SELMA, CA - California pomegranates have arrived in size and flavor, and Bill Purewal of PureFresh Sales tells me it will be a season for the books.
“The season is off to a bit of late start kicking off this week, but thanks to exceptional weather the product is sizing and coloring beautifully,” Bill tells me. He explains that while this first variety will run eight weeks, the season overall will last through the first of the year. This is good news as increasing demand has consumers pushing for year-round availability.
“Demand is actually exceptional on both the domestic and export sides right now,” Bill said. “Pomegranates are getting increasing traction on the consumer level, with shoppers saying they want to see year-round product more and more.”
And the quality should meet its expectations in full, PureFresh reports. Sizing is exceptionally large for the first yield with a very sweet flavor.
“Our grower, Slayman, is consistently the first California pomegranate provider of the season. They have been growing since 1926 and have it down to a science–people are familiar with and favor their brand,” Bill explained.
PureFresh is currently serving domestic markets as well as exporting to markets like Japan and Korea. With the season kicking off at about a seven to ten day-late start, quantity will likely be on the lighter side when it comes to the most popular variety, Wonderful. Bill explained it will likely be about 18 to 20 percent less than average.
Promotions begin in September and will go beyond the New Year, and PureFresh recommends retailers slate an extra push around late October and Thanksgiving. To learn more, click here.
WENATCHEE, WA – The final months of summer have arrived, and with them Stemilt’s Artisan Organic™ peaches and nectarines. With Stemilt’s organic peach and nectarine harvest kicking off in late July, retailers can start expecting to see volumes heighten and peak time approaching.
“The later arrival of spring on the West Coast has pushed all crops back in terms of harvest timing, especially when compared to the record early start the year prior,” stated Communications Manager, Brianna Shales. “Our Artisan Organics peaches and nectarines are coming off the tree now and will be ready for promotions in mid-August. These organically-grown, tree-ripened peaches offer retailers a premium product to feature during the last weeks of summer.”
August 15 marks the prime time for retailers to load for promotion, and Stemilt suggests this continue for the next month. Stemilt’s Artisan Organics program is producing vibrant stonefruit that the company says will leave consumers with an overwhelmingly delicious eating experience, and Shales notes that retailers should begin planning advertisements now to catch these peak promotional volumes.
“Retailers should be planning big callouts for advertisements,” explained Shales. “Promote the fact that these fruits are organic, tree-ripened, and jumbo sized. As mid-August arrives, retailers should start running two to three ads over the course of a month to take advantage of the flavors and high qualities of this late-season and all-organic stonefruit.”
The Artisan Organics line is one filled with high-quality stonefruit in large sizes, vibrant colors, and outstanding flavors, according to a press release. The company reports that sugars are high in brix and acid levels are at agreeable levels. Both the organic peaches and nectarines are likely to drive consumers to buy in bulk, so Stemilt is encouraging retailers to highlight the program through the transparency and storytelling provided with its display bins and placing them in highly populated areas within organics sections.
“The organic peaches and nectarines have a wonderful flavor profile this year, which should result in high sales dollars,” added Shales. “This stonefruit is coming off the tree in high-quality conditions due to the growing climate and the best organic farming expertise in the industry.”
The Douglas family transitioned to organic about a decade ago, and have been growing all-organic peaches and nectarines since 2009. Not only do they have a plethora of farming experience, they also grow in a region that complements organic growing conditions, resulting in high-quality Artisan Organic peaches and nectarines.
Stemilt grows its Artisan Organics peaches and nectarines in arid and almost desert-like climates in south central Washington State. The warm days found in these climates allow peaches and nectarines to achieve high sugar levels, while the cool nights allow the tree to rest and develop the stonefruit’s beautiful coloring. This, combined with volcanic soils, give the peaches and nectarines the necessary nutrients to flourish. And due to the Douglas family’s attentiveness to the fruit before harvest optimal picking time, the fruit hangs on the tree longer and gains higher sugars and color.
“It takes multiple picks from the same tree to harvest all of our Artisan Organics peaches and nectarines, as this is how we ensure that flavor comes first,” continued Shales. “Growing classic varieties organically and harvesting at just the right moment is key to produce dessert-quality peaches and nectarines.”
Once picked, the organic peaches and nectarines go through a dedicated sorting and packing line that uses modern technology to sort the fruit based on quality and color. After being sorted and packed, the fruit is cooled by jet coolers, with fans engineered to cool the fruit quickly and evenly, while significantly reducing time and energy.
“The jet coolers are making a significant difference in quality and shelf-life,” stated Shales. “Each and every step in the process, from tree to truck, is crucial in delivering the highest quality fruit to our consumers, and we pride ourselves in achieving that goal every harvest.”
To learn more about Stemilt’s Artisan Organic nectarine and peach program, visit the company here.
LAKEWOOD, CO – Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage announced results for the third quarter of its fiscal year, projecting a revised outlook for its fiscal 2017 and curtailing expansion plans for the remainder of the year.
"While we had a challenging third quarter in terms of margin and earnings performance, I am encouraged by the improvements in our daily average comparable store sales and by mature store sales trends during the third quarter," said Kemper Isely, Co-President, in a company press release. "We believe these trends reflect the positive impact of our recent marketing initiatives. I was pleased with the strong sales lift we've experienced in our relocated Boulder store and am excited about the recent relocation of our downtown Denver store. Looking ahead, we have moderated new unit growth to reflect the challenging competitive environment and have no additional new store openings planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.”
Despite a trying grocery landscape, Isely noted the company is optimistic that it may resume expansion plans shortly.
“With comparable stores sales trending in the right direction, including good momentum exiting the third quarter, we intend to refocus our efforts on controlling expenses and improving earnings performance," Isely added.
Highlights from Natural Grocers third quarter and fiscal year thus far include:
- Net sales increased 8.6% to $194.7 million in the Q3 and increased 8.8% to $570.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2017
- Daily average comparable store sales increased 0.4% in the third quarter and decreased 0.7% in the first nine months of fiscal 2017
- Net income was $0.6 million with diluted earnings per share of $0.03 in the third quarter and was $5.7 million with diluted earnings per share of $0.25 in the first nine months of fiscal 2017
- EBITDA was $9.2 million in the third quarter and was $33.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2017
- Gross profit during the third quarter of fiscal 2017 increased 3.6% over the same period in fiscal 2016 to $52.8 million
- Gross profit during the first nine months of fiscal 2017 increased 5.5% over the same period last year to $159.1 million
The company’s revised fiscal 2017 outlook curbed its new store count at 14, and projected slightly lowered expectations for net income as a percentage of sales and capital expenditures raised from $36.7 to $39-$41. Same store sales growth, net income as a percentage of sales, and EBTIDA remained comparable, while projected diluted earnings per share are expected to grow from $0.25 to $0.31-$0.34.
For more information on important retailers in our industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
ANTIGO, WI - Volm Companies, Inc has opened its new 90,000-square-foot facility located in Pasco, Washington, which broke ground last August. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house was held on Tuesday, July 25th, 2017, at the property site.
"We came to the Tri-Cities area in 2007 through an acquisition, and since then we’ve been so impressed by how welcoming the area has been," said Daniel Mueller, Volm’s President & CEO. He thanked first and foremost the region’s customers, noting the impressive way in which they have taken on innovation in the area. “It’s inspiring to us as a company and pushes us, and without you, we wouldn’t have been able to have dedicated ourselves to this area like we are today."
Mueller continued, "We also want to thank the city, giving us a lot of help throughout this process and MH Construction because this is a pretty impressive building and they have done a quality job the whole way through. Again, we feel very welcome to this area and we thank everyone for being here today.”
Those officiating the ceremony along with Mueller were Volm’s Chairman of the Board Alan Mueller and City of Pasco Mayor Matt Watkins who welcomed Volm to the business community.
The open house event was attended by Volm stakeholders and management, customers, city officials, building and project contractors, as well as staff visiting from other Volm locations and other guests who played a role in the project.
“It’s important that our customers know our level of commitment to providing them with the level of service they deserve,” Vice President of Sales and Marketing Matt Alexander added following the ceremony. “For our customers to be here today celebrating this event with us was important to all of us at Volm. We are committed to their success and through this investment are able to show them that Volm is here to stay.”
The new distribution facility is located at 5702 Industrial Way in Pasco, less than two miles from the former location. The facility houses warehouse space for inventory, LENO manufacturing equipment, equipment and parts area, as well as increased office space for the growing business.
For more on Volm Companies and company news, visit the website.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – After 36 years of dedicated service to the company, Tom Lange Company’s Secretary/Treasurer, Hugh Seelbach, will be retiring. The company has announced that Josh McKey succeed him, and step into the role of CFO.
“It has been an honor and privilege working with such a great company that employs so many wonderful people,” Hugh said.
Hugh first started his career with the company in 1981 as a Staff Accountant, according to a press release, and now serves as the Secretary/Treasurer. Hugh has also served on the company’s Board of Directors for six years, and will continue in that capacity.
“Hugh has been an invaluable fellow member of our executive team, board member and friend for over 36 years. We wish him and his family good health and a happy retirement for many years to come,” said Phil Gumpert, Chairman/CEO of Tom Lange Company.
Hugh’s retirement will go into effect August 31, 2017. The company noted that Hugh and his wife, Pat, are the proud parents of three children and three grandchildren.
“Hugh has accomplished much in his distinguished career,” said Greg Reinauer, President of Tom Lange Company. “The entire Tom Lange Family thanks Hugh for his many contributions and wishes him and his family all the best in retirement.”
With Hugh’s departure, Josh McKey has been named Chief Financial Officer of Tom Lange Companies. Josh has been a member of the Tom Lange family since he joined in January of this year from Chemline.
“I am excited to be a part of the Tom Lange Family of Companies and to work with the fantastic people that make this organization great," Josh said of his appointment. "The company has a tremendous track record of success and we are well positioned and ready for the next phase of growth. I am confident that my experience will bring value in achieving our goals and realizing our strategic vision.”
Best of luck to Hugh on his retirement, and congratulations to Josh on this appointment!
USA - Having just celebrated two months on the market, Uber is expanding its freight app in multiple markets and introducing new features to enhance its capabilities.
Beyond the Texas market, the transportation technology will now be made available to independent truckers in California, Arizona, the Chicago-Midwest region, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
As we reported when the app first launched, the platform looks to streamline the freight process and mitigate delays in the supply chain by targeting "vetted and approved drivers" to match to jobs in the area. Now the app, on top of being more widely available geographically will offer new features to help it cater to drivers needs.
The company’s blog says, as a result of its focusing on Texas operations to answer truck drivers’ needs, “We have built a suite of features that make the app a completely personalized experience.”
This includes automatically learning drivers’ preferences based on:
- Past loads
- Location
- Home base
Using the above criteria “and more,” the app will notify that driver when a new load matching those preferences is available.
Already the company is reporting some involvement in the produce industry since its late May launch.
“We’ve helped carriers and their drivers haul everything from water to oranges to furniture, and we’ve been blown away by the community’s feedback,” the blog says. “Our carriers and their drivers love Uber Freight’s transparency and fast payment.”
But, as noted by The Verge, expansion and differentiation from similar freight boards would be necessary to make the platform competitive in the market. These updates come after some criticism about its being like other online offerings matching drivers and shippers, as well as its form of payment.
As the transportation tech operator looks to further expand its footprint, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for any new developments.
SUNBURY, PA – Reporting robust sales and income growth in a competitive market, Weis Markets announced the results of the second quarter of the company’s fiscal year this week.
"Our comparable stores have now increased for the thirteenth consecutive quarter," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Weis, in a company release. "During this period our sales and net income benefited from the strong performance of our pharmacy and deli-food service departments, sustained and varied promotions throughout our seven-state market area, and increased store level efficiencies and expense controls."
Throughout the 13 week period ending July 1st, 2017, the retailer reported that sales increased 20 percent to $876.6 million, compared to $730.4 million for the same period in 2016.
Other highlights of the second quarter report include:
- Second quarter comparable store sales, adjusted down for the Easter Holiday shift, increased 2.7 percent
- Operating income increased 15.2 percent to $27.7 million compared to $24.1 million for the same period in 2016
- Net income increased 21.0 percent to $18.5 million
- Earnings per share totaled $0.69 compared to $0.57 in 2016
The company also noted similar growth in its year-to-date sales. During the 26 week period ending July 1st, 2017, Weis Markets’ sales increased 17.7 percent to $1.7 billion, compared to the same period in 2016, while comparable store sales were up 1.7 percent. Operating income totaled $48.0 million compared to $55.3 million in 2016, and year-to-date net income totaled $30.3 million, down 14.4 percent compared to 2016.
These financial results follow Weis Markets' announcement, this April, that the company would invest $90 in growth over the course of 2017, and income decreases reflect significant investments in store remodels, new facilities, and more.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on important retail news.
LEAMINGTON, ON - When I think of cucumbers, I think of versatility. And when I think of SUNSET®, I think of flavor and innovation. Combine the two and you get a produce category great: SUNSET® MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) English Cucumbers. With foodservice top-of-mind for driving trends and building tasteful creations, SUNSET® joins me to discuss this popular product, and what makes it a go-to for menus across North America.
“Today’s chefs want speed and convenience in the kitchen,” Dean Taylor, Director Of Sales, tells me as we look into the needs of foodservice. “By packing these in a MAP bag instead of individually wrapping the cukes, time is saved. And because they are packed with a minimum weight instead of just count, operators are able to manage their costs precisely.”
If a chef can give a dish a little extra love over spending time dealing with the challenges of packing, I would say, go for the love. These new 24-count, minimum 20 lb. styles, packed in Extend™ Modified Atmosphere bags are perfect for the high volume operators looking to control portion cost and reduce labor.
The cucumbers are also ready-to-wash and create less waste without the individual shrink-wrapping of each cucumber. There are so many perks to reduced packaging, with twice the cucumbers per box.
“SUNSET® is a pioneer in the greenhouse industry and is the first to have a dedicated foodservice only team,” Dean shares. “SUNSET® provides a nation-wide delivered program to Restaurant Chains, Broad-line Foodservice Distributors and select Independent Produce Specialists.”
Whether they are sliced into a cool drink during the heat of summer, shaved onto a salad with cherry tomatoes and crumbled goat cheese, or simply chopped into a salsa or relish for zing–cucumbers are always in my consumer basket. And now the foodservice chef’s as well.
MONTEREY, CA - Buyers, operators, attendees, and growers weren’t the only ones feasting on fruits and vegetables during PMA Foodservice weekend in Monterey—the event spread the produce love on to those who need it most in the area.
“PMA is thrilled to be able to give back to the communities that host our events,” said Kathy Means, PMA Vice President of Industry Relations. “We thank our exhibitors and the food bank volunteers who make this happen every year in Monterey. Sharing the bounty of this industry is in every company’s DNA.”
And the bounty shared was significant. Exhibitors donated 18,150 pounds of fresh produce to the Food Bank for Monterey County, according to a press release—about 1,000 pounds more than last year.
“The Produce Marketing Association donation continues the tradition of our generous local ag partners that donate fresh fruits and vegetables to our food bank year-round,” said Melissa Kendrick, Food Bank Executive Director.
A member of Feeding America, the food bank is part of a national network of over 200 food banks helping to feed those in need in the U.S. According to the most recent Monterey County Health Department data, 34% of Monterey County residents are food insecure, and the Food Bank for Monterey County collects, stores, and distributes donated food to one in five residents in the area.
“As one of the largest ag-producing counties in the nation, it’s not only the generosity of the ag producers’ donations, but the highly nutritious nature of the products that are the real payoff for our families in need,” Kendrick said. “With epidemic levels of Type II Diabetes among our recipient population, these are exactly the kinds of healthy food items they struggle to afford on a daily basis.”
Last year, the Food Bank for Monterey County provided more than 7 million meals to families, kids and seniors in Monterey County, which the organization said left the warehouse and made it into the hands of those in need later that same day.
Thank you to all who helped make it possible to see that all that fresh food went to those in need.
ORLANDO, FL – From the buy-side to the supply-side, the industry keeps a close eye on the latest food trends and what’s hot with consumers. To help produce professionals tap in further on margin increasing trends in the marketplace, Full Tilt Marketing surveyed 37 food bloggers to get their perspective on what trends and popularity patterns they are seeing.
“When it comes to consumer trends, food bloggers offer a unique perspective,” stated Full Tilt Managing Partner Heidi McIntyre. “They are constantly monitoring the responses to their recipe posts, engaging with their followers, and keeping tabs on other food bloggers, which gives them an edge in understanding consumer preferences.”
So, where does produce fall? According to a press release, Full Tilt found out the following trends according to its bloggers:
Lasting Favorites
Consumers have a preference for heirloom varieties and ancient ingredients. Bloggers noted that vegetables as substitution are also finding their way into consumer hearts; like, veggie noodles and mashed cauliflower instead of traditional starches. This trend is finding success in healthy recipes.
Street-Food
Ranking the highest on the list, this trend has been escalating over the past few years. The National Restaurant Association also named street food as one of the leading food trends for 2017, incorporating veggies along the way.
Jackfruit
Coming in second on the trend list, jackfruit and other plant-based protein sources are gaining popularity as consumers seek healthier alternativies.
Poke
In a food bowl trend that seems to be sweeping the country, food bloggers noted that poke fell highest on the list. Poke contains cubed, raw fish with seasonings and other healthy items such as rice and vegetables. As the item continues appearing in eateries, expect to see them more on food blogs as well.
Other Trends
While plant-based waters and cold pressed juices may be on their way out of trends that are exploding in popularity, the bloggers noted there are other trends starting to pop. As consumers patterns shift, these items are becoming a growing presence:
- Kombucha: experiencing a 41% growth since 2016, according to Beverage Industry Magazine
- Pickling and fermenting: consumers are experimenting with home-made condiments and methods of creation
- Grain-free items
- Keto and paleo foods
- Craft cocktails, including using Asian spirits
- Sustainable bio-sourcing
“Trends are dynamic with a variety of perspectives from multiple industry facets–with trend setters telling us what’s next. What’s interesting about bloggers is how plugged into they are to actual consumer feedback, not agenda. Their business are driven by clicks and page views so they know firsthand what drives consumers to help us understand what’s happening on the front lines,” said Melinda Goodman, Managing Partner.
Full Tilt noted that a majority of its surveyed bloggers reported that health is top of mind for their followers. This put healthy meals for kids and veggie-centric meals high on their list.
“Nowadays, healthy, organic, sustainable foods that cater to our lifestyles are of key importance when it comes to being a recipe developer and food blogger. From my perspective healthy, organic, sustainable aren’t buzzwords, they are all important food trends,” noted one blogger on healthy eating.
Following the health-focused trend, consumers are also continuing to look to local when it comes to sourcing their produce and other food items. One blogger wrote, “Consumers want to understand where their food comes from, now more than ever.”
So, where do consumers concerns lay? The bloggers noted that hormones seem top of mind, with sustainability and where their food is grown coming in second. One blogger stated, “I think a lot of people are more aware of what food they are consuming and where it is coming from; especially since that information is so widely available now.”
As consumers discover new favorites, and re-discover old loves, AndNowUKnow will keep an ear to the ground for the latest and hottest produce items in the market.