SALINAS, CA – With the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit right around the corner, Ippolito International is gearing up, bringing new and on-trend Queen Victoria® value-added offerings to market and helping drive sales in retail and foodservice operations throughout North America.
“Ippolito is now offering broccoli florets and cauliflower florets as well as cauliflower “rice”; we also have recently launched chopped and shredded kale,” Marketing Manager Marilyn Seeley said, noting the company’s most recent additions to its line of foodservice-style packs. “On the organic side, we have added baby spinach, romaine, kale, arugula, a baby spinach/arugula blend, spring mix, and a 50/50 blend (baby spinach and spring mix). These are all available in a 5 oz. clamshell and spring mix and baby spinach are also available in 11 and 16 oz.”
With a focus on helping foodservice partners capitalize on trends and skip laborious prep steps and keeping retail partners prepared in a shifting and increasingly organic-focused market, Marilyn tells me these new products are a welcome addition to the company’s line of lettuce, leafy greens, celery, onions, radishes, and more. And of course, no mention of Ippolito International’s products would be complete without the company’s signature offering: Brussels sprouts.
“The addition of these new items to our value-added Brussels sprout packs (halves, shredded, whole, and petites) gives customers a one-stop choice when buying from Ippolito International,” Marilyn says. “With over 125 SKU’s we have everything you need in one place. And our partners can easily add any of these value-added items to their existing orders of conventional produce!”
With its eye-catching Queen Victoria logo and brightly-colored contemporary packaging, Ippolito International is primed to add flair as well as value to produce departments. Foodservice customers who have come to expect exceptional quality and convenience from the company will not be disappointed.
In addition, Marilyn tells me that Ippolito International is pursuing a new initiative primed to improve sustainability and make the company’s offerings more competitive with environmentally-conscious consumers.
“We would like to let the industry know in April 2016, Ippolito International set an ambitious goal to become zero waste certified through Green Business Certification, Inc. by December 2017,” Marilyn adds. “Our focus includes two facilities in Monterey County: a value-added processing facility and a packing shed. We have hired a sustainability firm to help us develop a comprehensive program to achieve this goal through education, data tracking, and ongoing analysis of all our waste streams.”
For more on all things produce in the ramp up to PMA Fresh Summit, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
BENTONVILLE, AR – Walmart is reportedly introducing a new strategy to play to the company’s strengths and redouble its efforts in urban markets. The New York Post reports that Walmart is planning what the news source refers to as a "two-Americas strategy," repurposing Jet.com as a banner to target urban millennial customers in major cities, while Walmart continues to focus on the rest of the country.
The Post named New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston, among the major markets on which Jet.com will focus. The decision was disclosed at a town hall meeting at Jet.com’s Hoboken, New Jersey, headquarters.
"The folks in Iowa and Kansas can still shop with us, but we are focusing on the urban shopper," Meredith Klein, Director, Media and Public Relations for Jet.com, told the Post. Klein also noted that the company is "honing its focus on reaching urban millennial shoppers [in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Chicago] through innovations as well as by offering premium assortment and premium products on Jet.com."
The Post noted that some employees of Jet.com were dissatisfied with the new strategy, noting that many in the 3-year-old company had envisioned itself as a kind of insurgency against Amazon from the beginning.
"Jet thought it was in there for the Amazon war, that it would be leading the charge," a source within the organization told the Post.
Will Walmart’s new strategy be a success, and will Jet.com find footing in urban markets where Walmart was unable to gain a foothold? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
KINGSVILLE, ON - Bright, vibrant, and energetic – you know the PMA Fresh Summit presence I am talking about. And this year promises to be no different. Set to the backdrop of New Orleans, Louisiana, SUNSET® is bringing flavor, inspiration, and ingenuity to the trade show floor with a dynamic team and portfolio to impress.
With the 2017 show just days away, President Paul Mastronardi joins me to dish on the upcoming event and what we can expect from this pioneering company.
“This year has been focused on growth. New acquisitions, new partnerships, and new product innovations related to popular consumer trends such as snacking and convenience,” Paul shares, giving us a taste of some of the excitement we can expect at the SUNSET booth. “Just like everything else at SUNSET®, flavor comes first. We don’t put anything on the market without thorough testing and we have a dedicated team to develop products that fit the needs of the consumer. We match those needs with our flavor standards to create innovative products that consumers across North America love.”
The company is excited to showcase its uniquely striped Aloha™ Peppers this year, which are as flavorful as they are colorful and are guaranteed to bring a warm and tropical atmosphere to any produce department. In addition to other mysterious products like the Mediterranean created Monterosa, SUNSET has also expanded the company’s pasta kit line, which attendees will be able to see and taste for the first time at Fresh Summit booth #533. Just follow the crowds and the great aromas!
“SUNSET® is constantly researching new products and packaging. As the company that pioneered top seal, which is now an industry standard in fresh and sustainable packaging, we are always innovating to drive trends and stay connected with our consumers and customers,” Paul tells me.
This greenhouse exhibitor is a must-visit for anyone visiting Fresh Summit next week, so be sure to mark them down. And if you haven’t, well, SUNSET is hard to miss.
WOODRIDGE, IL - Will your produce company be prepared when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new regulations go into effect at the end of 2017? With Produce Pro Software’s new supplement to its Driver Solution, meeting these new requirements will be as simple as a few clicks of a button. Here’s What’s In Store for Produce Pro Software.
One of the company’s offerings under its umbrella of products, Produce Pro’s Driver Solution is a real-time, delivery tool that provides efficiency and optimization through features like electronic signature capture, real time updates, turn-by-turn navigation, driver location tracking, and cash-on-delivery support. Now, in order to meet the FMCSA’s new set of regulations for the mandatory use of electronic logging devices for recording Hours-of-Service, Produce Pro is happy to introduce a new Hours-of-Service feature within their Driver Solution.
Developed with guidance from the FMCSA, Produce Pro’s Hours-of-Service application is a certified solution that easily allows customers to comply with these new regulations. And better yet, can be used either as a supplement to the company’s existing Driver Solution, or as a stand-alone product within Produce Pro.
Through their Hours-of-Service solution, users will have a direct connection to the vehicle ECM, and thanks to a partnership with engine diagnostics data company Bluelink, will also be able to gather all the data required by the FMCSA. This integrated solution will also make users compliant with communication standards for roadside inspection, allowing the ability to maintain and configure your data; review, correct, and approve time entry; and run an array of reports.
If you are currently required to keep paper Records of Duty Status, this mandate affects you! This includes both trucks that cross state lines and those that travel more than 100 miles. To learn more about how you can make Produce Pro’s solutions work for you, visit producepro.com, or visit them at PMA Fresh Summit next week at booth #3717.
LUCAMA, NC - With one of the most technologically advanced sweet potato operations in the world, Scott Farms International’s Sonny and Alice Scott got to show off their high-tech automation this past week to some pretty important people.
US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, and NC Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest were given the grand tour of Scott Farms while also getting to discuss the importance of technology and a stable on-farm workforce with the industry’s finest.
“The Secretary [Perdue] seemed to be very interested in what we were doing and how we were growing in all areas of the farm,” Scott Farms President Sonny Scott said, according to a press release. “Secretary Perdue, Commissioner Troxler, and the Lieutenant Governor [Dan Forest] toured the fields and packing facility with us and it gave us an opportunity to talk about what the needs of the future would be. Not only for us, but the entire industry. New technologies help some, but our sweet potatoes are hand-harvested. We can innovate in other areas of the farm to streamline the process, but in harvesting, the old way is the best way.”
Scott Farms techniques begin at the plant level with on-farm micropropagation units and direct relationships with universities for research on growing practices and new varieties.
“We work very closely with NC State University to better the industry,” Vice President for Sweet Potato Operations Dewey Scott said. “Currently, we grow several varieties like the Covington, Bonita, and Murasaki to name a few. It allows us to be a primary supplier for our customers and offer them what they need for their customers. Our goal is to be the first place you look for high-quality sweet potatoes that are consistently packed. Add in our capabilities for many added value packs, we believe we fit this area very well.”
The Scott family operates one of the most technologically advanced sweet potato operations in the world which employs many automated processes throughout the operation. “Technology is a necessity in today’s marketplace,” Dewey said. “We have tried to stay on the front side of technology in our operation. As we continue to grow, our need for qualified individuals to operate that technology only increases.”
“It takes a lot of quality people to run our operation,” Sonny continued. “When you look at farming today, technology plays a much bigger role than ever before and we have to have a quality workforce from beginning to end.”
In 2015, Scott Farms began its journey into farm automation with the construction of a 60,000-sq.-ft. packing and grading facility for sweet potatoes. In the two and a half years since the opening of the new facility, an 80,000-sq. ft. environmentally controlled curing and storage facility has also been constructed, increasing the on-farm storage capacity by an additional 600,000 bushels.
Keep up the good work, Scott Farms. For more news like this, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest.
RIO RICO, AZ – There is something to be said about the drive for perfection, and if you are the team behind Perfect Produce®, then that drive is also your promise and vision. With PMA Fresh Summit 2017 quickly approaching this month, timing is ideal for showcasing SunFed’s fresh fruit and vegetable program with new items to elevate the brand and the portfolio. Back by popular demand this year, SunFed is reintroducing the company’s popular green bean program and showcasing the new Soho Grape Tomatoes as the team continues to bring diverse varieties to market with maximum radiant freshness.
“After taking some time away from the green bean world, SunFed is bringing back our Perfect Produce brand Green Beans. SunFed’s green bean growing area, Morelos, is located in south-central Mexico—a region that is known as the ‘Central Breadbasket’ of Mexico,” CEO Craig Slate tells me. “As always SunFed will implement our Metabolic Reduction model to ensure the freshest beans on arrival at the store.”
This year’s production will begin mid-October and run through March 2018. The conventional beans will be packed in 30 lb cases. Starting in December, SunFed will have Organic Perfect Green Beans from Oaxaca, Mexico, in 15 lb cases as well.
As for the long awaited promotional volumes of Soho Grape Tomatoes, the first thing the team can tell me is that they are SooooHoooo Sweeeet.
“We will be sampling these taste bud-tickling sweets at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit so please, come one, come all,” Matt Mandel, Vice President of Operations, shares. “SunFed is now year-round with this 8-plus brix SoHo tomato which was specifically chosen for both its strong flavor profile and consistent quality. With high brix, vibrant color, and an amazing crunch, we see these grape tomatoes as the perfect way to differentiate within the competitive snacking tomato category.”
This year the Soho brand is being packed in 12 1-pint and a 20 lb bulk option is available, so make sure and stop by booth #2355 for a sample.
At Fresh Summit this month, SunFed’s key message to attendees will encompass the company’s continued expansion and pursuit of the next Perfect Produce item or items. As the team closes out 2017, SunFed will be expanding its organic line to include organic European cucumbers, organic green beans, and an organic 2-count tray wrapped with modified atmosphere and humidity technology. The company is continuing to pursue year-around production on all SunFed items as well. That list now includes cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, grape tomatoes, eggplant, OG yellow squash, OG zucchini, and OGEuropean cucumbers. And finally coming in 2018, SunFed will be diving into some completely new produce arenas, so stay tuned!
If you are not hooked on the SunFed program yet, maybe this will offer even more incentive. This year, along with the highly anticipated SoHo Grape Tomato tastings, the team is also bringing a little tech to the floor. Stop by the booth and enter to win a SunFed Perfect Squash DJI Spark Drone.
See you all in NOLA!
ORLANDO, FL – After more than a decade, Wendy McManus has announced that she is leaving the National Mango Board (NMB) to pursue an opportunity as a business coach. NMB’s first Marketing Director and current Retail Program Manager will leave in June of 2018.
On what working with a business coach did for herself and her team, McManus said, “The process felt so natural, and I was making big leaps every time I met with my coach. I was able to identify some of my own blind spots that were holding the team back.”
McManus helped drive the board’s early efforts to engage and educate consumers, retailers and foodservice operators as its first Marketing Director, according to a press release. In 2012, she shifted into the Retail Program Manager, where she led the NMB’s team of retail account managers through a period of tremendous growth and change, including helping introduce mango ripening at retail.
“Our retail program was fairly simple when we first started, but it has become much more sophisticated, especially over the past five years,” said McManus. “Our board has challenged us to continually improve how we work with retailers to move more mangos year-round, and the retail team has been up to the challenge.”
Cece Krumrine, Retail Account Manager, said, “I have been privileged to work with Wendy at the NMB and before that at the National Watermelon Promotion Board. It’s been exciting to witness the evolution of her leadership style, especially over these recent years.”
The board did not announce who the next Retail Program Manager will be, but did state that they will work closely with McManus during the transition to learn the ins and outs of the NMB retail program.
“I’m eager to mentor the person who will take on my responsibilities,” said McManus. “I care deeply about the people in the mango industry, and I want to help prepare our new team member for success in this position.”
McManus will attend PMA Fresh Summit and speak with produce professionals to learn about their biggest leadership challenges.
Currently engaged in a yearlong coach-training program, McManus will qualify for professional certification next year. She intends to focus on energizing leaders and their teams to pursue their highest value work and reach their goals with greater ease.
“After a few months of coaching, my management style had shifted. When the team responded positively, I knew I was onto something,” said McManus, saying that she believes the NMB retail team’s outcomes over the past two years are living proof that coaching works. She also wants to continue to bring these benefits to the produce industry. “Although I’m leaving the NMB, I have no plans to leave the produce industry, which has become like a family to me. I’m excited to bring my coaching know-how, along with a deep understanding of the industry, to help produce teams build connection and generate outstanding results.”
Congratulations on your eleven years with NMB and this new opportunity Wendy!
STELLARTON, NS - Continuing on its previously announced Project Sunrise restructuring plan, Canadian grocer Sobeys has announced it will continue to streamline its executive positions in order to limit costs and grow its bottom line. According to source The Chronicle Herald, Sobeys said it would be eliminating 75 executive positions at different offices across Canada.
“The grocery business is highly competitive and our regionally-based structure slowed us down. As we move to a national, functionally-led company we have an aggressive goal to transform our organization and leverage our size and scale,” said Michael Medline, President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement.
As we previously reported when Sobeys announced the plan in May of this year, Project Sunrise was designed to deliver $500 million in annualized savings by 2020. At the time of the announcement, the company said that cost savings will come from the following:
- Collapsing multiple, independent regions into a largely national, functionally-led structure. This will simplify the way the company conducts business and will result in a reduced workforce
- Simplifying how the company collaborates with vendors while leveraging its purchasing scale as a $24 billion national company
- Driving enterprise-wide efficiencies and productivity initiatives
According to Medline in a statement to The Telegram, after Sobeys completes Project Sunrise, the company will have a simpler, leaner structure, be more efficient, and better prepared to leverage its $24-billion national scale.
“Change of this magnitude is not easy on our employees, but we remain committed to making tough decisions, and executing the necessary changes, to ensure our future success,” he continued. “This will free us up to be extremely nimble, grow market share, and thrill our customers in the more than 1,500 communities that we will continue to operate in.”
As of 2 PM EST on Tuesday after the announcement went public, Empire Company, Sobeys’ parent company, saw its stock up 41 cents, or 1.88 per cent, to $22.25 from $21.84 as of Tuesday’s market close.
To read more about Sobey’s Project Sunrise, read our previous article about the initiative here.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Is tech-giant Google’s most recent retail partnership with Target part of an ongoing effort to build an “anti-Amazon alliance”? A recent report by tech news source Recode makes a compelling argument that the move may be an attempt to build a moat around Amazon as the company expands into brick and mortar retail.
This Thursday, Target and Google announced an expanded partnership that will allow consumers to place orders from their local Target stores using Google Express, the company’s home delivery shopping service, and using Google Assistant, a voice-activated personal assistant program that can be used across a variety of platforms including your phone and Android TV.
“Starting today, you can shop Target from anywhere in the United States through Google Express and with the Google Assistant (except for Alaska and Hawaii),” Google noted in a press release. “You’ll be able to get and reorder your favorite Target items and brands…Target will offer 2-day delivery, as well as free shipping for any orders over $35.”
Target is just the latest retailer to pair with Google on a nationwide scale. In fact just weeks ago, rival retailer Walmart announced a partnership that would add hundreds of thousands of products to Google’s service. Other fresh focused partners include 99 Ranch Market, Costco, and Smart & Final.
Recode notes that these partnerships are likely a response to the shared threat of an Amazon-dominated retail environment. Will partnerships like these stem the tide of a surging Amazon, after entering brick and mortar retail with the acquisition of Whole Foods earlier this year? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
FOWLER, CA - With the domestic citrus season underway in California, retailers are gearing up for fall promotions and adding a fresh squeeze to produce departments. Demand has reached new heights in the citrus category, and answering that call is the Bee Sweet Citrus team, bringing fresh solutions to their customers and the consumer this holiday season.
Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications, took a few minutes to chat with me about California citrus and what we can expect as we move through the remainder of 2017.
“We supply oranges, lemons, and mandarins year-round, but as our domestic season kicks into gear, we are eager to welcome back Cara Cara Navels, Blood Oranges, Pummelos, Melo Golds, Grapefruit, Gold Nugget Mandarins, Minneolas, and Meyer Lemons,” Monique shares. “The Bee Sweet Citrus marketing team is happy to provide P.O.S. sheets or any additional marketing material that retailers believe would help push out their product.”
As citrus becomes a household staple, Monique notes that Bee Sweet has noticed that there is a year-round demand for varieties such as navels and mandarins and as the company moves into the winter season, however, the team anticipates the demand for other varieties will gain momentum.
“For example, consumers like to incorporate pommelos and mandarins into their Chinese New Year celebrations in January, and lemons into their Superbowl snacks and into their Lenten meals as well,” Monique tells me. “Consumers are interested in knowing where their food comes from and providing consumers with resources that highlight the farm-to-fork movement can help strengthen that grower-consumer relationship.”
The story behind the amazing fresh produce displayed in the produce departments has become more important than ever, and retailers are already doing an exceptional job in highlighting the farmer’s story on marketing materials throughout their facilities.
“We’d like to encourage them to continue along that route,” Monique adds. “PMA Fresh Summit will be a great opportunity to have these conversations and further promote our citrus vision so please come by and visit us.”
With Fresh Summit just around the corner, make sure to add the Bee Sweet Citrus booth #4533 to your list of destinations.