SALINAS, CA - Industry veteran Dan Canales has joined Ippolito International in the newly created position of Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Processing. Most recently with Misionero Vegetables as the company’s Sales & Marketing VP, Dan will now oversee Ippolito’s sales and marketing departments, with a special focus on the company’s new processing facility and launching of its products.
“I am very excited to join the Ippolito team,” Dan said in a statement. “They have done an incredible job building this company into an industry leader with an extensive product line. With the Brussels sprouts being one of the fastest growing categories and Ippolito being the largest Brussels sprout grower in North America, there are great opportunities to continue with this positive growth.”
Ippolito General Manager Butch Corda, who coincidentally hired Dan for his first fresh produce industry job at Oshita in 1986, says Dan’s vast amount of expertise and experience in commodities and processing will greatly benefit the company’s overall performance.
“With our company entering the processing arena with Brussels sprouts and spinach, Dan’s knowledge of that side of the business will be a great asset,” Butch added. “He also has the commodity background with his years at Salyer American and Dalgety/Oshita so he has a full understanding of all elements of our company and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him aboard.”
In addition to his 17 years at Misionero, Dan is known for managing various commodities and handling sales at Salyer American and Dalgety Food/Oshita Marketing for a combined total of eight years. Dan also spent four years as a partner at the Salinas, CA-based Discovery Produce/Rich Peel Garlic in Salinas.
WATSONVILLE, CA – In the last 12 months, California Giant Berry Farms has seen a 380% boost in consumer participation from the year before. Why? Because of building its database of loyalists through utilizing all its online social media tools.
Despite being just two months in, California Giant has already topped off with two promotions. Earlier this month, the company featured a Valentine promotion offering chocolate dipped berries as prizes that resulted in over 67,000 entries. Of those, the company said new followers and additional connections were made in its database, all for a home delivery of a box of dipped California Giant berries.
California Giant also partnered on a second promotion, centered on vegan recipes, leading to great success due born of a partnership with a popular bloggers and other produce company partners that featured several recipes with California Giant berries and branded products in an e-book.
“The year has just begun and we are excited about the lineup we have planned for our shoppers looking for California Giant berries,” Cindy Jewell, VP of Marketing, said in a press release. “Even more exciting is the partnerships we are participating in to really provide value to the consumer and ultimately increase sales of our brand of berries at retail.”
The company calls its “recipe for success” a mixture of the following:
- Offering solutions in the kitchen
- Complimentary product partnerships
- Easy-to-download offers filled with information consumers value
Improvements in software has also helped boost this success, helping communicate relevant topics to consumers individually.
According to California Giant, each of the over 70,000 contacts in its website database is a frequent shopper of the brand and a frequent visitor to the blog, website, and social channels. Combined with more than 250,000 following its social channels, California Giant says it presents the opportunity for increased daily touchpoints, conversation, and, ultimately, relationships and loyalty.
The company has a new promotion launching with several partners just in time for Spring, a week before Easter this year.
DALLAS, TX - With its triumphant return to advertising’s biggest night, Avocados From Mexico’s “Avos In Space” spot exceeded Super Bowl advertising norms in several prominent categories including brand appeal, brand memorability and message linkage and likeability, according to data from Nielsen’s Super Bowl 360 Ad Effectiveness Scorecard.
AFM’s campaign took viewers through a wacky, interstellar experience, where a group of aliens showcased different Earthly possessions that would entice beings far and wide. One notable highlight of the bunch is, of course, the always in-season Avocados From Mexico.
Watch the full ad spot below:
And aliens weren't the only ones fascinated by the Mexican-grown avocados—consumers were too, Nielsen shows. Below are a few notable results that Avocados from Mexico included in a press release:
Maximized Exposure Prior to Kick Off
According to data science and media technology firm 4C, AFM earned the most free media exposure of any other advertiser leading up to the game, with the spot rebroadcast over 1,900 times across the country.
Solidified Status as a Digital MVP
Merkle’s Digital Bowl Report, ranked AFM as its the number 2 digital Super Bowl campaign, tying for first in paid search and finishing in the top ten in search engine optimization, display advertising, and social media.
Drove Significant Social Engagement
Brandwatch reports that the AFM hashtag (#AvosInSpace) finished as the second most popular hashtag during the game. Avocados From Mexico was also the third most mentioned advertiser, based on data from Salesforce.
Critics Give AFM a Touchdown
“Avos In Space” was voted a top ad by Fast Company and The Washington Post, and earned widespread acclaim from Adweek, AdAge, The Chicago Tribune and Forbes; while placing in the top 26 percent of the prominent USA Today AdMeter.
Breakthrough Retail and Foodservice Promotions
Retail promotions with Guac Nation and Fanwich and collaborations with The Cheescake Factory, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chili’s, and Freebirds helped drive historic volume.
“This year, we really enjoyed pushing creative boundaries for the fresh produce category and going head to head with some of the biggest brands in the world,” said Alvaro Luque, President of Avocados From Mexico in a statement. “Our ultimate goal was to drive home the importance of origin, and year-round accessibility of this delicious, authentic Mexican fruit. Based on the unbelievable results, I believe we accomplished our goal.”
To learn more about these and other marketing and promotional activities, visit the Avocados From Mexico Facebook page, or website.
SIDNEY, OH — Freshway Foods Vice President of Operations and 45-year produce veteran Larry Schultz plans to retire early this year, wrapping up an impactful career with the company and the industry.
Schultz joined the Freshway team in 2003 as its new Director of Operations, bringing with him a vast range of experience spanning from when he started in the industry driving a delivery truck for Crosset Company in 1976, to Production Foreman, to Club Chef.
“What I liked when I came to Freshway was that it was a young company that was wanting to grow,” Schultz said on joining the company. “Both owners of the company were young and had aggressive goals for the company’s growth. I knew it was a great opportunity.”
“Larry has left a permanent positive mark on all of us here at Freshway,” Phil Gilardi, Owner of Freshway Foods, said on Schultz’s time with the company, according to a press release. “His drive to teach others and help them realize their full potential not only in the world of produce, but more importantly, in the game of life, is an example for all of us to follow.”
In his stead, Freshway announced Steve Collins as the new Vice President of Operations in an October 2015 press release, leading daily operations at the company’s production and distribution facility in Sidney, Ohio.
“Steve is a very strategic and process-oriented leader and a great developer of people” Devon Beer, President of Freshway Foods, said on Collins’ appointment.
In his 13 years with the company, Schultz has supervised hundreds of people, as well as having trained industry members that have later become supervisors, general managers, and vice presidents.
“The work ethic instilled in Larry at an early age paid him dividends his entire life,” Beer said in the release. “You can teach someone how to evaluate the quality of produce, interpret yield and labor statistics, and organize people, but to lead the way with a can-do, ‘whatever it takes to make the customer happy’ mentality, is something that must come from within. Larry has done an outstanding job of instilling that attitude in our managers and workforce.”
So what will he do now? “I plan to travel up and down I-75 from Michigan to Florida and work with farmers to help them develop and grow their business,” Larry says for his plans this year, as well as spending more time with his grandchildren, joining the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization in Florida, and volunteering with his wife, Julie, at Hospice.
As for what’s to come for the industry, Schultz has a positive outlook.
“The good news is that our focus on healthy eating is growing. Produce is not only the best thing to eat for your health, it also has great flavor. I am especially excited to see traditional commodities like turnips and beets becoming popular again. They were popular when I started in this industry, and now they have come back and everyone is eating them.”
Congratulations to Schultz on a long career, and we wish him well in this next chapter.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – While previous quarters brought along promises of improved performance in fresh foods, Target’s latest financial report indicates that perhaps the retailer’s efforts aren’t going to waste.
In a conference call with investors, Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell said that comparable sales in food grew faster than overall sales, validating the changes the company has been making to the assortment, presentation, and freshness. Although Cornell did not mention any specific numbers in regards to this particular metric, it is encouraging news.
Target has continued to make steady progress in revamping its food departments, and results from early tests have been positive. As we previously reported, the company announced that it would be expanding its fresh food tests to 25 Los Angeles area stores. These tests include assortment changes and more natural, organic local items under its “Wellness” category.
In after-hours trading, shares in Target were up 4 percent to $76.95.
Target reported that fourth quarter comparable sales in signature categories (Style, Baby, Kids, and Wellness) grew more than three times faster than the company average, according to a press release.
During the fourth quarter, comparable sales increased 1.9 percent, driven by traffic growth of 1.3 percent. Sales for the fourth quarter decreased 0.6 percent to $21.6 billion from $21.8 billion last year.
“With traffic growing for five consecutive quarters and our signature categories of Style, Baby, Kids, and Wellness leading our growth, Target’s results demonstrate that we are focused on the right strategic priorities,” said Cornell. “I want to thank our teams across the company for giving our guests a great holiday season, driving consistent growth throughout the fourth quarter and delivering on the sales and profit goals we laid out at the beginning of the year.”
Other highlights from the financial report include:
- Fourth quarter Adjusted EPS of $1.52 was in line with the company’s guidance of $1.48 to $1.58.
- For full-year 2015, Target’s comparable sales grew 2.1 percent, comparable traffic increased 1.3 percent, and Adjusted EPS increased 11.3 percent to $4.69.
- Target returned $4.8 billion to shareholders in 2015 through dividends and share repurchases.
“While we have made a great deal of progress in 2015, we are excited about the opportunity in front of us to provide a more seamless experience and accelerate profitable growth,” Cornell concluded.
Will we see Target continue to expand its fresh food tests to more locations? Stay tuned for more.
SELAH, WA - Rainier Fruit has announced that it will now be apple sponsor to the Boston Marathon, embarking on a multi-year relationship with the Boston Athletic Association.
“We have been in business for 128 years, and as a leading grower of both conventional and organic apples, pears, cherries and blueberries,” Mark Zirkle, President of Rainier Fruit, said of the move, according to a press release. “It makes perfect sense for us to sponsor a legacy event like the oldest, most prestigious running event in the country, The Boston Marathon.”
That legacy marks its 120th running this year, specifically on Monday, April 18th, having grown to an event that attracts 30,000 registered participants and 500,000 spectators. Those there will have access to fresh samples of Rainier Fruit “Rising Star” apples, the company said, at hospitality locations throughout the marathon.
“Athletes are always looking for the best in healthy foods to power their training,” Zirkle continued. “Our ‘Rising Star’ apples, in both conventional and organic options, are known for their crisp texture and exceptional flavors that keep consumers coming back. These Rising Stars include our proprietary Lady Alice® apple and standouts such as Honeycrisp, Jazz®, and Pink Lady®.”
Rainier stated that this sponsorship is more than just the singular marathon event, giving it the opportunity to connect to the running market that Running USA notes has grown over 300% during the last 20 years. In 2015, nearly 19 million athletes completed a running event in 2015.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this new opportunity to introduce the exceptional quality and sweet flavor of our apples while supporting the running community. This is part of our long-term commitment to providing healthy and nutritious fruit products to people around the world,” Zirkle said.
Zirkle concluded that Rainier believes its high-quality apples, pears, cherries, blueberries, and other fruits align perfectly with a balanced, healthy diet.
“During the past 15 years we have transitioned as much of our acreage to organics as possible. Today we are one of the largest suppliers of organic fruit in the U.S. The early lessons we learned in promoting biodiversity, soil quality, and general environmental benefits of organic growing are applied to all of the products we grow,” stated Zirkle.
The 26 mile event happens happens Monday, April 18th, starting on Main Street in rural New England’s town of Hopkinton.
CORAL GLOBAL, FL - Fresh Del Monte Produce has reported its Q4 and full year 2015 financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended January 1, showing increased net sales, but falling net profits due mainly to what the company says was a global oversupply of bananas.
"Our strong sales performance in the fourth quarter and throughout 2015 was characterized by the value of our broad product line, extensive supply chain capabilities and investments in expanding our distribution channels and product sourcing,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in a statement. “Our global fresh-cut and avocado product lines continued to drive growth in the fourth quarter. However, our performance in the quarter was negatively impacted by an extraordinary industry oversupply of bananas in the final months of 2015."
Net sales for the year increased to $4.06 billion, compared with $3.93 billion in 2014. Net sales for the fourth quarter increased $48.6 million to $977.9 million, compared with $929.3 million in the prior year's fourth quarter. Expanding market reach for avocados was a substantial part of this increase, with avocado sales for the quarter going up 27% to $39.1 million.
Gross profit for the year decreased $342.3 million, compared with gross profit of $364.8 million in 2014. Gross profit for the fourth quarter was $44.6 million, compared with $62.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Abu-Ghazaleh also commented on what seems to be an explosion of banana-related drug smuggling and its impact on the company throughout the year.
“Unfortunately we see a lot of drug smuggling in banana ships and pineapple containers,” said Abu-Ghazaleh during a conference call with investors. “It seems that bananas [are] becoming a very easy conduit for this trade and the banana becomes irrelevant compared to the other cargo inside. So I think what really is distorting this business is not supply and demand, it’s other reasons that we don’t have any control of.”
Other highlights from Fresh Del Monte’s Q4 and full year 2015 financial report include:
- Earnings per diluted share was $1.17, compared with earnings per diluted share of $2.53 for 2014.
- Net loss per share was $1.39 in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with a net loss per share of $0.01 in the fourth quarter of 2014.
- Operating income for the year was $91.0 million, compared with an operating income of $173.5 million in 2014.
- Operating loss for the fourth quarter was $73.3 million, compared with an operating income of $3.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
- Net income for the year was $62.4 million, compared with a net income of $142.4 million in 2014.
- Comparable net loss was $6.0 million, compared with comparable net income of $11.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Keep checking back with AndNowUKnow for more industry financial news.
SALINAS, CA - Mann Packing is at it again with its latest innovations, two new iceless Brussels sprouts products. Available either trimmed or shaved, theses sprouts are now being offered in specialized foodservice packs for a more manageable quantity without the mess that comes with an iced product.
“We’re comparing these Brussels sprouts products to what iceless green onions have done for the foodservice industry – providing a classic, iceless pack in a user friendly format without the wax carton and mess,” said Gina Nucci, Director of Foodservice Marketing at Mann’s.
Closely trimmed at the stem and eliminating the need for trimming in back-of-house, Mann’s new Trimmed Brussels Sprouts are packed in two breathable bags to prevent browning at the cut point. The sprouts are whole, giving chefs full flexibility to either prepare as is or cut to spec.
Mann’s Shaved Brussels Sprouts offer a blend of consistent, 1/8-inch cut leaves to go with the “planks” of the sprouts. This flexible format provides ways to use the sprouts both in raw applications such as salads or slaws, as well as faster cooking techniques like flash sauté or high-heat roast.
“Brussels sprouts have been an ‘it’ vegetable for a few years now, and show no signs of stopping,” Nucci adds. “The latest research shows that close to 60% of operators are currently using Brussels sprouts, and our new iceless products are delivering them in a way that no one else is.”
Mann’s Iceless Trimmed Brussels Sprouts are available in two 5-pound bags while the Shaved Brussels Sprouts come in five 2-pound bags. The case is extremely low profile, according to a press release, requiring minimal walk-in space.
For more information on Mann’s full line of products, visit veggiesmadeeasy.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
BATAVIA, IL – German-originated retailer, Aldi, is expanding its reach in the U.S. to encompass the western seaboard.
The chain has announced a plan for an estimated 45 stores in Southern California, with the first eight slated to open on Thursday, March 24.
“Ever since we announced our plan to bring ALDI to Southern California, the positive response from people across the Southland has been overwhelming, and we’re excited to start opening stores next month and throughout the year,” Gordon Nesbit, Moreno Valley Division Vice President for ALDI, said, according to a press release. “There is a strong appetite among Southern Californians for an alternative place to shop and we are eager to show them the significant benefits that can come from shopping at ALDI, both for their wallets and lifestyles.”
And the retailer’s excitement to meet this new market is tangible when going to its U.S. website, calling out to Californians to apply and listing a number of posts about what it has to offer. Currently Aldi expects to hire about 1,100 people in Southern California by the end of this year.
Each Aldi grand opening will entail a three-day-long event, which kicks off with ribbon-cutting ceremony at the first locations’ openings on March 24 at 8:45 a.m.
Among the benefits of being first-time shoppers at the store will be an onsite sweepstakes for a chance to win “Produce for a Year,” as well as a complimentary ALDI reusable eco-bag for those who come in on March 24, 25, and 26.
“We’ve been selling groceries in the U.S. for 40 years, growing deliberately and steadily throughout the country,” said Nesbit. “Shoppers who appreciate high-quality groceries at an exceptional value are everywhere, and California is no exception. We are confident once Southern California shoppers get to know us, they’ll come to love us.”
Aldi offers a variety of organic and gluten free items including:
- Organic fruit
- Organic vegetables
- Meat
- Dairy
- Organic and gluten-free packaged food items
The retailer also promises the state an easy-to-shop, consistent layout of 10,000 to 11,000-square-feet and four to five aisles.
Aldi concluded that these opening are a significant milestone in its coast-to-coast expansion, a five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the U.S., bringing its total to nearly 2,000 stores by the end of 2018.
WALTHAM, MA – There’s a new kid on the block in the world of robotics, and this one isn’t too privy on being pushed around.
Boston Dynamics, the robot company owned by Google parent Alphabet, is showing off its latest innovation, appropriately named “Atlas.” Why, you might ask? See for yourself – we think it’s pretty jaw-dropping.
Sure, call it a precursor to Robocop or Terminator - we get it, it looks a little unnerving because it's simulating human movement. But what if Atlas could be utilized on farms as another picker or in a warehouse carrying crates or maybe even pallets? We’ve talked about robotics in agriculture before, but nothing quite as humanoid as this one.
Check out the full video of Atlas in action below. Watch how it handles uneven terrain and maintain its balance even when prodded from behind. Even more impressive, it stands back up on its own after getting pushed down. And if you feel sorry for the poor robot getting shoved and toyed around with, you’re not alone. Keep it up and that’s how the robot uprising starts.
Not too much has been revealed about the gadgetry inside the robot, other than a brief description on the YouTube video which states that Atlas is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. Boston Dynamics says that the 5’9” tall, 180-pound robot uses sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation, and manipulate objects.
Judging from the video, it appears that Atlas also has the ability to recognize QR-like codes to lift boxes and open doors.
Of course, we’re far away from robots like Atlas being used in the agricultural industry. At the same time though you can’t help but imagine the potential behind this innovation on the field.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see where Boston Dynamics will go next.