause deflation in volume and dollars across the category as time goes on.
“With tighter supplies on bulk fruit and the need to make up volume with bags, now is not the time to move down a size on bags,” finished Shales. “The three pound size matches well with the volume your once-a-week shopper would need, while five pound bags bring additional value to your category. Keeping the pedal down on Lil Snappers® 3lb. kid-size apple promotions, as well as Stemilt’s Apple Lover 5lb. bags is important as we look towards the New Year when healthy eating is top-of-mind for all shoppers.”
Want to see all these fruit facts in video form? Check out Stemilt’s Fruit Tracker Fast Facts above!
SAN ANTONIO, TX - With everything lined up and ready to go, H-E-B is now playing the waiting game, as it anticipates the Historic and Design Review Commission’s approval of a six-story parking garage and attached sky bridge across E. César Chávez Boulevard in downtown San Antonio. When completed, the bridge will link the parking structure with the company’s corporate headquarters.
According to an HDRC agenda item, the garage will be capable of housing up to 750 vehicles and will feature façade screening, a roof-top shading trellis, LED lighting, landscaping elements, and new fencing, as reported by The San Antonio Business Journal.
The current positioning of the parking lot is a flat, 70,000-square-foot area and sits at 506 S. Main Ave. or 415 Dwyer Ave. The space was last appraised at $5.3 million by Bexar County Appraisal District. And the project was planned by Ford, Powell, & Carson Inc., a local firm.
H-E-B has committed to investing $100 million into San Antonio’s downtown, but while estimates are in the $1 million ballpark range, it is still unclear how much of that investment will be going towards this specific project. And on top of this massive undertaking, the grocery chain also has a parking lot at 404 S. Flores St. in the works. This other parking lot is a precautionary measure for overflow parking while the plans are fleshed out and built upon for the coming larger structure, explained Dya Campos, the company’s Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, in the same article.
As the million dollar project makes headway this coming January, with an April due date on the horizon, how will this project affect H-E-B’s headquarters and the business at large? AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date with the latest.
KINGSVILLE, ON - Finishing up 2017 with a bang, SUNSET™ is launching a new “You Make Me™” product line featuring four new pasta kits that will be sold in supermarkets nationwide. Designed with convenience top of mind and developed by SUNSET® Culinary Director and celebrity chef Roger Mooking, these meal kits contain everything you need to cook a flavorful, gourmet pasta dish at home—fresh tomatoes, perfectly portioned pasta, spice packets, and infused olive oil.
“At SUNSET®, we identify with busy consumers who don’t always have time to prepare home-cooked meals from scratch using our fresh produce,” shared CEO Paul Mastronardi. “Ready in minutes with fresh tomatoes included, our ‘You Make Me™’ pasta kits deliver ‘grab and go’ convenience without sacrificing flavor or compromising on nutrition.”
For the launch, the “You Make Me™” line will feature four different flavors packaged with eye-catching graphics, each including a unique pasta variety:
- Classic Italian (“You Make Me Fresh”)
- Spicy Arrabbiata (“You Make Me Hot”)
- Creamy Parmesan (“You Make Me Blush”)
- Cold Pasta Salad (“You Make Me Chill”)
According to a press release, the “You Make Me” line is the evolution of the Minzano® pasta kit that SUNSET® tested earlier this year in select supermarkets, said Mastronardi, who explained, “We launched the Minzano® kit in March and it exceeded our expectations. We then went straight to work on optimizing an assortment of recipes to provide consumers with a line of fresh and convenient meal choices that would meet their needs.”
Each kit serves dinner for two or makes four sides, and can be cooked in 15 minutes or less. “If you don’t have time to make it from scratch, grab a ‘You Make Me” Pasta Kit,’ Mooking said, sharing Mastronardi’s excitement for the innovative new line. “We picked all the ingredients so you can prepare a tasty meal in less time than it takes to order in!”
Want to find out more about the “You Make Me™” line and all of the innovative products SUNSET® has to offer? Dive in further at www.sunsetgrown.com.
MISSION, TX - The Viva Fresh Expo is back and better than ever this year, and the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)-hosted event is coming back to the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio. Taking place from April 5-7, 2018, this year’s fourth annual expo is expected to once again cater to sold out crowds and attract major buyers from regional and national retailers alike.
“We’ve seen increased attendance from retail and foodservice buyers from companies including H-E-B, Walmart, and US Foods, and 100 percent of our surveyed retailers say the expo meets their business needs,” shared Dante Galeazzi, TIPA’s President and CEO. “Since we know this region is a main focus for attendees, we’ve increased our outreach to include more regional growers and revamped our exhibitor list, so the majority of exhibitors will be from Texas, Mexico, and the Southwest United States.”
As the importance of the Texas, Mexico, and Rio Grande Valley produce industry grows, so does the success of this premiere regional event. In 2016, TIPA established a Retail & Foodservice Advisory Board, made up of 14 retail and foodservice contacts, to assist in guiding the direction of the Viva Fresh Expo. Today, these advisory members have continued to reinforce the significance of the region, as well as cite its importance as a main factor in why they continue to be involved with the expo.
“I’ve been impressed with the Viva Fresh Expo year after year,” said Joseph Bunting, Produce Business Director at United Supermarkets and Advisory Board member. “It’s a true regional event and showcases Texas and Mexico as a commanding force for high-quality, year-round fresh produce. I always look forward to Viva Fresh to strengthen current relationships, make new connections, and stay up on all the regional trends.”
According to a press release, approximately half of fresh fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico entered the U.S. through Texas land ports in 2016—meaning $5.4 billion worth of produce, or over 220,000 truckloads, have entered through the region. TIPA shared that fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico are growing at an astounding rate: from 2007-2015 alone, imports from the country have more than doubled, reaching an impressive 107 percent growth rate.
Not a group to rest on its laurels, TIPA’s Viva Fresh is continuing to push for innovations and advanced best practices. Through the Viva Fresh educational seminar program, attendees can experience a virtual tour of a field, a packing house, and quality control measures to help learn more about topics like best in class food safety and how Mexican suppliers are raising the bar. Additional educational sessions will tackle such industry challenges as the multi-generational marketplace and how Amazon will impact the future of retail sales and marketing.
Registration is now open for exhibitors and sponsors at www.vivafreshexpo.com, and if year’s past have taught me anything, it will sell out! Plan to register early and scoop up those hot exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities. Registration for most retail and foodservice buyers is free, and a travel stipend is provided.
See you all in San Antonio!
Viva Fresh Produce Expo Texas International Produce Association
UNITED KINGDOM – There’s a new app in town, and unlike other apps that help strangers meet, this app is for the hungry, not the thirsty. Designed to alleviate the imminent threat of food waste riddling our environment today and cure the epidemic of having eyes that are larger than stomachs when grocery shopping, mobile phone app OLIO is here to save the day by sharing leftover, unused, and excess fresh food and produce with strangers, friends, and anyone else who might want it.
After throwing away too much food in the midst of moving three years ago, entrepreneur Tessa Cook realized the wastefulness and unnecessity of doing so when she could have just given the food to someone else.
“I thought, ‘This is perfectly delicious food. I know there is someone within 100 meters who would love it. The problem is they don’t know about it’,” Cook said, according to a report by Reuters. When she realized there were no apps available yet to share food, she teamed up with Saasha Celestial-One, and OLIO was born.
Globally, $1 trillion worth of food and produce–mainly from homes–is thrown away every year, not only leaving it to rot and release toxic greenhouse gases into the environment, but also wasting the land and water used to produce it. However, OLIO users can download the food sharing app and upload a picture with a short description of the food they want to give away instead of throw away. Users can then contact each other via private message to arrange for pick-up. Or if users want to exchange clothes and furniture, there’s a section on the app for that as well.
Launched in January 2016, the app has over 322,000 registered users and over 400,000 shared food items. And now, supermarkets, like Sainsbury’s, are partnering with OLIO in order to also cut back on food waste and share leftover food within their communities.
While in the past, some, like Chrissy Teigan, have taken to social media to request and dispose of fresh food and produce, OLIO is hoping to streamline this process and help users not only reduce waste and save money, but also try out new foods. And, you never know, maybe one day an OLIO user will bring fresh produce to recently revealed banana-crazed Prince Harry craving his favorite yellow fruit.
For more new happenings stirring up the produce industry, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA – Stepping into the company’s newly created President role at Naturipe Brands, industry veteran Chris Coffman is joining the Naturipe team. His position, which he stepped into on November 13th, will be reporting to Naturipe Brands' Board of Directors, and strategic partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, investment opportunities, licensing, and brand extension opportunities will all be under his care.
"I am humbled at the opportunity to join an organization with a remarkable business model, extended history of success and most importantly, a culture of values that is exemplary,” said Coffman in a recent press release. “The prospect to steward the Naturipe brand and the extension of new business units and revenue streams is an excellent challenge.”
The company is excited to bring on such an knowledgeable and expert employee to steer its direction with the aforementioned duties.
“We are excited to have Chris lead Naturipe Brands, which is focused on delivering value to our grower-owners and customers,” said Dwight Ferguson, CEO and President of Naturipe Farms. “His breadth and depth of business development experience is key to execution of Naturipe's strategic growth initiatives.”
Coffman’s resume includes his role as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at J&J Farms, as well as his roles at PRO*ACT, Apio, and Del Monte. His career boasts of heavy-hitting names in the industry, and Coffman gained his education from UC Davis. While he currently lives in Wellington, Florida, he and his family will be making the move to Naturipe’s Estero, Florida, office in 2018.
Congratulations to Chris Coffman and the whole Naturipe team! We wish you every success moving forward!
LAKELAND, FL - The convenience-driven food craze is getting a winter-focused twist with Publix Super Markets’ new meal kit line designed for slow cookers. Launching three varieties for this first iteration of the line, Publix is offering packaged chicken and dumplings, chuck roast, and pork carnitas kits—all including at least one produce item.
Each kit makes a meal for four people, Publix Media and Community Relations Manager Brian West told the Tampa Bay Business Journal, and also comes with a slow cooker liner that makes cleanup a breeze. So far, the chicken and dumplings, priced at $14.99, and the chuck roast, priced at $19.99, are available in several stores in Tampa, near Publix headquarters.
On first glance, it looks as if the new meal kits will feature the following produce items:
- Chicken and dumplings: onions, carrots, and celery
- Chuck roast: potatoes, carrots, onions, and herbs
- Pork carnitas: lime and pico de gallo salsa
These additions come on the heels of spring 2017’s meal kit introduction from Publix, tapping into the company’s Aprons recipe development department. As we previously reported, the meal kits are offered at three different price tiers, and have options that span the gamut of culinary skill levels. Options are typically also made to serve a family of four, with six different meals to choose from.
Will meal kits still pull in consumer dollars even as companies like Blue Apron are seemingly beginning to flounder? AndNowUKnow is keeping a close eye on this new and growing trend.