LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Good news for lovers of grapes from Frieda’s Specialty Produce—Champagne and Thomcord varieties from California are now in season with good supply, the company reports.
“Champagne and Thomcord grapes are only available in the summer so retailers can take advantage of this by building big displays to feature them as ‘limited time only’ items,” Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce shared with us.
Champagne grapes will available from Frieda’s through early August in 16/1-lb. clamshells, the company shared in a press release, while Thomcord grapes will available through the end of August in 10/1-lb. clamshells.
So how should retailers display these specialty grape varieties? Frieda’s recommends placement with other grape varieties, or even cross-merchandising with cheese and wine for summer entertainment. Foodservice summer menus can benefit from the sweetnes of Champagne grapes, and make for a perfect accompaniment on cheese or charcuterie platters and picnic boxes.
Sweet California grape season will continue through the fall with Yellow Sweetie grapes, with Frieda’s starting in mid-August and shipping 16/1-lb. clamshells.
Frieda’s shared that interested retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice distributors can start contacting the company’s account managers to take advantage of these specialty grapes and summer favorites like lychee and rambutan. And keep watching AndNowUKnow for more on the specialty grape market as the season progresses!
NORTH EAST, MD - Three months after closing the facility and laying off upwards of 200 employees, C&S Wholesale grocers has announced that it is reopening its North East warehouse and distribution facility.
As we reported previously, the company announced nationwide reorganization plans, including “trimming” a small percentage of its workforce in all of its 32 locations across the country as it restructures some of its divisions.
Some of those moves have been closures, others have been acquisitions. Now news source Cecil Daily reports what the wholesaler will reopen its North East facility, with Executive Director of the Susquehanna Workforce Network, Bruce England, commenting that the association encouraged C&S to bring job opportunities, employment, and business back to Cecil County.
“This has occurred suddenly from our vantage point. We do know they are recruiting to fill multiple positions for warehouse selectors and forklift operators,” England told Cecil Daily, but did not confirm that the doors to the location have already reopened. “The human resource department of C&S contacted us last week to inform us that they will be bringing more jobs to Cecil County, and that the North East facility will be reopening as early as Tuesday. They are hoping to get up to their previous staffing level.”
This move looks to be just as swift as the decision to shutter the facility.
The location’s closure was a rather sudden one, with the company citing earlier contractual losses and announcing the move in early February. Layoffs began in late March and were complete the first week of April.
“We were very surprised to hear the news of C&S Wholesale Grocers closing their distribution center in North East,” County Executive Tari Moore said when the news hit in February.
C&S officials didn’t return requests for comment, but recent reports are that the gates were open and the warehouse occupied.
We will continue to report on this story as it develops further.
SALINAS, CA - The inaugural Organic Produce Summit went off without a hitch this week, with over 800 attendees and more than 75 exhibitors, along with over 100 buying groups which represents more than 50,000 stores that are purchasing organics. And deliver, the sold-out show did.
Across the board, attendees commented on the incredible buyer to supplier ratio, and the quality and vision the event brought to the organic sector. From retail powerhouses like Kroger, Whole Foods, Safeway, Raley’s, Gelsons, and Luckys Markets, to Lidl, Martin’s, Four Seasons, and Mom’s Organic Markets, the aisles were packed to the brim with budding new relationships, innovative products, and incredible insights into the possibilities within organics.
The event kicked off with a reception at the Monterey Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa sponsored by Wholesum Harvest, which boasted an energetic turnout of industry pioneers, seasoned vets, and up-and-comers. On Thursday morning, attendees were amazed by a series of panels that touched on all things produce including best practices for organic produce handling and merchandising with moderator Gwendolyn Ward of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), and panelists Mark Carroll, Senior Director of Produce and Floral, Gelson’s Markets; Jonathan Steffy, Director of Sales & Retail Services, Four Seasons Produce, Inc.; and Neil Cullen, Director Quality Control Management, Sprouts Markets.
I sat in a packed session later that morning, with standing room only, to listen to Moderator Nate Lewis, Senior Crop and Livestock Specialist, OTA, inspire a Q&A with produce veterans Soren Bjorn, Executive Vice President for Driscoll’s; Jerrett Stoffel, Vice President Operations at Taylor Farms; and Greg Holzman, Founder of Purity Organics. The panel discussed the challenges with developing steady supply channels to meet the projected double digit growth of organic fresh produce expected in the next decade, and how the amount of land available for organic production is ever-dwindling and the cost of conversion is a challenge in itself. With labor and water issues only compounding the matter—all three addressed how improving genetics, technology, and adapting to new geographies could help to mitigate some of the impact.
Other insightful breakout sessions included Organic Produce Trends — Current Drivers and What to Watch, with Moderator Angela Jagiello, Associate Director of Conference and Product Development for OTA, and panelists Suzy Badaracco, Founder of Culinary Tides, and Andrew Mandzy, Director of Strategic Insights of Nielsen. Also educating attendees, was the session on E-Grocery and the Role of Organic Produce, with Moderator Kevin Coupe, Author of “Retail Rules! 52 Ways To Achieve Retail Success,” and panelists Tony Stallone, Vice President Merchandising of Peapod, Mike Burrington, Director Fulfillment Services of IdeoClick, Thaddeus Barsotti, Chief Farmer & Co-CEO of Farm Fresh to You and Capay Organic.
The afternoon brought us Master of Ceremonies, Tonya Antle, Principal of Tanimura & Antle, who spoke to the crowd gathered for the day’s keynotes about the success of the event.
Along with Tonya’s many insights event speakers were Juicero CEO and Founder, Doug Evans; Laura Batcha, President of the Organic Trade Association; Chad Hagen, Vice President of Consumer Products, SunOpta; and Mark Bittman, noted author and former New York Times columnist, who also brought their incredible stories and experiences to the table, which only enriched the day.
The show floor opened after a delicious lunch from Earthbound Organics, and hosted a shoulder-to-shoulder afternoon of innovation and conversation. For this premier event, Gourmet Garden Herbs won the Organic Innovation Showcase Award.
Reflecting back, OTA’s Laura Batcha addressed the state of the organic industry, and there were a few stats and fun facts that I just have to share:
- Organic Trade Association reported organic produce sales of $13 billion: $5.7 billion from mass market, $4.7 billion from specialty and natural retailers, and $2.6 billion from direct sales
- Since 2011, produce total dollar sales increased by 25%
- Over half of households purchase organic produce
- Organic department $ growth vs. YAGO is 16.4%
- Organic produce categories with highest share of dollar growth during the latest 52 weeks ($ sales over $1 million in 2015) included organic value-added vegetables for meal prep, snacking, and trays, as well as organic traditional and growing produce with golden delicious pears, Anjou pears, blackberries, white mushrooms, and oranges were highlighted
- For organic dried fruits and snack mixes dried dates, dried figs, and dried bananas took top spots
- Among parents: 5 in 10 organic buyers are millennials
- Sales of organic produce don’t damage sales of convenient produce. If anything, the more organic produce retailers feature, the more produce they will sell overall
This is only a fraction of the info that deepened the conversations and elevated the experience. From the incredible feedback, as well as supplier and buyer turnout, I can only imagine another sold out show next year, so mark your calendar now, before it’s too late!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – As the industry attends the inaugural, and currently ongoing, Organic Produce Summit trade show, the Fresh Solutions Network announced it would highlight the company's Side Delights® Farmers Table Organic Potatoes. These potatoes are 100 percent non-GMO, and USDA and state-certified organic.
“We are proud to participate in this first-ever show, and feature our Side Delights® Farmers Table brand of organic, non-GMO potatoes,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, in a recent press release. “Our organic consumers desire purity in the food they eat, and we satisfy these consumers with transparency of where these quality potatoes were grown, and how the potatoes were treated.”
The shopper and retail-friendly packaging includes designs for Red, Yellow, and Russet varieties of potatoes. The varieties are available in both a 3 lb. and 5 lb. paper bag, and a 3 lb. poly bag. Packaging options are also available for distribution in Canada, with bilingual options in English and French.
“We invite attendees to visit the Fresh Solutions Network exhibit at booth 513,” added Triou. “We are showcasing our new and improved packaging for the Farmers Table brand, and discussing the unique design features that appeal to organic shoppers.”
The company stated that according to Nielsen Perishables Group FreshFacts data over a 52 week period, organic potato growth outpaces the total category, driven by expansion of items offered and a 12 percent increase in distribution. Organic potato dollar sales account for 3 percent of all potato sales, up 325 percent over two years ago.
As the industry continues to match consumer demand for organic products, stay with AndNowUKnow as we report on the latest. See you on the floor!
ZAANDAM, NETHERLANDS - In the latest for the highly-anticipated merger between Ahold and Delhaize Group, the FTC has charged the two retailers to divest 86 U.S. stores before they can proceed.
"Selling stores is a difficult part of any merger process, given the impact on our associates, customers, and communities in which we operate," said Frans Muller, President and Chief Executive Officer, Delhaize Group, in a press release. "We believe we have made every effort to identify strong buyers for these locations, and we want to thank our loyal associates and customers who have shopped our stores and supported us for so many years. Upon the completion of the merger, we will continue to maintain our local Food Lion and Hannaford brands; however, our new company scale will enable us to accelerate our local market strategies to better serve our customers with nearly 2,000 stores along the East Coast in the United States."
Already with a list of buyers, the breakdown of stores and purchasers of those stores are:
- New Albertson’s, Inc. (part of Albertsons Companies based in Idaho): 1 Giant Food store in Salisbury, Maryland
- Publix: 10 MARTIN’S stores in Richmond, Virginia
- Weis Markets: 38 Food Lion stores in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia
- Supervalu: 22 Food Lion stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
- Big Y: 8 Hannaford stores in eastern Massachusetts
- Saubel’s Markets, based in Pennsylvania: 1 Food Lion store in York, Pennsylvania
- Tops Markets: 1 Stop & Shop store in Massachusetts, 3 Stop & Shop stores, and 2 Hannaford stores in New York
FTC clearance is the remaining regulatory approval for the $28 billion merger, which would combine the two chains for an entity consisting of more than 6,500 stores and over 375,000 associates internationally.
“The combination of Ahold and Delhaize Group is a unique opportunity to deliver even more for customers, associates, and local communities,” said Ahold CEO Dick Boer. “Together, Ahold and Delhaize Group have been working hard to resolve the competition concerns raised by the FTC, and we are pleased to have found strong, well established buyers for the stores we are required to divest. We deeply appreciate the long-time support of our customers and associates in these locations and are confident that the new owners will continue to serve local communities well.”
While each purchase agreement must go to well established-supermarket retailers, and are subject to FTC approval and clearance, both retailers reported that they still expect to close the deal by the end of this month.
The stock for both Delhaize and Ahold were up by more than 1% this morning upon the release of the announcement. AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the events of this and other mergers/acquisitions relevant to the industry.
HOUSTON, TX – Making moves to further expand the footprint and accessibility of its foodservice distribution services, Sysco Corporation has acquired innovative e-commerce platform, Supplies on the Fly.
"With annual revenue of approximately $105 million, Supplies on the Fly has delivered consistent and impressive sales growth over the past three years, significantly outpacing category growth in supplies and equipment over the same period," stated Bill Day, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Sysco Business Services.
The Georgia-based e-commerce company provides restaurant supplies and equipment exclusively to Sysco customers, and is fully integrated with Sysco’s business information systems, according to news source Chron.com, allowing customers to place orders by phone or online for over 170,000 of the company’s products.
Sysco had its hands in e-commerce company's previous development as in 2009, Sysco entered into an agreement with Supplies on the Flyer owner Instawares Holding, LLC, to develop the website suppliesonthefly.com. In this agreement, according to Chron.com, Sysco gained the option to purchase all of the equity interests of Supplies on the Fly, which it has now done.
"We are very excited to welcome our partners from Supplies on the Fly into the Sysco family of companies and we look forward to maximizing this opportunity to drive new growth in the $10 billion restaurant supplies and equipment segment," finished Day.
Supplies on the Fly’s current CEO, Craig Callaway, will continue to manage the company and will report to Day. Chron.com reported that Sysco will retain all current employees of the acquired company, and expects business to continue normally under Callaway and the Supplies on the Fly team.
Sysco has not yet disclosed the price of the acquisition.
IRVINE, CA - In recognition of its place in the fight to advance agricultural technology, Western Growers has received a $30,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. The grant was awarded during the opening reception of the 2016 Forbes AgTech Summit on July 13.
"Investment in technological solutions has never been more critical to agriculture, as we’ll need to dramatically increase food production to feed a rapidly growing population," explained Hank Giclas, Western Growers’ Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science & Technology. "Wells Fargo’s generous contribution will be a key factor in helping Western Growers bring entrepreneurs together with farmers to develop these creative innovations."
According to a press release, Western Growers will use these funds to create scholarships for entrepreneurs who join the newly launched Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, which we announced late last year. Wells Fargo, which has a proven record of lending to the U.S. commercial agriculture sector, will be able to lend critical sector expertise and help speed up commercialization for ag tech startups, the ag group explains.
"Working together with Western Growers to create a scholarship program for agriculture technology entrepreneurs will promote commercialization of technical solutions for agriculture," said Matt Servatius, Head of Wells Fargo CleanTech Banking. "The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology engages our customers and other stakeholders that are developing technologies to promote sustainability and resource efficiency."
Start-up companies that are awarded a scholarship will have access to the following, Western Growers says:
- A hot desk or workstation at the Center for Innovation & Technology for one year
- All the benefits of being a Western Growers’ member and resident of the Center
- Routine classes, workshops and networking opportunities to provide business and legal knowledge and customer connections
- Amenities of a traditional office, including:
- Internet
- Phones
- Printers
- Copiers, meeting and conference rooms
- Technology to live stream events and presentations
Scholarships funded through the Western Growers Foundation will be awarded based on financial need, utility to industry, business model and market potential, among other criteria, the press release reveals. The 2,800-square-foot Center for Innovation & Technology currently houses 20 startups, and the scholarship would support 10 additional technology companies to receive a coveted spot in the incubator.
To apply for the scholarship or to learn more about the Center for Innovation & Technology, the organization asks that you contact Hank Giclas at [email protected].
PHARR, TX - SmartCold, a Triple H family company, has been providing distribution and logistics out of Pharr, Texas since 2015. Strategically located just a few miles away from the Pharr-Reynosa bridge, SmartCold has been providing its in-depth services to produce companies like Del Rey Avocado, a family-owned business that both grows its own product and buys from Mexico. Patrick Lucy, Vice President of Organic Sales for Del Rey Avocado, spoke with me about what made SmartCold his company’s choice for its produce distribution needs.
“We’ve been working with SmartCold since April of 2015, thanks to a recommendation from one of our Co-Packers out of Mexico,” explained Patrick. “We were looking for a new company to work with, and after meeting with the people at SmartCold, we not only loved what they had to say, but they’ve been able to back up their promises.”
Patrick and Del Rey Avocado were one of SmartCold’s first clients, with the company growing from just five loads per week back then, to an average of 20 loads per week today. Del Rey Avocado cited SmartCold as one of the driving forces behind its increased volume and decreased rejections.
“The clarity of communication we have with SmartCold is unmatched. Whether it be through fax, email, or phone calls—our team is never afraid to call and check in for updates on our products,” Patrick shares about his experiences with the distribution company. “It’s that willingness to go the extra mile and do special loadings past hours that makes the difference. It helps us pass on that better service to our customers.”
Ownership of the product, Patrick says, is something SmartCold has taken very seriously. Because Del Rey Avocado is based in California, the company can’t always have eyes on the product. SmartCold makes this a non-issue.
“SmartCold provides us with quality control checks and always lets us know if anything is dinged, or running hot,” Patrick went on. “We’ve been very happy with the service. To have an effective cooler in Texas where most of our product from Mexico goes through in invaluable.”
Want to learn more about the services SmartCold can provide to the produce industry? Visit SmartCold.us to get an even more in-depth look.
SALINAS, CA – As the Salinas Valley moves through the peak of its growing season, Church Brothers Farm has joined the Labor of Love program to show its growers in the area support during this intense period of harvest.
As the most recent addition to the program, two Church Brothers harvesting crews were surprised with random acts of kindness.
As pictured below, Pat Stafford and Angel Guiterrez of Church Brothers Farms showed special thanks to Clemente Reyes for being “one of the guys that is always helpful... always ready to do whatever is needed!” According to a press release, Clemente has dedicated 25 years to the agriculture industry and in his own words, says that he “Love(s) coming to work each day and love(s) working at Church Brothers.”
On Friday, July 8th, one of the company’s crew was surprised with breakfast in the field. Another crew was surprised on Tuesday, July 12, with summer goodie bags waiting for them at the end of the day on the seats of their transportation out of the field. The bags contained beach towels, sunscreen, and sunscreen lip balm.
As most growers in harvesting season start their day before dawn, and does not end until sunset for some, the Labor of Love programs aims to support the hard work and commitment of agricultural farmworkers. The program’s goal is thank workers for their service to the industry, which results in year-round vegetables, with acts of kindess.
The Labor of Love program is ran by the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association, and will continue throughout the Salinas Valley throughout the summer. Crews receiving support from the program will receive an assortment of kind acts, with different employees and companies being highlighted.
Follow Labor of Love on Facebook or the program’s website to learn more about the program and see which crews and teams will be featured next.
SALINAS, CA - As hundreds gather to see technology tied with agriculture, iFood Decision Sciences is adding to the platform with the launch of a new, on-trend method to collect and log important food safety and quality control data easily and with mobility.
Because now there’s an app for it.
“This new app is an enhancement to our existing system that allows food safety and quality control personnel increased mobility and ease when collecting data using an Apple or Android tablet,” Diane Wetherington, CEO of iFood Decision Sciences, said, according to a recent release. “Because these devices use either Wi-Fi or cellular data, they can be used in places where an Internet connection is not available or is spotty.”
Called iFood Decision Science’s--The Toolbox, this mobile method allows farm personnel to quickly complete field and harvest assessments required under both the stringent food safety regulations of today and third-party audits.
Available for download just in time for the ongoing Forbes AgTech Summit, which kicked off in Salinas, CA, yesterday and continues through today, The Toolbox is in line with the event that serves to smartest minds from both the high-tech and global agricultural industries.
“We are very excited to be unveiling this new app during the Forbes AgTech Summit,” said Wetherington. “We encourage interested companies to stop by the Innovation Showcase for a demonstration.”
“Technological solutions like our new app can help produce businesses simplify the burdensome task of documenting food safety data required of today’s fruit and vegetable farmers,” continued Wetherington. “The goal of all iFood Decision Sciences software solutions is to put our customers in control of their data so they can get back to the business of producing food.”
The company noted that other options for the app include conducting evaluations in packing, processing, or cold storage facilities for both food safety and product quality purposes. For field operations, the app allows companies to customize their food safety audit questionnaire according to specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Other capabilities include:
- Automatically recording exact date and time when information is entered
- Allowing users to record real-time photos of situations present in the field
- Noting when any SOP is found out of compliance and allows users to specify what corrective actions were taken
Away from the field, options for facilities are also included, allowing a company using the app to customize evaluations for their own food safety procedures, as well as create product quality metrics. It can record data for items like product testing with targets specific to an individual commodity and/or variety, monitor temperature and store photos at time of shipment, and much more. If that isn’t enough, the company added that all data can be input and read in either English or Spanish.
“So many of our fruit and vegetable clients tell us their food safety personnel are spending as much as 60% of their time collecting and recording food safety data,” Wetherington said. “This leaves little time to focus on the more important job of managing risk and enhancing product quality.”
Users must have an account, set up for them by iFood Decision Sciences, before they can utilize the new app. For those not attending Forbes AgTech Summit and wanting to look into the app, you can learn more by going to www.idsfoodsafety.com.