MORGAN HILL, CA - It's that time again, Field Day lovers! Next week, Sakata Seed America will host their annual California Field Days in Salinas, California (August 14-16), and Woodland, California (August 16-18). 2017 marks the 31st year Sakata will host this ever-growing event.
“We began hosting these trials in the small field in Salinas back in 1986,” explained John Nelson, Sales and Marketing Director. “Since, it’s continued to expand with our growing infrastructure and has become our largest vegetable event of the year, showcasing the best of Sakata’s genetics and serving host to our customers, media, retail, and more. We look forward to celebrating 40 years of business in NAFTA at this year’s trials.”
Those who attend this year’s Sakata Field Days will be welcomed by a few new exciting features. Sakata will be hosting its Woodland (warm-season crops) trials at its new Woodland Research Station; an investment in land, greenhouses, offices, and other facilities slated for completion of the first phases in 2018, according to a press release.
Check out the video above to learn even more about Sakata’s Woodland development.
Also new for this year, customers in Salinas (cool-season crops) will be greeted with an updated Broccoli Master Guide. An information-rich piece of literature, the guide serves as what the company said is the ultimate reference guide for all things Sakata broccoli, including ideal varieties for every growing region and other important information for successful broccoli cultivation.
“This will be the third generation of our Broccoli Master, and it has always been well-used by our dealers and growers alike,” stated Matt Linder, Senior Broccoli Product Manager and Salinas Valley Area Sales Manager. “It contains all the great information you need on our varieties right at your fingertips, and is heavy-duty enough to be kept in your truck or pocket when in the field. It’s been a few years since we’ve had an updated version, so we’re excited to include some great new additions we’ve recently added to our broccoli line, such as Millennium, Diamante, Eastern Magic, Eastern Crown and Emerald Star.”
For a digital copy, visit Sakata’s website; physical copies will be debuted at next week’s trials, and available for direct mail thereafter.
Those who wish to attend Sakata’s Field Days can fill out the RSVP form and return to Jiana Escobar ASAP.
HOUSTON, TX - Ex-Target Senior Vice President and retail veteran Sid Keswani has been named as Fiesta Mart’s CEO, stepping in for outgoing leader Mike Byars. The appointment was effective yesterday, August 9.
“We are very excited that Sid is joining Fiesta at this time in our growth strategy,” Ken Brotman, Managing Partner at parent company ACON Investments, said in a statement as noted by CSA. “He brings a great deal of relevant experience and skills to Fiesta as we look forward to our next phase of growth.”
The incoming leader served 19 years at Target, working his way up through leadership positions like District Team Leader, Group Director, and Vice President before topping off his tenure as the retailer’s Senior Vice President.
Keswani then moved on to become Senior Vice President of Operations at Susser Holdings, a chain of more than 625 convenience stores.
During his time there, Keswani assisted in a number of acquisitions and new store growth initiatives that added over 125 more stores to the company’s portfolio in 18 months, according to the report. He has spent the last three years working as the Chief Operating Officer for real estate development firm Aspen Height.
With a portfolio listing an acumen for growth, it will be interesting to see where Keswani helps take the retailer, which currently holds 68 stores throughout Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
WENATCHEE, WA – For consumers looking to prolong that last bite of summer, peaches and nectarines offer the perfect option. As peak season approaches for these star stonefruit categories, Stemilt Growers is preparing for key promotion times of this year’s larger than normal fruit.
“Volume is just starting to ramp up for Stemilt on both peaches and nectarines,” Brianna Shales, Communications Manager, tells me. “As peak harvest time approaches, we expect great supplies for promotion as there is a spike in volume in the market.”
Peak season is expected to come into full swing in mid-August and last about a month. Brianna says that as suppliers prepare for peak season, now is the perfect time for retailers to do their own preparations, as well. Retailers can take advantage of stonefruit sales through both in-store and ad promotions.
“Size seems to be the biggest difference this year,” Brianna says. “We’re seeing lots of jumbo-sized fruits to promote, with lots of opportunities for retailers to build their organic sales. The weather has been wonderful as well, making for a great season.”
Stemilt grows many classic varieties of yellow peaches and nectarines, which are 100 percent organic. The company’s peaches and nectarines have been certified organic for nearly a decade, since 2009. Stemilt remains committed to picking tree-ripe fruit, which means the company harvests from the same orchard blocks multiple times in order to capture fruit at their best flavor with deep and vibrant hues.
“The late deal on peaches and nectarines continues to gain interest every year, and our ability to supply volumes of certified organic fruits that are grown for flavor makes for a great program,” Brianna says. “Our Artisan Organic stonefruits offer a great point of differentiation, as well as that tree-ripened and dessert eating experience.”
What’s next for peaches and nectarines as consumers continue to scoop up stonefruit? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the know.
MEXICO – After touching down on the Yucatan Peninsula this Tuesday, Tropical Storm Franklin is intensifying as it passes over open water en route to a second landfall in Mexico. And many media outlets, including the Washington Post, are reporting that the storm, which formed over the western Caribbean Sea on Sunday, is on the precipice of becoming the season’s first hurricane, as it makes its way to its second landfall early-Thursday morning.
"Franklin will continue to restrengthen over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Wednesday," noted AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski, in a report issued Wednesday morning. "Franklin will make landfall south of Tampico and north of Veracruz, Mexico, by early Thursday morning."
This morning, as of 10:00 a.m. CDT, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a hurricane warning for the coast of Mexico, from Puerto de Veracruz to Cabo Rojo—in addition to a hurricane watch from Cabo Rojo to Rio Panuco—and tropical storm warnings remain in place for much of the surrounding coastal region.
AccuWeather likewise noted that residents from Veracruz to Tampico, Mexico, should speedily prepare for Franklin’s landfall and the ensuing flooding rain, damaging winds, and mudslides. The news source reports that gust over 90 mph are possible in coastal regions of norther Veracruz, and those winds could reach Category 2 status.
Flooding rain could bring as much as 20 inches of precipitation to the region, and it’s also possible that heavy rain and isolated flooding could reach as far west as Mexico City as the storm drifts inland and weakens over the course of the week.
Showers and thunderstorms have continued to cause problems across the Yucatan Peninsula and part of Central America in the wake of Franklin. And as a result, AccuWeather reports, there will be an ongoing risk of flash flooding as far south as Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Nicaragua into Wednesday night.
As we reported earlier this week, meteorologists do not expect Franklin to head northward toward Texas and its growing regions, but the state may see peripheral rough seas and rain.
For more on the situation as it develops, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
OVIEDO, FL – At Duda Farm Fresh Foods it’s about more than just producing high-quality produce; the company also places on constant focus on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption at large. To further this 90-year commitment, the company has continued to promote and sustain its partnerships with Tour de Fresh and Salad Bars to Schools, The Produce Mom, and United Fresh Produce Forum for School Success.
“Duda Farm Fresh Foods continues to be committed to bringing more fresh fruits and vegetables to schools across the country,” said Dan Duda, President of Duda Farm Fresh Foods. “We take our role very seriously in equipping every decision-maker within the school foodservice program to find the products that will best serve their students and encourage consumption, which is why we’ll continue to support events like this.”
Duda Farm Fresh Foods just celebrated its fifth year as a sponsor of the United Fresh Produce Forum for School Success, and helped bring more than 50 school foodservice buyers to the Expo. According to a press release, through this effort buyers were able to engage directly with fresh produce brands in an effort to serve and promote more fruits and vegetables on their menus.
This event was brought to fruition five years ago, and has since brought foodservice directors from the largest and most progressive school districts to connect with brands, share practices, and discuss creative ways to better serve students. Duda Farm Fresh Foods said that it prioritizes its sponsorship of this event in particular because of the effort United Fresh places on offering a small, personalized setting where every participating brand has the opportunity to tell its story. Additionally, the event demonstrates that it understands the individual needs of each foodservice buyer.
“The annual United Fresh event has opened my eyes to what the produce industry looks like and what’s possible,” said Bertrand Weber, Director of Culinary and Wellness Services at Minneapolis Public Schools. “Networking with national companies is invaluable–every time I attend I come back with something new, innovative, and creative to transform school meals in my district.”
During this event, Duda Farm Fresh Foods also asked its partner Lori Taylor, CEO of The Produce Mom, to also contribute to the event. Taylor spoke to foodservice directors about her leadership with the USDA Team Nutrition training program, and what it means for their schools in the next two years. She also spoke about training tools she is working to make digitally accessible to foodservice directors. These tools will help educate staff on how to prepare different types of produce in compliance with USDA standards.
"The majority of American children are now reliant on school meals for food security, so it's imperative for our industry to engage in strategies and efforts to promote fresh produce at school," said Taylor. "Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ efforts yield results for children and for produce sales, which merits a collective impact within the produce industry."
Duda Farm Fresh Foods also celebrated its fourth year of supporting the Salad Bars to Schools initiative as a Health & Wellness sponsor. This event aligns with the company’s dedication to partner with like-minded organizations in hopes to bring more support to causes that align with its mission to encourage healthy eating.
To find out more how Duda Farm Fresh Foods is supporting the buying community and fresh consumption, visit the company’s website and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
COLIMA, MX - In an industry that’s constantly reminded of how food safety can make or break a business, Super Starr International is reminding its customers that the topic remains at the top of the company’s priorities. With last month bringing concerns focused on an outbreak of salmonella in Maradol papaya varieties and a subsequent recall, Super Starr has confirmed that the company has not been linked in any way, and has continued to pass quality and safety standards.
“At Super Starr, we’re committed to owning each part of the supply chain–from farming, packing, and shipping–for the highest level of food safety and product control,” said Lance Peterson, third generation farmer of the Super Starr brand and President at Super Starr International. “Back in 2011, when the FDA was forced to stop papayas from shipping from Mexico because of salmonella, our product was the first to be approved and placed on the green-list for consumption–these same standards ring true in today’s cases.”
For three generations, the Super Starr family has grown, packed, and shipped its produce in-house, allowing for the company to keep offering high-integrity products, including year-round Maradol and Royal Star variety papayas. In a press release, Super Starr stressed that its customers find the company's direct-style of relationships as a great way to ensure the highest-quality fruit is shipped consistently throughout the year. In addition to papayas, Super Starr’s over 25-year experience and reputation growing melons and watermelons in Mexico give buyers confidence that their product one grown by people they can trust.
“Our papaya varieties have proven to be able to travel further and stay fresh longer through advanced seed breeding, which has set the standard for excellence around the world for over a decade,” added Peterson. “We’re more excited than ever to be a resource to our customers who are looking for consistency in the market.”
To learn more information about the company, Super Starr asks that you contact Lance Peterson, Chris Hoffman, or Mert Gumus at either (956) 510-8126, or [email protected].
ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods looks to have ended its second quarter for fiscal 2017 on a strong note, showing a net sales increase of 6.1% to $6.2 billion, as well as a 1.9% boost to gross profit, coming out to $1.1 billion.
President and CEO Pietro Satriano said in the report that strong Adjusted EBITDA growth of 10% and above-market independent restaurant case growth of 4.7% highlight “another successful quarter” for US Foods, with what seems to be more on the way.
“We have successfully closed five acquisitions this year as we continue to focus on accretive M&A opportunities,” Satriano commented. “Continued growth with targeted customers, in combination with our portfolio of value-added services, innovative products, and enhanced digital platform, position us for success in the second half of the year.”
Additional highlights for the foodservice distributor’s second quarter included:
- Total case volume increased 3.6%; independent restaurant case volume increased 4.7%
- Operating income of $126 million increased $28 million
- Net income of $65 million improved $78 million from a 2016 net loss of $13 million
- Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.0% to $286 million
- Diluted EPS of $0.29; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.37
US Foods attributed much of the $20 million increase in gross profit to a combination of higher volume and margin expansion initiatives, while its net sales increase of 6.1% compared to this time last year were driven by total case volume growth, product mix changes, and year-over-year inflation in grocery, produce, poultry, and seafood. The company also noted that about 1.8% of its net sales were increased by sales from acquisitions completed in the last 12 months.
With an adjusted expectation for net sales growth of of 3-5%, with an interest expense of $175-$180 million, AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date on this and other key growing companies in the industry.
ORANGE, CA – Any produce person that’s made it through at least one full show season, knows that an industry event is a key time to shine. From a well-designed booth to newly formed connections, a successful show can leave you with a buzz that lasts past the closing events. For FreshSource, LLC, one of its most important expos of the year is FPFC SoCal; allowing the company and its clients a chance to dazzle the industry.
National Director of Marketing Natalie Machado and National Director of Retail Dave Juarez took the time to sit down with me and divulge not only what made this year’s event a success, but how FPFC SoCal primes FreshSource and its clients for yearlong success.
“Our goal is to provide the highest quality of sales, merchandising, and retail support possible, and deliver the most innovative and exciting products from around the globe,” Dave says. “Our drive is to help our clients make distinctive, lasting, and substantial bonds with retailers and consumers. Participating in FPFC SoCal Expos provide many services to our clients.”
This year, FreshSource broke a new record by representing 23 clients at across a total of 18 booths. The event was held on July 18, 2017, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA.
Boasting a captivating environment, the company housed a 60 by 40 ft section of floor, designed and built entirely by the FreshSource team. Assembled by hand, the company utilized reclaimed produce pallets and reused lumber to promote sustainability, in addition to giving a warm ambiance that was met with much acclaim.
“We always put serious time and effort into our area to make it as nice as possible,” Natalie shares. “This year was well worth it. The joy on our clients’ faces was priceless, and we noticed a lot of retailers would come back and hang out in our booth after making their rounds.”
FreshSource’s primary attraction was its Chefs Tasting Station. The company had three chefs from Mastro’s Ocean Club on-hand to delight attendees with seven gourmet sample dishes, all using its clients products. This feature not only attracted more people into its area, but also introduced client’s products to produce retailers in a tangible way.
Some of FreshSource’s clients were as follows, in addition to a few others, which marked one of the largest consecutive areas across the event:
- Taylor Farms
- Gourmet Garden
- Zola
- Little Potato Co
- Wildbrine
- Setton Farms
- North Shore Living Herbs
- Pete's Living Greens
- GloriAnn Farms
- Wholly Guacamole
- Sundia
- U Gottabee Nutz
- Bland Farms
- MPK Foods
- House Foods
At the entrance to the area, clients ads were continuously projected during the show on two TV towers, and one across the Chefs Tasting Station. FreshSource employees were also assigned to specific zones in the area, assisting clients with product setup and support during the event.
"We at FreshSource really want to continue raising the bar for our clients and set new standards industry wide!" Natalie concluded.
After six years of participation, FreshSource is looking forward to utilizing its expo strategy of design, advertisements, and product support for next year’s event as well. Creating a buzz, that will follow its clients all year round.
BOLOGNA, ITALY - If you've been following the progress of the so-called "Disneyland of Food," the news that it may open as soon as October will probably have you booking the next flight out to the Italian countryside. Italian news sites have set the much-awaited $106 million FICO Eataly World to open its doors come October 4th.
Eataly, the chain of sprawling Italian food emporiums brought to the U.S. by celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich that visitors of cities like Chicago and New York might already be familiar with, has been plotting the foodie-focused venture since 2013—and AndNowUKnow has been drooling over it ever since. SF Gate has called the soon-to-be-opening Italian cuisine paradise "the world’s largest agri-food park," and when you look at its lineup of features, it's easy to see why. Including real orchards, gardens, pastures, 40 restaurants, 40 factories, 6 virtual reality experiences, 40 workshops, full scale theaters, and a 1,000-person conference center, the park encompasses a total of 20-acres of foodie fantasy fodder.
"Bologna and the Emilia-Romagna region have long been considered the cradle of Italy’s immense food and wine culture," said Tiziana Primori, Eataly World’s CEO, noting that the area is ideally located to "offer a taste of the whole country from Piedmont to Sicily."
Focusing on a "from the field to the fork" understanding of food and food production, SF Gate shared that Eataly World will offer visitors a start-to-finish insight into everything from beer and wine production to sauce making and prosciutto dry-curing. Guests will even be able to watch wheat transform from grain, to stone-ground flour, to a wide array of different pasta types. The source also stated that around 2,000 food producers and businesses will be involved in the final iteration of the park, with many being small, artisanal companies.
Admission is free, but officials are anticipating an average of 6 million visitors per year. So, if you haven’t yet booked your flight out to Bologna, I recommend you start checking with your travel agent.
ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - One of the members of Ahold Delhaize’s Supervisory Board has announced his resignation, a key figure who has had association with the company for many years. Jack Stahl will be stepping down from his position with the retailer.
"Jack has been a committed and valued Supervisory Board member. First at Delhaize Group and, after the merger, at Ahold Delhaize. A veteran of the consumer-goods industry, Jack played a key role throughout the merger process and in shaping Ahold Delhaize. I would like to thank him for his continued support and efforts. The Supervisory Board will miss his professionalism, dedication, insight, and sense of humor," said Mats Jansson, Chairman of Ahold Delhaize's Supervisory Board.
Stahl has stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Audit, Finance, and Risk Committee, in addition to being a member of the Governance and Nomination Committee. Stahl made the decision to resign due to other business-related commitments in the United States, according to a press release.
Stahl served as a member of Delhaize Group’s Supervisory Board since 2008. After the companies merged into Ahold Delhaize, Stahl served on the Ahold Delhaize Supervisory Board since July 24, 2016.
Taking over Stahl’s duties as Chairman of the Audit, Finance, and Risk Committee, Supervisory Board Member René Hooft Graafland has agreed to assume his responsibilities upon the announcement.
For all the latest in executive announcements, count on AndNowUKnow for your buy-side updates and their effect on the industry.