INDEPENDENCE, KY - The Crosset Company is swinging for the fences again this year with its annual Buying Food Show and Educational Seminar at the Great American Ball Park, in Cincinnati, OH. Crosset, a proud member of Castellini Group of Companies, offers exceptional wholesale distribution and logistics resources, as well as a skilled network of in-house and field buyers and in-house ripening and value-added capabilities, including fresh-cut produce.
With the event just around the corner, Bob Lummis, Sales and Merchandising Manager, joined me to discuss the upcoming show, and what we have to look forward to as August 10th approaches.
“This year’s theme is ‘It’s a Whole New Game,’ and it truly is for Crosset as we continue to capture more market share across the board,” Bob tells me. “We are thrilled to welcome attendees, buyers, and vendors from the produce community to the 2016 show. With the goal of building relationships, creating opportunities for continued exposure for our suppliers, and driving innovation to the forefront of our initiatives, we hope to hit it out of the park once again this year.”
The Buying Food Show is another one of the many great Crosset platforms that connect members from around the industry. Attendees will take advantage of special deals with savings on products through the end of the year from more than 50 top produce and floral suppliers.
“This event is all in the name of profit and driving sales for our attendees. Building our brand and our message is key in increasing produce consumption and growth at both foodservice and retail,” Bob adds.
The day will kick off with Michael Sansolo, Retail Food Industry Consultant and former SVP of the Food Marketing Institute, as the first in a line of influential keynote speakers. Sansolo is now a consultant, speaker, and author who has conducted numerous studies with years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies. This experience has allowed him a unique and insightful view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains, and management. Sansolo currently serves as the Research Director of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Councils of both North and Latin America.
Kevin Coupe, “Content Guy,” for MorningNewsBeat.com, author of "Retail Rules! 52 Ways To Achieve Retail Success," and Co-Author of “The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons From The Movies,” will rally the crowd next. Coupe will bring a wealth of experience and insights as well to the show, with unique worldviews and serious levity about the world of business and consumers to share with attendees.
Special guest speaker and former Cincinnati Reds Manager, Lou Piniella, will then grace the podium to round out the morning. As the Field Manager of the Reds’ 1990 World Series Championship Team, Piniella will share his vast knowledge of the game and the story that has colored an amazing career.
"The day will wrap up with a dinner cruise up the beautiful Ohio River aboard BB Riverboats’ Belle of Cincinnati, docked at Newport Landing,” Bob adds. “We look forward to growing our current relationships and creating new ones.”
Crosset maintains over 400 SKUs, one of the largest inventories of Certified Organic Produce. Crosset also maintains upwards of 1000 SKUs of Conventional Produce. Crosset’s products come from some of the most recognized and respected growers and shippers in the industry including Lady Moon, Braga, Cal Organic, Organic Girl, Earthbound, Mother Earth, Greenfield Farms, Organic Valley, Homegrown, Stemilt, Sunkist, Grimmway, Driscoll’s, Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole.
For those attending the annual event at the Great American Ballpark, I’ll see you all next week! Safe travels!
CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger hosted nationwide hiring events yesterday, looking for hands to help accommodate its recent growth spurts.
"Our growth continues to create job openings across the country for friendly, hard-working associates to join our team, including many roles on our new ClickList teams," said Tim Massa, Kroger's Group Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations, in a press release. "Our stores are filled with incredible opportunities to advance and a variety of career paths. If you love people and love food, Kroger just might be the place for you.”
Massa added that applying to work with the retailer is easier than ever with open interviews and the ability to apply from anywhere, especially as it has now launched “mobile apply,” enabling applicants to submit their applications via smartphones and tablets.
Kroger arms such as Ralph’s and Food 4 Less were included in the hiring, with both banners offering competitive wages, flexible schedules, benefits, and room for advancement.
This one-day hiring event is Kroger’s second this year, having previously hired more than 11,400 associates in May. The retailer did not list how many positions it was looking to fill with this latest move, though hundreds are listed in the image above from the company website.
Kroger additionally disclosed that it is having a third before the year is up, open exclusively to military veterans and their family members. That event is slated for November, adding to the substantial expansion of its team before 2016 is out.
Kroger noted that it has created more than 74,000 permanent, new jobs, more than 9,000 of which were added last year, not including those working as a result of capital investment or increases from its recent mergers.
SACRAMENTO, CA - California’s water conservation has fallen 6 percent in the past year, down to 21.5 percent savings, and the State Water Resources Control Board is not taking it lightly. The Board has announced it will now be closely monitoring conservation levels and scrutinizing actions by water suppliers where use has risen dramatically.
"Californians have continued to conserve without top down mandates, but the question is whether we can save enough and keep it up for the long haul,” explained State Water Board Chair, Felicia Marcus. “While last winter’s rains allowed us to ease state mandated conservation, that didn’t mean the drought was over or that local conservation efforts should stop—and we’re looking carefully at the data to see what’s happening where, and why."
Just announced in June, the State Water Board relaxed its guidelines for emergency water conservation regulations to give urban water agencies the ability to set their own conservation standards based on a “stress test” of supply reliability. According to a press release, water suppliers must demonstrate that they have sufficient supplies to withstand three years of continuous drought or otherwise take additional measures including mandatory conservation targets. That regulation will be in effect through January 2017.
“Conservation should be the California way of life," added Marcus. "Some relaxation of conservation in light of the relief we got last winter and other supply conditions is appropriate and expected; abandonment of conservation is not. Saving water now extends local water supplies into an uncertain future, and saves money in the long term on the need to develop additional supplies. In particular, the summer months are the time it’s easiest to save by reducing outdoor irrigation to the minimum needed to water trees and shrubs while letting our lawns go the color of the surrounding hillsides.”
Other highlights from the Board’s June Conservation Data include:
- Local water suppliers have saved 1.75 million acre-feet in the 13 months since mandatory conservation goals began
- Cumulative statewide percent reduction for June 2015 – June 2016 (thirteen months) is 24.2 percent, which equates to 1,752,918 acre-feet (571.2 billion gallons)
- Statewide water savings for June 2016 was 21.5 percent down from 28.1 percent in May
- Statewide average R-GPCD for June 2016 was 104.9 gallons; (an 18 percent increase) up from 86.7 R-GPCD in May 2016
If the Board sill finds that restrictions are needed when the regulations end in early 2017, they say they’re ready to again impose new mandatory water restrictions. As the situation in California continues to develop, AndNowUKnow will keeping pumping information your way.
COACHELLA, CA - As we surpass the middle of the summer season, one of the hotter points of the year for the west coast of the U.S., Prime Time Produce’s Mike Aiton, Marketing Director, took the time to share with me that the pepper market is currently above normal FOB levels, and has been staying that way for the past several weeks.
“Overall yields have been lower than expected, not only in California but throughout the rest of the country as well,” Mike shares with me. “This shortage has had a positive effect on pricing for an extended period of time, as high temperatures and other weather-related problems across the country have delayed local programs and kept availability lower than expected.”
The heat in the west put an abrupt end to Prime Time’s Coachella season, Mike explains, with temperatures having hit over 120 degrees.
“History is repeating itself now in central California as temperatures have been in the 110 degree neighborhood for the past few days. Consequently the transition to cooler coastal areas in California cannot come soon enough,” Mike tells me.
As that transition looks to get underway, Mike cautions that volumes for the next week for red, green, and mini peppers will be a bit tight, balancing out and seeing production return to seasonally high levels next week.
“Availability and pricing will then be favorable for promotions throughout the balance of the month and continuing through the Labor Day holiday,” Mike says, adding that more and more states are getting in the game now, alleviating some of the pressure on the west.
As the change in seasons and back-to-school time approaches, AndNowUKnow will continue to keep our finger on the pulse of this and other transitions in fresh produce throughout 2016 and beyond.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The annual Rising Leaders Program, held in conjunction with the United Fresh Washington Conference on September 12-14, will be growing this year. The event will hold an additional three hours of curriculum for produce go-getters who’d like to better understand how legislation and policy impact their business.
“My staff that have attended grew with this program, expanded their personal industry network at an accelerated pace and felt a measure of pride to be involved in such a unique experience. Each of them returned grateful and motivated to help move the industry forward,” says Brian Kocher, Immediate Past Chairman of the United Fresh Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer of Castellini Company LLC, according to the organization's website.
Success in the current produce industry landscape hinges upon navigating the rules and regulations of government. The Rising Leaders Program will focus on teaching attendees how to effectively communicate with Congress. Attendees will also learn their role in shaping public policy to build a profitable business environment for the fresh produce industry.
There is no additional cost to attend the Rising Leaders Program within the United Fresh Conference, making it a win-win for both employees and employers. Click here to learn more and register today.
WENATCHEE, WA - As the industry finds itself mid-summer, the West Coast is subsequently in the middle of peach season. Stemilt Growers is ramping up its production of organic stonefruit this season, with packaging offered to match consumer demand.
Brianna Shales, Communications Manager at Stemilt Growers, tells me that the company is in peak peach season, which arrived around ten days earlier than last year. The company is mostly packing the Sweet Dream variety right now, out of Southcentral Washington, which has great eating quality.
“Quality has been really good this year,” Brianna tells me of the company’s current organic peach selection. “We are seeing fruit with higher sugars, likely as a result of cooler weather throughout spring and summer. Sizing is peaking on jumbo/large sizes, however we have a good range of sizes available.”
Stemilt Growers expects to see a good market for organic peaches this year, aided by rising demand. Brianna says that consumption of organics set a record high in 2015 which the company sees only increasing.
Retailers can bolster their Stemilt organic peaches sales with pop-up display bins, corresponding POS materials to engage passionate consumers, and a variety of pack types. Brianna suggests that retailers keep in a mind that an early start to the season means an earlier end, with the season projected to end around mid-September.
As the industry continues to move through its peach offerings, stay with AndNowUKnow for the latest in varietal offerings and crop updates.
MIAMI, FL - Tropical produce will soon be getting its time in the limelight on Lifetime® Television. On August 8 and August 15 the network will feature J&C Tropicals during its 7:30 AM broadcasts of The Balancing Act, a show dedicated to bringing busy, on-the-go, modern people positive solutions and ideas to enrich their lives.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for the Dragon Fruit category,” says Jessie Capote, E.V.P. of J&C Tropicals. “It’s still very much a niche product that has immense potential once the everyday consumer is educated on its enormous health benefits and how to consume it.”
On the show’s QuikByte segment, Chef Ralph Pagano will be educating viewers on J&C’s Dragon Fruit. Chef Pagano will explore topics such as:
- How to identify two different varieties
- How to determine when they are ready to eat
- How to peel and serve
Chef Pagano will include several recipes along with the tutorial, one of which will be prepared live. Make sure to tune in and show your support for tropical produce.
SANDPOINT, ID – In the continuing speculation surrounding the company’s Save-A-Lot chain, reports have surfaced that SuperValu may soon be on the receiving end of some offers for the business. Some of these impending proposals are expected to value the chain at as much as $1.8 billion.
Unnamed sources, according to Reuters, stated that later this week six private equity firms will participate in an auction for Save-A-Lot. SuperValu is expected to conclude the auction before deciding whether to perform an outright sale of the chain, or spin it off to company shareholders.
The private equity firms named to participate in the upcoming auction are as follows:
- Advent International Corp
- KKR & Co LP
- TPG Capital LP
- Onex Corp
- Thomas H. Lee Partners LP
- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC
SuperValu confirmed in a press release that the company is preparing for the separation of its Save-A-Lot business and is currently pursuing a spin-off course of action for the business. However, the company also stated that it remains open other possibilities which would improve stockholder value, including a sale of the business.
As we previously reported, SuperValu first confirmed the spin-off or sale of Save-A-Lot at the end of last year. Following a string of strategy shifts and executive appointments, it appears as though SuperValu’s plan to insulate the chain and debt has reached the next stage.
Following the news of a possible Save-A-Lot buyout on the horizon, Reuters stated that SuperValu’s shares rose more than 7 percent on Friday before ending up 4.9 percent at $4.88.
As of February, Save-A-Lot operated 463 stores with an additional 897 stores run by its licensees. Reuters stated that as of June 18, the company had a total of $2.3 billion in debt.
Reuters reported that all named private equity firms have yet to respond about their rumored offers to SuperValu. The sources quoted asked to remain unidentified as the matter is still confidential, but did divulge that they are people close to the matter.
How much value will the buyout bids place on the Save-A-Lot chain, and will SuperValu choose a spin-off or sale point of projection? AndNowUKnow will have the latest as the issue unfolds.
SOUTH AMERICA & MEXICO - Tropical Storm Earl will be rolling through Central America and into Mexico, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding throughout the end of the week.
Having had become a tropical storm officially on Tuesday, Earl has been moving from just southwest of Jamaica, and westward over the Caribbean as the week progresses, according to AccuWeather. Earl will continually get stronger into today, but will probably not gather enough strength to become a hurricane, meteorologists note.
"The center of the system should reach land late Wednesday or Wednesday night," explained AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski. "Earl will approach Belize and the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico with heavy rain and gusty winds later Wednesday or Wednesday night.”
The storm will hit the northern coast of Belize and Mexican state of Quintana Roo with rain, winds, coastal flooding, and beach erosion. AccuWeather notes that the areas may also see flooding, trees falling over, and possible power outages. While exactly how strong Earl will become is still up in the air, flooding and power outages can occur with even minimal power.
Kottlowski believes there is a chance that Earl will move back out over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico before the end of the week and gain more strength, so continue checking back with AndNowUKnow for updates.
GILROY, CA - After substantial growth from its 50-acre beginning in 1979 to today’s year-round, multi-regional operation spread over 5,000 acres in California, Arizona, and Mexico, Uesugi Farms is changing up its brand.
“We wanted a bold look that is steeped in the Uesugi history and reflects our core business,” said Pete Aiello, General Manager and Owner of Uesugi Farms, in a press release.
While the company grows over 20 different crops, it said that it is pepper growing in which it is a powerhouse, and now reflects that with a sassy red chili pepper in the label.
Looking to convey the same message it wants describing its top-selling products while being enjoyed, Uesugi Farms said that the latest brand conveys a fresh spirit and artisan style.
The company added that it has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and sustainable growing practices, but a focus on growing has kept it from prioritizing an online presence–until now. The company is also announcing the launch of its first official website.
“Since our early years, we’ve been able to partner with some of the largest food service providers, processors, and retailers in the world, but as we continue to grow, farm more acres, and enter new markets, we needed a website to better tell our story and build brand equity,” Aiello said. “We’re bringing the same level of sophistication to our marketing efforts, as we’ve devoted to the growing side of the business.”
Highlighting product availability, as well as Uesugi’s emphasis on sustainability, foodservice, product availability, and more, the new website can be found here.
In addition to peppers, the company also offers:
- Napa cabbage
- Sweet corn
- Pumpkins
- Strawberries
- Beans
Congratulations to the Uesugi on this latest step in company growth.