UNITED KINGDOM - Aldi is turning up the heat on its move into the U.K. with a focus on more upmarket stores, investing 300 million pounds (about $390 million) into the move.
“The U.K. price war continues to rage on, but we are prepared to ride out the storm,” Matthew Barnes, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi U.K. and Ireland, said on a call with reporters, according to Bloomberg. “We will cut prices further if necessary.”
The retailer’s new store formats will include new fixtures and better signs, with an emphasis on product quality and added refrigeration for fresh produce.
Aldi’s pursuit of increasing favor with upmarket shoppers has seen some return, according to the report, with more favor being shown towards the chain by more affluent Brits despite its cutting prices on 30 percent of its products so far this year.
Currently Aldi plans to open 70 new U.K. locations next year, with a goal of 1,000 U.K. stores by 2022, despite the fact that the chain has disclosed previously that the competitive market has yielded rising sales but lower earnings.
Last year, Aldi saw a 12 percent increase in sales, 7.7 billion pounds (about $10 billion) but a 1.8 percent slip in operating profit to 256 million pounds (upwards of $3.3 million).
Bloomberg noted that, overall, Aldi’s share of the British grocery market is at a record 6.2%, with 13.9 million U.K. households on its customer list.
The U.S. market is another stomping ground in which Aldi has pushed for a broader footprint, having recently announced plans for a new stateside divisional headquarters and a 500,000-square-foot distribution center and hosted hiring events in a number of states.
Will Aldi reach its goal of further instilling itself in the U.K. region, and will that growth flow over into further U.S. growth as well? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you informed of the latest.
SANTA PAULA, CA - With fall festivities around the corner, it’s time to start planning holiday spreads.
Limoneira spokesperson and founder of Healthy Grocery Girl, Megan Roosevelt has put together an array of solutions to satisfy consumers' Halloween party, Autumn decor, and holiday needs. View the full details for each recipe on the Limoneira YouTube channel here.
Each month, Megan will be featuring another wonderful facet of lemon living. Subscribe to Limoneira’s YouTube channel for more information on the many ways this endlessly versatile fruit can improve life inside the home and beyond.
Apple Orange Cider
This treat can make an entire house smell like a magical fall day.
Ingredients:
- 6 cups apple juice
- ½ cup orange juice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- Apple and orange slices
Directions: Add all ingredients to a crock or soup pot. Bring to a simmer and cook on low for one hour.
Spooky Chocolate Orange Pudding
Everyone loves chocolate pudding, but this recipe amplifies the flavor while adding a spooky Jack-O-Lantern twist.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup almond milk
- 4 tbsp orange juice
- Pinch of sea salt
- 2-3 Limoneira navel oranges (which, happily, look like tiny pumpkins!)
Directions: Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. Place bowl of melted chocolate over ice and add almond milk. Whisk together. Next, add sea salt and fresh squeezed orange juice and whisk. Place bowl of pudding in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
While the pudding cools, remove the tops of the navel oranges and with a spoon, carefully scoop out the inside. This recipe should fill 2-3 navel oranges. Using an exacto-knife, carefully carve spooky faces into the oranges. (Note: be careful not to make the faces too big, or the pudding may spill out.)
Add pudding to spooky pudding cups. You can enjoy immediately, or put them in the fridge to enjoy within 1-2 days.
Citrus Wreath
Wreaths are a hallmark of the holiday season, and this lemon and olive branch wreath will add whimsical flair to your fall decor.
Supplies:
- 10 olive branches
- 20” grapevine wreath
- Heavy floral wire
- Limoneira lemons
Directions: Begin by cutting olive branches into 6” sprigs. Place sprigs into wreath and complete all the way around. Cut the floral wire 10” in length. Poke the wire through the lemons, leaving an even amount of wire on each side. Add lemons to wreath and bring the floral wire around the back. Twist to secure in place. Hang on the front door, or anyplace that needs a little festive, lemon-y holiday cheer.
Stop by Limoneira's booth #1643 at PMA in Orlando to sample some delicious delights and get great citrus tips from Megan.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as the industry shares fresh produce holiday tips!
MONTEREY, CA - As snacking continues to scoop the fresh produce industry for both foodservice and retail, Michael Ryshouwer, Field Marketing Manager for Bejo Seeds, took the time to share with me some of the seed company’s standouts and growing segments.
“We’re showing our star-performer Tasti-Lee tomatoes,” Michael said, citing Nielsen’s findings for the tomato’s positive sales. Not only does it come with stellar reviews, but the vine-ripened tomato is available in organic as well.
Looking to grow in additional areas and offerings, Michael shows us a category that is currently cracking into the U.S. consumer market.
“We have Kohlrabi, which is not well-known here in the United States,” Michael says. “We have made it into sticks and cubes and the school industry is very interested in looking for new snacks and lunch programs.”
He also discussed the perks of the Sweetheart Lettage, something of a cross between lettuce and cabbage that can be offered as a healthy leaf alternative. “Cabbage has all the nutritional value, and we can substitute it for lettuce,” he shared.
Hear all that the Field Marketing Manager had to share in the short video above, and keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for further coverage on growth and reach at Bejo Seeds.
MONTEREY, CA - To push the company’s deep-rooted initiative to support others, C.H. Robinson celebrated the growth of its annual “Robinson Cares Week,” hosting an inaugural event for the Monterey, CA region.
The company announced that its Western Sourcing Region office in Monterey, CA, hosted its first-ever annual with exciting success, raising over $4,600 for local and national charities.
“We at C.H. Robinson not only strive to be best in class in the transportation world, but we also take great pride in our philanthropic culture as well,” the company stated in a press release. “It was incredible to witness our employees first-hand coming together to give back to our communities and have some fun while supporting great causes.”
Funds were raised through everything from pledges and events to a silent auction, with the bounty set to be donated to C.H. Robinson’s following federation partners:
- C.H. Robinson Employee Hardship Fund
- American Heart Association
- Meals on Wheels
- Dorothy’s Place
- SPCA Monterey County
- Foodbank of Monterey County
- The Veterans Transition Center
C. H. Robinsons’ corporate offices have supported various organizations for the past 17 years, raising over $2.6 million through charitable contributions and volunteer events.
The company sent out a big thank you to all donors and dedicated participants for making its first Robinson Cares Week such a success.
HOUSTON, TX - Sysco Corporation has announced the election of three new directors—Daniel Brutto, Bradley Halverson, and Edward Shirley. This move expands the size of the board to 15 members as the company continues its ongoing refreshment efforts, including the establishment of a 15-year, phased director tenure limitation.
"We are very pleased to welcome Dan, Brad, and Ed to our board,” said Jackie M. Ward, Sysco's Chairman of the Board. “The extensive management and corporate strategy expertise they’ve amassed during their distinct and distinguished careers, along with experience in finance, mergers & acquisitions, information systems, international business, and market/brand development, will be extremely valuable to Sysco and add fresh, new perspective, and leadership capabilities to our board.”
The newly-elected board members are as follows:
Daniel J. Brutto
Brutto’s experience lies in his 38-year career at UPS, serving most recently as President of UPS International and Senior Vice President of UPS, from January 2008 until his retirement in June 2013. Brutto’s career provided him with extensive experience in executive leadership/management, strategy development, business operations, finance, information systems, mergers & acquisitions, marketing, and international/global operations, Sysco says.
Bradley M. Halverson
Halverson currently serves as Group President, Financial Products and Corporate Services, and Chief Financial Officer of construction and mining equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar. During his nearly 30-year career with the company and his prior service with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Halverson has developed an expertise in accounting, financial reporting, and corporate finance, as well as garnering leadership experience in the areas of executive management, corporate strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, information technology systems oversight, and international business.
Edward D. Shirley
Having served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bacardi Limited from 2012 to 2014, Shirley has added foodservice experience to his combined 32 years with The Procter & Gamble Company, 27 of those as a senior executive with The Gillette Company. This lengthy time with large consumer products companies helped Shirley gain strong expertise in the areas of executive leadership, strategy development, marketing/brand development, and business operations.
Upon the announcement of the new directors, Sysco also revealed in a press release its intention to maintain a board size of 10 to 15 members. All three of the newly-elected directors will stand for re-election at Sysco’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders on November 16, 2016.
BELLINGHAM, WA – It looks as though retail chain Haggen will soon find itself in court again, as a group of creditors has filed suit against the retailer’s previous owner, Comvest Group Holdings, for $100 million still owed to suppliers, landlords, and laid-off employees.
The suit, which The Bellingham Herald reported was filed earlier this month in a Delaware Bankruptcy Court, alleges that Comvest used real estate assets obtained from Haggen’s acquisition of Albertsons to benefit its own company, and did not use the assets to pay back its creditors.
According to The Bellingham Herald, the creditors name Comvest in the complaint as developing a “convoluted Machiavellian scheme,” where it intended to engage in real estate play rather than expanding the chain. The suit also states that the company transferred Haggen’s most profitable real estate holdings to an unlisted subsidiary in the bankruptcy case, protecting them from creditors.
The suit seeks for $100 million in debts to be paid to unsecured creditors, HH Liquidation LLC. The unsecured creditors stated that in addition to putting its assets out of reach, Comvest also did not focus on effective plans to combine the Albertsons and Haggen markets in such a short timeframe, thus causing it to fail.
“Comvest tried to slink away from the smoldering ruins of Haggen with more than $100 million dollars’ worth of real estate assets,” according to the complaint, as reported by The Bellingham Herald.
Comvest bought a majority stake in Haggen in 2011, and purchased 146 of Albertsons’ divested stores in 2014. The chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy eight months after the purchase was finalized, leaving just 15 Haggen stores by this year.
Neither party has released a comment to the press since the case was filed.
As the story and case progresses, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest.
SWEDESBORO, NJ - Greenyard is about to make a few extra waves in the profitable U.S. market. UNIVEG Logistics America, part of the fresh division of Greenyard, has officially broken ground on the company’s northeast U.S. operations, constructing a new 152,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art packing and cold storage facility. These moves are the first in an effort to expand Greenyard’s fresh division in the U.S., strategically choosing Swedesboro, New Jersey, for its close proximity to the northeastern ports, a top receiving point for imported fresh produce.
“Expansion in our northeast operations and the U.S. market is our driving objective and part of our strategic plan,” explained Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk, President of UNIVEG Logistics America. “Being part of UNIVEG, the Fresh division of Greenyard, has propelled our continued growth. We outgrew our current facility some time ago and designed the new facility with the ability for future expansion going forward.”
With the completion of the facility, scheduled for late spring 2017, the company will change its name to Greenyard Logistics USA. According to a press release, the expansion substantially increases overall volume and production capability, even quadrupling its current operational square footage and capacity. In addition, this growth is expected to significantly add to the company’s services in areas such as value-add packing, consolidation, controlled atmosphere storage, and service providing opportunities. The complex in its entirety is being planned as be a central matching point for both growers and retailers, the company said.
The growth for Greenyard’s fresh division won't stop there, either. Seald Sweet, a Greenyard company and sister company of UNIVEG Logistics America, will be relocating its imports production operations and northeast sales offices to the new facility. This, the company said, will enable the sales and production teams to continue operating within the same location. Each newly announced change is in an effort to solidify the company’s position in the high growth market of the U.S.
SALINAS, CA -The Nunes Company, marketer of Foxy Organic Produce, is making its way into the health and wellness category, announcing a new partnership with MegaFood™ to be the exclusive provider of the organic kale for the company’s reformulated Balanced B Complex.
“The more we have learned about the growing health and wellness category, it became readily apparent MegaFood is not only a leader in the field, but one of the most transparent organizations we have ever worked with,” explained Matt Seeley, Vice President of Marketing for the Nunes Company. “Their quality controls throughout the production process are second to none, evidenced by the fact live cameras are operational and available 24/7 for consumers to see via their website.”
Seeking to attract those with a healthy and plant-based diet, Balanced B Complex provides a medley of essential B vitamins; namely B1, B2, B6, and B12. The product is soy-, dairy-, and gluten-free, as well as being free of both herbicides and pesticides. The collaboration has been Non-GMO Project Verified and certified Kosher and vegan. According to a press release, Balanced B Complex is available in 30, 60, and 90 tab bottles, and at natural products retailers nationwide.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Foxy Organic, a brand that we know and trust to produce fresh and high-quality produce for one of our top-selling products,” says Stacey Gillespie, MegaFood Director of New Products. “B Complex vitamins play a very important role in keeping our bodies running like well-oiled machines. It was important for us to identify a passionate partner like Foxy Organic, who would help us enhance the nutritive value of such an essential supplement."
To learn more about the new Seed-to-Store and Farm-to-Tablet formulation, visit www.megafood.com/friends-of-megafood/foxy-organic.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Last week, Food Tank held its first annual Farm Tank. The summit brought together leaders from every facet of the agricultural industry–academia, growers, retailers, technology, and associations–for tough conversations about critical topics.
“We can’t make the farmers our enemies. All of us have a very important place. We have to respect and trust each other,” summarized Michael Dimock, President of Roots of Change, in his powerful closing keynote after a day of stimulating discourse on Thursday.
The first day got off to a lively start after impassioned opening comments by Karen Ross, Secretary of Agriculture for the State of California; Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank; and other notable industry professionals. Among a sea of passionately invested attendees feverishly taking notes, the first days’ summit schedule was packed with thought-provoking panel discussions.
Food Transparency
Kicked off with a keynote by Eric Holt-Giménez, Executive Director of Food First, this panel touched on defining transparency, creating a shared language around it, and bringing that to consumers. Thomas Reynolds, Vice President of Program, Partnerships, and Learning of CARE International, pondered during the discussion; "When I see a piece of produce I wonder, 'who has touched this?'"
Panel members included:
- Nikiko Masumoto, Farmer at Masumoto Family Farm
- Thomas Reynolds, Vice President of Program, Partnerships, and Learning of CARE International
- Dave Kranz, Communication & News Manager at the California Farm Bureau
- Hannah Freeman, Director of Produce and Floral at Fair Trade USA
- Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, Senior Scientist at PANNA
- Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice
Food Tech
“How does technology close the supply gap?” was the question posed to the audience by Michiel Bakker, Director, Global Food Services at Google in his keynote to open this session. The remainder of the panel resulted in animated discussion about how solar panels, apps, genetic diversity, R & D, social media, food incubators, policies, and crop practices can resolve major industry issues in food waste, disease and drought resistance, scalability, and sustainability. Of particular interest was the way in which apps such as CropMobster, CropManage, and HarvestSacramento have created templates to solve the challenges that farmers are facing.
Education. Engagement. Access. Trust. Diversity. These are the words the panel aptly used to sum up their thoughts regarding what is necessary in order to promote innovation in technology.
The only way out is through. Let's heal our food system by demanding solutions! Watch live now: https://t.co/pgGwZMs0Tj #FoodTank pic.twitter.com/KvFja2Tpkz
— Food Tank (@Food_Tank) September 22, 2016
Panel members included:
- Don Carlson, Vice President of Project Development of Sunworks, Inc
- Zachary Scott Dashner, Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) Alumni Association
- Nick Papadopoulos, CEO & Co-Founder of CropMobster
- Gabriel Youtsey, CIO of University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- John Purcell, Vegetables Global R&D Lead, Hawaii Business Lead, Vice President, and Distinguished Fellow of Monsanto
- Andrea Lepore, Co-founder of Hot Italian/The Food Factory
Infrastructure
When asked about improving infrastructure, Keith Knopf, COO of Raley's Family of Fine Stores, said, “We create demand through education about better quality food. Shift the narrative around the quality, health, and impact that food has on your wellness and well-being. As people seek that out, that demand helps solve the problem.” The panel, after an opening speech by Robert Egger, Founder and President of L.A. Kitchen, continued on, discussing how to improve the inefficiencies in infrastructure, and how to effectively rewire it.
Thanks to @generalproduce for hosting On The Plate for #FoodTank #FarmTank. Can't wait to meet their producers! pic.twitter.com/TqKbOt9PuU
— Niman Ranch (@Niman_Ranch) September 23, 2016
Panel members included:
- Mary Kimball, Executive Director of the Center for Land-Based Learning
- Oscar Villegas, Supervisor at Yolo County Board of Supervisors
- Thaddeus Barsotti, Co-Owner of Farm Fresh to You
- Keith Knopf, COO of Raley’s Family of Fine Stores
- Tom Chan, CEO of General Produce
- Blake Young, CEO of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Food Business
In the final farming related panel, after ardent opening comments by John Church, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain of General Mills, the panelists explored the impact of various types of business models.
“We used to narrowly define our impact on the world. We must understand our impact when are successful,” Soren Bjorn, Executive Vice President of Driscoll’s, commented astutely. “We use our scale to help shape the future of farmers."
The panel members included:
- Nick Kastle, Director of Marketing and Business Development & Business Unit General Manager at The Morning Star Company
- Jennifer Maloney, Food Chain Sustainability Manager of Bayer CropScience
- Richard Waycott, CEO of the Almond Board of California
- Matt Wadiak, Founder & COO of Blue Apron
- Soren Bjorn, Executive Vice President of Driscoll’s
- Jon Bansen, Farmer of Organic Valley
It was a long day of invigorating discussion from stakeholders from all areas of the industry, breaking down silos in agriculture. On the second day, attendees were given the chance to stretch their legs and engage directly in activities such as field tours, visiting laboratories, and more.
The event was a resounding success. For those interested in moving the needle on broadening industry perspectives, make sure to mark your calendars for next year!
BOISE, ID – As the retail company continues to hone its buy-side strategies, Albertsons will be putting an expanded focus on its headquarters, thanks to a newly received tax incentive award. This incentive program is projected to create around 300 jobs and bring $38 million in additional state tax revenue to Idaho.
“Our team here is proud to call Boise home,” said Andrew Scoggin, Albertsons’ Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Public Affairs, according to the Idaho Statesman. “The roots of our company were strengthened by the Idaho workforce from the first day that Mr. Albertson opened his 16th and State store, and we’re excited for the opportunity that the Tax Reimbursement Incentive [TRI] has allowed us.”
Under the TRI, Albertsons will receive a tax credit of up to 30 percent on income, payroll, and sales taxes, according to the Idaho Statesman. Over the 15-year term of the agreement, to receive the aforementioned benefits from the state, the retailer must create at least 300 new jobs in Idaho.
Albertsons was initially approved for the TRI in March 2015, though Idaho allows employers to announce the new jobs and award at their own discretion. The Idaho Economic Advisory Council approved Albertsons to receive the TRI to promote growth in the state, with Albertsons also indicating that many corporate office positions will be moved to its Boise campus.
“This is the type of expansion that the tax reimbursement incentive was designed for, and I couldn’t be happier that it is being used by an Idaho company with a rich history in our great state — a company that gave me one of my first jobs as a stock boy at the original Albertsons location,” Gov. Butch Otter said in a news release from the Idaho Department of Commerce.
The agreement also states that in order for the retailer to receive the tax credit, Albertsons must create at least 20 new jobs in rural areas or 50 in urban ones, and pay at least the county average wage. This action looks to prove that Albertson's created employment is stable and makes a significant economic impact on the Idaho community, thus proving that the TRI is critical for creating jobs.
Over the past four years, Albertsons has expanded its employees within its headquarters from 120 to 600 employees. This award will provide the retailer with further opportunities to invest in the state.
What kind of impact will this incentive award and expansive growth have on Albertsons presence in the market? Keep up with AndNowUKnow as we report.