CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger Co.’s Division President for Nashville, Rick Going, has announced he is retiring after 35 years with the company, effectively setting in motion a shakeup in the company’s executive lineup.
Effective on February 27, Going will officially close a chapter that began in 1981 as a management trainee in Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton Division. Since then he has moved up through a number of positions to get where he is today, including having served as the company’s Vice President of Operations for the Cincinnati/Dayton Division, Vice President of Merchandising in that same Division, and President of the new Michigan Division.
“Throughout his notable career, Rick led by empowering his team while always expecting excellence," Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "Rick's leadership in starting two new store operating Divisions has built the model for our company. The entire Kroger family wishes Rick and his family all the best in retirement.”
When the former Mid-South Division split to form the Nashville and Louisville Divisions in 2013, Going took on his current role as Nashville’s Division President.
In his place, Zane Day has been promoted to President of the Nashville Division, according to a press release.
Day has also worked in many leadership positions, such as Store Manager and Director of Merchandising, Director of Procurement at Fred Meyer's Tolleson Distribution Center, Director of Deli for the Fry's Division, and District Manager and Vice President of Merchandising.
Prior to this promotion, Day was Vice President of Operations, a position he obtained in 2015. "Day is a strong leader who is focused on enabling our associates and serving our customers and communities," McMullen said. "His broad experience in our company and industry will benefit our Nashville team."
In Day’s stead, Katie Wolfram will move up to President of Kroger’s Central Division.
"Katie's breadth of experience and deep understanding of our company will serve our Central Division team well," said McMullen. "Katie's passion for both people and results make her the right leader as we continue to grow in our Central Division."
Based in Indianapolis and operating stores in Indiana, Illinois, and Eastern Missouri, Wolfram will oversee these operations when her title goes into effect.
Currently Wolfram is Vice President of Merchandising in the Central Division, and has served as Manager of Merchandising Systems Development and Manager of Consumer Research at Kroger's general office. She has served Kroger in several leadership positions prior to those titles, including roles in Kroger Manufacturing such as Senior Marketing Manager and Director of Sales & Marketing, Vice President of Sales & Operations for Kroger Manufacturing, and Vice President of Merchandising the King Soopers Division.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on all major changes in the retail circuit and their possible influences on the produce industry.
AUSTIN, TX - Following a series of meetings with produce and floral suppliers, Whole Foods has announced even further changes to its much talked about Responsibly Grown Rating System.
Whole Foods did catch some flack from organic farmers when its program was first introduced, with growers voicing concerns that receiving a “Good” or “Better” rating when some conventional farms were rated at “Best” devalued the complex structure required by the USDA to adhere to certified organic growing. Those concerns were heard by Whole Foods, leading to adjustments first last July, and again now with a new commitment to revamp the system in 2016.
“When we launched Responsibly Grown, our goal was to create a dynamic rating system we could continuously improve with our suppliers to best address the most critical issues in agriculture,” Liz Burkhart, Sr. Media Relations Specialist explained to me in an email. “Our suppliers have played a key role in helping to strengthen the program, and these meetings offered a great opportunity to continue our dialogue.”
Here are a few adjustments Whole Foods will be making to its Responsibly Grown Program, according to the company’s website:
- All "Good", "Better" and "Best" Responsibly Grown rating logos will be removed. A single Responsibly Grown rating will be the new standard by March 31, of this year.
- Updates to Whole Foods’ list of prohibited pesticide list are being made following the company’s pesticide policy of “[updating] as needed to ensure continuous improvement in pesticide risk reduction.” These will go into effect early next calendar year.
- All USDA’s Certified Organic produce and flowers at Whole Foods Market are now being granted a Responsibly Grown rating until Jan. 1, 2017, to allow Certified Organic growers more time to become rated under the program.
- Whole Foods is automatically awarding all Certified Organic products with additional points within the rating system. While the retailer has always awarded Certified Organic growers with automatic points and exemptions for their compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP) Standards, they have since added additional areas of overlap for which Certified Organic growers will be rewarded with automatic points.
- Whole Foods are adding support and training to help our growers through the onboarding process and new food safety regulations and traceability requirements.
“We greatly appreciate their contributions to the program and are energized to continue working to provide deeper transparency on the issues you, our customers, care about,” said Edmund LaMacchia, Global Vice President of Perishable Purchasing in a blog post about the company's work with suppliers. “We will share more updates with you as we continue to enhance our Responsibly Grown program for fresh flowers and produce.”
As Whole Foods continues to develop it’s Responsibly Grown rating system, check back with AndNowUKnow for updates.
SALINAS, CA - Mann Packing Co. has been named the very first recipient of Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) new, monthly Fresh Health Award due to the company's continued commitment to increasing fresh produce consumption.
“Mann’s has been committed to the Half Your Plate message since day one,” said Ben Alviano, National Business Manager for Mann’s in Canada. “We are thrilled with the success of Half Your Plate and are proud of our partnership with CPMA to promote the health benefits of eating more fresh vegetables at every meal.”
Chosen in particular for its continued support of the Half Your Plate initiative and for their efforts to promote healthy eating, Mann’s has been including the association’s logo on the company’s stringless snap peas across Canada, and have been providing coupons for Half Your Plate’s giveaway at the Food Bloggers of Canada conference in Montréal.
Ben was also the recipient of CPMA’s Mary FitzGerald Award at last year’s expo in Montreal, Canada. The Mary FitzGerald Award is given to those under the age of 40 working in Canadian produce, and focuses on generosity, innovation, and the demonstration of a passion for produce.
According to a press release, Mann’s has helped share the message of making healthy choices and eating more vegetables by using the hashtag #HalfYourPlate through its engaging social media campaign. To see more information on Mann’s full line of products, visit veggiesmadeeasy.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
CHELAN, WA - Continuing with their goal of creating a healthier eating arena for busy, time-conscious consumers, the team at Chelan Fresh is building on its Healthy You in One Minute monthly video series. This latest episode from Chelan offers fantastic ideas about how to eat better at home and keep those New Year's resolutions for months to come.
“Consumers will learn tips for stocking the fridge and how to grocery shop to ensure success in eating nutritious foods,” Kathryn Grandy, Marketing Manager, tells me. “We encourage consumers to keep fruit and vegetables front and center for the benefit of the shopper and the retailer. It is a win-win.”
This most recent video details Chelan’s Rate My Fridge campaign that allows people to actually snap a photo of their own fridge layout and submit it to Nutritionist McKenzie Hall to get a personalized response with "yays" and "nays." McKenzie is one of Chelan Fresh’s valued RD partner and is working with the team to increase consumer engagement. With this new element to Healthy You in One Minute, it is as simple as posting a photo to Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest with the hashtag #RateMyFridge.
Want to know more about McKenzie Hall? Check her out here.
Mac Riggan, Director of Marketing tells me that currently, Chelan Fresh is in full swing with the company’s winter pears such as organic bosc and anjou. “In addition, apples remain strong as a whole. Chelan Fresh recently completed shipments of apples in FuelUpToPlay60 packaging and displays supporting this national NFL and National Dairy Council school program.”
As February 14th quickly approaches, Chelan also invites apple lovers to check out Chef Meg's awesome Valentine's Day recipes like Apple Sweetheart sandwiches and Apple and White Chocolate Fondue.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — LGS Specialty Sales has renewed its Safe Quality Food (SFQ) certification under the new module specific to importer/broker agents in the food sector category, discovering in the process that it is the first in the U.S. to do so.
“This level of food safety extends beyond us as a company to the companies we do business with and the facilities we use,” said LGS’s Food Safety Director, Kristina Kovac. “These entities are also compliant with requirements. If they don’t have their own certification, we send in an auditor to help them become certified or ensure they are in a continuous improvement plan to do so. This move reassures our customers that every entity partnering with LGS in the supply chain is handling produce in the safest and highest-quality manner.”
LGS originally obtained the SQF Level 2 certification in July of 2014, according to the company, when it introduced a new module specific to LGS and other broker agents’ category.
“We as a company have always held a deep commitment to food safety,” Joseph DeNardo, who oversees LGS’s special projects, commented in a press release. “Even at the start, we had a computer system in place that allowed us to trace product back to its source. Today, not only does food safety remain critically important to us as a company — and to the produce industry as a whole — but there is more demand nowadays from consumers to know who grew their food, where it was grown, and that it is safe.”
This certification shows that LGS can present just that. According to Kristina, the certification body the company goes through during the rigorous process confirmed it is the first in the country to do so.
LGS first sought this achievement as part of its longtime commitment to food safety in 2013, completing modules 2 (Systems Elements) and 11 (Good Manufacturing Practices for Processing of Food Products), the most applicable at the time. It was the following year in 2014 when Module 14 was introduced (Food Safety Fundamentals — Good Manufacturing Practices for Food Brokers and Agents) that the company renewed its standing and jumped ahead of the curve.
Registered companies and customers can view all SQF certifications and categories by searching for companies in the SQF Database.
According to the company, SQF Level 2 is part of the benchmarked Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), widely recognized within the food industry and continually updated. Used in many countries where regulations are ever-changing, certification criteria is also renewed consistently to keep pace with those requirements.
SOUTHEASTERN U.S. - Several thunderstorms are expected to roll through the South starting today and continuing until Wednesday night, forecasters are reporting. Throughout the two-day period, moderate to severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the entire area from Louisiana, east through Florida and up north through Indiana.
The Weather Channel is currently predicting the storms to bring damaging wind gusts, large hail, and multiple tornadoes on Tuesday, with the brunt of the storm hitting Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. As Tuesday night progresses, there is also a possibility that the slow-moving thunderstorms may trigger flash flooding along what the Weather Channel refers to as the southern flank of the squall line.
"The area at greatest risk for the outbreak of severe weather lies between Little Rock, Arkansas, and Nashville, Tennessee, during Tuesday afternoon and early evening," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. "This includes Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee."
As for Wednesday, the storm will move east with thunderstorms flaring up all the way from New York State down to Georgia and Florida. While the risk of violent storms will be lessened along the Atlantic coast, according to Accuweather, there will still be a threat for flooding downpours and strong wind gusts with storms across the Southeast. Severe thunderstorms are being predicted from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Tampa, Florida.
For more on this developing weather system and more, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
LAKELAND, FL — Publix is crossing a new state line, having officially signed off on its first two stores in the state of Virginia.
"Being company owners, our associates continue to work diligently to exceed our customers' expectations, which has allowed Publix to experience continued growth," CEO Ed Crenshaw said in regards to the chain’s entrance into another new market, according to a press release. "As we enter new markets and continue to open new stores, our associates prepare for new opportunities which supports our culture of promotion from within. We look forward to providing the great state of Virginia with the high quality service and products that our customers have come to expect and that have earned us recognition throughout the industry."
The company’s premier locations in the state will be in Bristol, a 54,000-square-foot store, and in the greater Richmond area, a 49,000-square-foot store.
This latest move places Publix in seven different U.S. states, and the first announcement of a new state since it cracked into North Carolina (announced in 2012 but opened in early 2014).
Other states the retailer is currently located include:
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Tennessee
The chain added that it is also looking into growing more aggressively, both in its new Virginia venture and its current one in North Carolina.
While the Bristol store is tentatively set to open in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the Richmond area store in 2018, specific dates have yet to be set.
IRVINE, CA - The California Avocado Commission (CAC) is calling out to foodservice operators as year-after-year avocado popularity continues to trend upward, saying that now is the time to plan for those green dishes.
“With America’s appetite for avocados escalating every year, the arrival of Fresh California Avocados in the market is cause for menu celebration,” the commission stated in a release. “Foodservice operators count on Fresh California Avocados for their hand-picked quality and consistency, Golden State origin, rich flavor, silky texture and the seasonal appeal to a range of dishes.”
To help add those benefits to your offerings, as well as dip into consumers’ increasing cravings for avocados, CAC recommends a variety of dishes. A few examples of the versatility Fresh California Avocados can offer are:
California Avocado Bruffin
Fruit is a long-time friend of breakfast, avocados included. This baked good puts a fresh twist on two classic breakfast favorites. For the recipe, click here.
Guacamole Nogada
How’s this for an appetizer? Guac is probably the most famous avocado-centric dish, so why not tie in some more produce power like mangos, onions, and pomegranate to share the love? And its lovely presentation is sure to catch the eye on any menu. For the recipe, click here.
Tempura California Avocado with Crab Salad
Asian foods are on the rise in popularity as well. This ties in the best of both worlds to snag even the savviest of foodies. For the recipe, click here.
To see more avocado-inspired dishes, as well as helpful resources like nutrition, selection, storage, and handling information, visit CaliforniaAvocado.com/Foodservice.
HOUSTON, TX – Sysco’s earnings beat analyst expectations for the company’s second quarter of 2016, showing significant progress being made in its previously announced three-year plan.
Higher sales and a drop in merger-related expenses were some of the standout metrics in the company’s financial report. Revenue for the second quarter, ended December 26, 2015, increased 0.6% to $12.15 billion, while Reuters analysts had only projected $12.14 billion, according to MarketWatch. Sysco reported net earnings of $272.4 million, or 48 cents a share, up from $158 million, or 27 cents, a year earlier.
Sysco’s shares were up over 8% during after hours trading.
Sysco CEO Bill DeLaney said he was pleased with the quarter’s results.
“We achieved strong local case growth, while managing gross margins well and also containing operating expense growth," he said. "Through the first six-months of the year, we are on-track to achieve our financial objectives for the first year of our three-year plan.”
The foodservice giant announced details about its three-year plan last September, following its announcement that it would end its merger pursuit with US Foods. The plan calls for an improvement of its annual operating income by $400 million.
In addition, Sysco says that it hopes to achieve a 15% return on invested capital by accelerating local case growth, improving gross margins, leveraging its end-to-end supply chain, reducing administrative costs, and generating more than $1 billion in free cash flow per year, according to a press release.
Other highlights from Sysco’s Q2 2016 financial report include:
- Gross profit increased 3.4% to $2.2 billion; gross margin increased 50 basis points to 17.75%
- Adjusted operating income increased 10.2% to $437 million
- Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS), including a one-time $0.03 benefit from resolving certain tax contingencies, increased $0.07 to $0.48.
For more on Sysco’s financial performance in Q3 and beyond, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
YUMA, AZ - The tides have been changing for the lettuce market out of Yuma this past week, with what had been a tight market with higher prices calming down and a big increase in supplies as we head into February.
“Since right before Thanksgiving and all the way through the New Year, the industry saw a time where both cold weather and increases in demand made for tightened supplies and increased prices,” explains John Georgalos, Lettuce and Romaine Product Manager for Tanimura & Antle. “Most shippers including processors were having to reach into future planting to meet demand, with estimated packing dates delayed 3 to 4 weeks due to cold weather.”
Now, with more moderate weather in western Arizona, supplies and quality are back up, contributing to the fluctuation back down to lower prices.
“The combination of warm Yuma weather and higher yields has held back our chances at holding up what had been a very strong market for the last 4-5 months,” adds John Scherpinski, Director of Sales for D’Arrigo Bros. “With plenty of product and very few outlets, the markets quickly fell. We have some hope for a little bounce in both iceberg and romaine markets though as retailers have adjusted store pricing to generate more sales and increase turnover.”
An upside to this big influx of romaine and iceberg? Now is a perfect time for retailers to promote without having to worry about supplies being interrupted, Georgalos tells me.
“We are now in a situation in Yuma where weather has moderated, days are longer, and ground temperatures are starting to warm up,” he adds. “All the acres that were behind schedule are now maturing and ready to harvest. We see a steady stream of excellent quality lettuce for the next 3 to 4 weeks barring another freezing episode, which is not being forecasted in the near future.”
As the lettuce market continues to fluctuate and weather starts to warm up, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest.