TEMECULA, CA – Looking to bring its produce grading platform to even further success, Compac has announced a strategic plan for its Spectrim™ machinery. The company will be releasing Spectrim retrofits for non-Compac machinery throughout the industry.
“Initial adoption of Spectrim has significantly exceeded our forecast. Last year’s financial results saw Compac grow revenues by over 40%. Since we launched Spectrim, we are on track to sell 75% more lanes of blemish grading than the previous twelve months,” stated Perry Sansom, VP of Marketing & Product. "Spectrim leads the market and supports Compac's positioning to offer integrated solutions to customers based on core technology, that is second to none. We can aggregate high-value yield data with other sources, to provide rich insights into the fresh produce supply chain."
Retrofits offer packinghouses looking to increase their competitive advantage a unique solution in utilizing current equipment that does not yet need to be replaced while still accessing leading technology. The company stated in a press release that an upgrade allows companies to access the latest advancements without replacing all their equipment.
“Spectrim was built from the ground up with one thing in mind–to be the most powerful optical sorting platform ever offered to the industry,” stated Andrew McQueen, Product Manager. “It’s also future proofed, with the platform designed to allow customers to continuously update their system hardware while receiving frequent software updates to keep them at the cutting edge.”
Compac also stated that this retrofitting of Spectrim, is not unusual for the company, and the next step in bolstering its leading technology. Compac retrofitted Booth Ranches to increase its inspection capabilities back in 2014.
“[The retrofit] allowed us to use a lot of the mechanical hardware from our previous grading equipment. They simply came in and upgraded the software and the cameras and lighting ability so it’s able to see these different visual defects that maybe we weren’t seeing, with our previous sorting equipment,” stated Scott Carlisle, Food Safety Coordinator, Booth Ranches.
Retrofits are increasingly useful for equipment used for blemish grading. Compac stated that blemish grading is where the most advancements are being made, and provides packhouses with the most value.
Compac named Washington Fruit as its first customer to have Spectrim installed in its packinghouse. The apple company gained this technology in 2015 to ensure its product was packed correctly every time, reducing overheads and producing greater revenue.
“Since Spectrim, we’ve needed a smaller crew to run the line efficiently–a typical shift had 16 people sorting and now a typical shift has nobody sorting and we’re also able to run faster. It was not long into packing with this system that we were able to pull the sorters off the line and have the same consistent grade,” stated Mikey Hanks, Systems Operator at Washington Fruit.
The company stated that its Spectrim technology is already being retrofitted to apple, citrus, avocado, stonefruit, and kiwifruit packhouses. As the company looks to ever-increase operational efficiencies, its customers also remain confident in Compac and its technology as well.
“For Titan Farms and the industry as a whole, I believe the future is bright. Considering the vast potential of this grading platform, the sky is the limit,” asserted Ross Williams, Titan Farms’ Director of Packing. “I believe Compac will continue to improve upon, and develop, new solutions that will continue to increase efficiencies and reduce costs, in order to help make us better packers and provide our customers with the highest quality fruit possible.”
The Spectrim grading platform was released little over a year ago, with nearly 500 lanes sold throughout the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Europe, South Africa, South America, and China.
WENATCHEE, WA - Reaching out to needy families and growing its relationship to local communities this holiday season, Stemilt Growers has donated a truckload of fresh apples to Northwest Harvest during the KING 5’s Home Team Harvest event held on December 3.
“We are encouraged by the KING 5 Home Team Harvest program and hope this FRESH donation helps deliver a healthy and happy season for all in need,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt Communications Manager, in a press release.
Stemilt has participated in the event for several years now. Additionally, the company has an ongoing partnership with Rotary First Harvest that contributes more than 2 million pounds of food annually to more than 370 food banks and hunger programs throughout Washington State.
The company donated a whopping 48,000 pounds of apples during the KING 5 HomeTeam Harvest event. The massive donation will be dispersed to area food banks to feed needy families this holiday season.
These donations are part of Stemilt’s ongoing Responsible Choice® program—the company’s sustainability and social responsibility promise. Responsible Choice was launched in 1989 by the company’s founder Tom Mathison, long before sustainability became a trend, and while initially focused on environmental sustainability, the program now encompasses a number of different initiatives.
From offering Stemilt employees and dependents free primary health care through the company’s on-site Stemilt Family Clinic to giving to the Rotary First Harvest and other community programs, the company is committed to giving back and securing strong ties to local communities.
For more on the philanthropic side of the produce industry, check in with us at AndNowUKnow.
MEXICO - Watch out Mexico, Walmart is coming for your retail dollars in a big way. At an event with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, the company announced it will invest $1.3 billion to grow its presence there over the next three years.
"This investment affirms our confidence in Mexico, strengthening the logistical infrastructure to achieve our growth goals," said Guilherme Loureiro, CEO of Walmart de Mexico y Central America (Walmex), according to CNN. "We are attracting larger investments in a world of huge uncertainty.”
Key areas that will see a boost in funding include:
- Bolstering logistics infrastructure
- Building distribution centers
- Expanding existing distribution centers
In total, Walmart says the investment will create around 10,000 direct jobs, both new and permanent.
"Mexico is one of the few economies in the hemisphere that is growing,” explained President Peña Nieto. “[Mexico] has become the main economic engine of America.”
According to CNN, the Walmex branch is the second largest company in the Mexican Stock Exchange, with nearly $24 billion in revenue reported in 2015. Its holding includes stores in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
This news comes on the heels of last year’s announcement of massive store closures, including 60 in Brazil and 55 in “Latin American markets.” At the event, Loureiro further noted that Walmart welcomes 4 million shoppers daily at its Mexican stores, has 28,000 suppliers, and employs more than 200,000 people.
As the company continues to grow its Mexican presence, AndNowUKnow will bring you updates on the shifting retail landscape.
OXNARD, CA - In a step to fuel its rapid growth, Mission Produce announced today that the avocado purveyor has hired Brent Scattini as Vice President of Sales for North America.
“I’ve been impressed by what Mission has done over the years. Mission has the leadership position in the fast-growing avocado category, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity,” commented Scattini, adding that Mission’s market leadership position in avocados is what drew him to the role.
Prior to joining Mission, Scattini most recently served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Gold Coast Packing in Santa Maria, CA, where he worked for the past 6 years. Prior to that, he was Director of Sales for Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield.
“The addition to staff is a testament to our commitment to effectively serve our customer base,” commented Steve Barnard, Mission President & CEO, according to a press release. “We have very aggressive growth plans globally, and the North American market still commands much of our attention. Adding a sales executive of Brent’s caliber to our growing team to focus on domestic business is an important step in our overall plans.”
In addition to overseeing day-to-day sales activities, Scattini will work with the domestic sales team in developing and implementing sales strategies in North America, managing client relationships, and developing new business.
According to Brian Miller, Mission’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Scattini is an important addition based on the company’s growth strategies. “Brent brings us additional planning and management-level depth as Mission continues to grow. We just finished a record year, and we are adding sales management resources to stay ahead of our expected growth and keep the momentum rolling,” stated Miller, according to the release.
The vertically integrated company currently operates packing facilities in five countries and owns eight regional ripening centers in North America, according to the company website.
The team at AndNowUKnow wish Brent the best in his new role!
ISSAQUAH, WA - After three consecutive quarters showing an uphill battle for Costco, the retailer seems to be starting off its fiscal 2017 on the right foot. Same-store sales grew, more locations are planned, and stock was up at yesterday’s close upon the release of its first quarter report.
“Citi Visa had a very positive impact on practices and our bottom line,” said CFO Richard Galanti during an earnings call, naming increased member value and sales, lower merchant fees, and 87% activated accounts of the 7.5 million transferred from American Express.
As we reported previously, the transition was a tumultuous one back in June, but it seems those wrinkles are now smoothing out.
“There was a lot of effort, and as you know, there were a few operational glitches during the first few weeks after the cutover. We're now past that, and more importantly, the new card is fantastic for our members,” Galanti said.
Additional highlights for the quarter, ended November 20, 2016, included:
- Net sales for the first quarter were $27.47 billion, an increase of three percent, from $26.63 billion during the first quarter last year.
- Net income for the quarter was $545 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to $480 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, last year.
- Total operation of 723 warehouses, including 506 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 94 in Canada, and 36 in Mexico.
Galanti added that, in terms of expansion, Costco is planning on opening 31 new locations this year, two more than last year and a total increase of about 4.5% in square footage.
Of those new locations, 16 will be in the U.S. and 8 in Canada, with Costco opening its very first operations in both Iceland and France as it looks to grow itself globally.
Gross margin, including both food and fresh offerings, was also reported as being higher year over year by 17 basis points in the first quarter.
With more growth, and more offerings planned as it moves into its next quarter of fiscal 2017, AndNowUKnow will continue to report on key moves made by Costco and other retail operators in the industry.
ORANGE, CA – Interfresh, Inc. is looking to bolster its operations as a produce supplier with some key team member appointments. The company announced that it has added both Alejandra Ruiz and Greg Millhorn to its sales teams.
Greg Millhorn will join the company’s sales staff in San Bruno, CA. Of his appointment, he stated, “After spending a couple of days with this team, I really appreciate the personnel and support that Interfresh provides, as well as the great vibe. I feel our progress together will go extremely well, and I’m excited to be a part of such a professional produce marketing team.”
In his new role, Greg’s main focus will be on the company’s sales of mangos, papayas, citrus, and grapes, according to a press release.
“Greg brings to Interfresh 30 years of produce expertise,” noted Chris Puentes, President. “His experience spans a wide spectrum, including logistics, supply chain management, import, export, and domestic sales and buying. We think that with the Interfresh team supporting him, Greg will hit the ground running and help us expand our reach.”
Likewise, to round out the company’s increased exposure of its other categories, Interfresh has brought Alejandra "Alex" Ruiz onto its team in Vernon, CA. Interfresh is currently in its 30th year of providing fresh fruits and vegetables to wholesale, retail, and foodservice distributors.
“I’m very happy to be part of the Interfresh team, and my focus will be on delivering the results we are striving for: to service our growers and customers to the best of our ability,” she stated.
Alejandra will focus her expertise on the company’s offerings of citrus, melons, pineapples, and corn. At the Vernon location, Alejandra will be bolstering Interfresh sales through the company’s distribution center.
“We’re very pleased to have Alejandra on board,” continued Chris. “Alejandra is driven to produce results for her customers and growers, and we’re excited to have her help in expanding our customer base. Alejandra is also fluent in Spanish, and we hope to expand our reach to the Hispanic retail community.”
Interfresh stated that it is looking to expand its reach even further, in addition to fleshing out its product line, by opening new offices in strategic California locations. Interfresh’s team members boast experience and passion in order to provide quality services for a consistent, high-quality supply of produce throughout the seasons.
As companies throughout the industry continue to refine their teams, AndNowUKnow will have the latest in strategic appointments and professional possibilities.
NORTHERN UNITED STATES - The coldest air of the season paired with an active jet stream will see the northern half of the nation inundated with snow. Winter Storm Caly is set to blanket a more than 2,600-mile swath of the U.S. with snow. The Pacific Northwest, the Rockies, Plains, Midwest, and Northeast will all see snowfall into early next week.
The Pacific Northwest will be hit by what The Weather Channel is calling “an impressive arctic air mass.” According to the site, Winter Storm warnings have been issued for the Portland, Oregon metro area, and significant amounts of snow, sleet, and ice are expected to hit the city.
Because subfreezing air tends to be hard to dislodge, particularly in this region, precipitation is likely to start as snow and may change to freezing rain at lower elevations. The downpour and the threat of ice accumulation could lead to challenging travel conditions throughout the state of Oregon.
Snow will begin to fall across the northern Plains and upper Midwest on Saturday, and move throughout the weekend to hit the Great Lakes, the interior Northeast, and potentially the Ohio Valley. Major cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Syracuse could be adversely affected.
By Monday, the storm will have spread across the Northeast, with the potential to drop wet snow on the busy Interstate-95 Boston-Washington corridor.
The snowstorm is not expected to be a prolific, heavy snow event, but up to six inches of snow could fall in some areas; a stretch of land from the upper Mississippi Valley to the southern Great Lakes and the interior Northeast.
For more on adverse weather conditions with the potential to affect the produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
OXNARD, CA - With Fall winding down and Winter fast on its heels, Well•Pict is looking to turn heads with especially-flavorful proprietary varieties of its fruit this season. I checked in with Dan Crowley, the company’s VP of Sales and Marketing, to see how the season is shaping up.
“At this time in the season, the Fall crop is being harvested in Oxnard. These strawberries were planted this Summer, and will be harvested until the end of December,” says Dan. “People say ‘what are you, crazy?’ when we tell them strawberries are growing now to harvest in December, in California. But, our trading partners have come to expect high quality strawberries from us 12 months of the year. Because production during this time of the year is slower, the fruit develops an extraordinary flavor profile and sugar content.”
A veritable font of strawberry-knowledge, Dan tells me that the quality of the harvest is excellent—both in terms of size and flavor. Though the price of strawberries currently may be high because of scarcity, he assures me that the exceptional quality of Well•Pict’s fruit will make this winter’s harvest a hot item with consumers.
“Because these strawberries develop during shorter, colder days, the flower-to-fruit cycle is much longer,” explains Dan. “The fruit that will be harvested this December was put in the ground at the beginning of Summer and this extended maturation process really pays dividends in terms of brix and overall quality.”
As we enter Winter proper, Well•Pict will begin to transition to more production in Florida.
“We expect the strawberry market to be extremely strong through December,” Dan says, “after which time, production from Florida will begin to absorb a greater portion of our market share, and prices will begin to stabilize as we get further into 2017. Production has already begun in the Wimauma, Florida growing regions, so as the harvest finishes in Oxnard, we can transition to meet the demands of the season.”
For more updates on the state of the market, check back in with AndNowUKnow.
FRESNO, CA - With a growing demand for more year-round fresh produce programs and one-stop-shops for fruit and veg solutions, Crown Jewels is highlighting the backbone of the company’s sales team this month with a spotlight on a driving force within the company, Robbie Mathias and Roger Mathias.
I sat down with Crown Jewels’ Partner, Atomic Torosian, as he shared the journeys of both sales leaders, and how they are shaping the future of the company.
“Robbie Mathias is a third generation produce salesman from California and son of the President of Crown Jewels Produce, Rob Mathias. His grandfather is Rick Mathias, who used to work for a large west side grower back in the late 50s and 60s before starting up his own produce packing and marketing company. So you see, Robbie has got it in his blood,” Atomic shared with me. And in terms of family lineage in this industry, it didn’t hurt that Rick also worked for Sobey’s Produce before retiring from Crown Jewels Produce this last year.
Robbie himself worked as a Supervisor/Manager for Sam’s Club prior to kicking off his Crown Jewels Produce career, and has been very active in sales the past 10 years. With his work at Crown Jewels, Robbie has worked his way up the ladder by handling many of the company's large retail accounts.
“Robbie brings a retail-minded background, from his work with Sam’s Club, while he helps develop new retail accounts for our company,” Atomic added. “His insights continue to elevate our business strategies while enriching and expanding our relationships across the industry.
So you may be wondering, does Robbie have any spare time? When I put the question in front of Atomic he laughed and shared that Robbie enjoys coaching his two young sons in many sports activities, is an avid golfer and, drumroll please…is a dedicated power weight lifter with his best mark of over 400 lbs on the bench press.
On the other side of this powerhouse partnership is Roger Mathias, brother of Rob Mathias and uncle to Robbie Mathias. A native of Fresno, California, Roger grew up in a large produce family. After graduating from San Diego State University, Roger joined his father and brother Rob at Ogee Packing where they sold the family’s fresh tomatoes. Roger also traveled annually to Brawley, California, to sell winter vegetables and melons.
“Roger’s produce career took root in sales positions at The Stephen Company, and he also worked four years on the sales desk at Masters Touch in Nogales and San Diego, selling tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers before joining Fresh Pac in 2001,” Atomic said, noting that Roger has been taking on more responsibilities the last four years working for Crown Jewels Produce where he works with many wholesalers, foodservice, and retail accounts across the country.
Atomic added that while Robbie may be a power lifter, Roger brings the power of life-long experience and a deep understanding of the industry, contributing many years of senior leadership and stability to Crown Jewels, and Atomic is excited to see where the duo take the company to next.
“Robbie is the young blood of our company while Roger brings the much needed knowledge and perspective and to the Nogales Sales Group,” he finished.
Headed up by Paul Bachelier, Crown Jewels Sales Manager, the sales team represents a trifecta of stories and successes, and from the looks of it, they have quite a few more stories to build.
MILLEN, GA - With last week’s fires spreading across the Smoky Mountains, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses, the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has once again stepped in to serve its community. SEPC has announced it will donate $10,000 to help the residents of Gatlinburg and Sevier County Tennessee.
“One of the core values the SEPC was founded on is community,” said David Sherrod, SEPC Executive Director upon the announcement. “We are dedicated to supporting our communities and helping those affected by tragedy however we can.”
This donation comes after the support of emergency service crews, who worked tirelessly to contain the flames that left parts of the region either damaged or destroyed. The council’s press release also noted that among the thousands of residents displaced were also members of SEPC.
“Our hearts go out to all of those who have been affected by these disastrous fires,” added Sherrod, recognizing the hard work of the emergency crews. “We pray that the structural rebuild is quick, but more importantly that emotional healing will be restored through faith.”
Those who wish to add to SEPC’s generous donation can help those affected through the Gatlinburg Relief Fund here.