ARLINGTON, VA - Lidl is making no secret of the company’s plans to take on the U.S., and now with the release of its supplier application details, qualifications for store sites, and how to become an employee, it’s clearer than ever what the expansion will look like.
“For over 40 years, Lidl has been a growing presence in the European grocery marketplace,” Lidl’s newly revamped website says. “Through 10,000 stores in 26 countries, we’ve precisely designed every part of our process to deliver the highest quality products at the lowest possible price and the most efficient shopping experience possible. Now, we’re bringing our unique vision for grocery to the US.”
In its search for new U.S. suppliers, Lidl has set up a webpage dedicated to directing companies, including produce companies, on how exactly to end up on the retailer’s shelves. In addition to providing a link where you can submit an application (at the bottom of the page) to become a Lidl supplier, the webpage answers questions like, “Can I send in samples?”, “Do I need any specific certification?”, and “Will I need to have my products tested?” to assuage any supplier uncertainty.
The retailer has also listed a detailed account of what type of locations it’s looking to place its U.S. stores in on the website. States that Lidl is currently looking to set up shop in include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware, the Carolinas, and Georgia, with average store size being 36,000-square-feet. Other details about its preferred sites include:
- Opportunities to purchase lots / pads are preferred
- Minimum 3.5 acres to accommodate a stand-alone store with minimum 150 dedicated car parking spaces
- Signalized, full access intersection with high visibility preferred
- Site positioned in an established retail location
- Dense population area within 3 miles
- Traffic counts of more than 20,000 vehicles per day
- Site zoned for grocery retail use
The last section that Lidl highlights on its updated website is its “Find a Career” page, signaling the company might be gearing up for a big influx of new employees. On the page, the company lists details for planned job fairs at many east coast colleges, including at the University of Virginia, Florida State University, the University of Texas - Austin, and Alabama’s Auburn University. Interestingly, many of these job fairs are out of the retailer’s planned areas to build stores.
We predict this wont be the last we hear of Lidl’s expansion plans this year either, so keep watching AndNowUKnow as we relay back any news to the industry.
DALLAS, TX - A is for Avocados.
Avocados From Mexico (AFM) teamed up with the ever-popular Sesame Street to make learning about the health benefits more fun for kids and their parents.
"AFM is proud to be working with Sesame Street to educate families about the benefits of nutrient-enriched fruits and vegetables and their important role in a well-balanced diet," Alvaro Luque, President of Avocados From Mexico, said in a press release. "Since Mexican avocados are always in season, fresh avocados can easily be included into Americans' diets and play a meaningful role in improving nutritional intake."
To help deliver this message in a fun and engaging way, AFM and Sesame Street worked with Chef Pati Jinich of PBS’s Pati's Mexican Table. Watch below as she and a few Sesame Street stars explain why avocados are something little ones should ask for:
According to AFM, research has shown that the vast majority of Americans do not meet the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables, nor do many meet the requirements for consumption of essential nutrients.
These videos share avocado facts with parents and children alike, covering a range of important points like:
- Containing good fats that help you feel full, delaying feelings of hunger.
- Naturally cholesterol and sodium free. Plus, they contain nearly 20 vitamins and nutrients, including potassium and fiber.
- Can be used as a substitute for ingredients that may be higher in saturated fat. Avocados taste great in sandwiches, salads, and baked goods.
AFM also added that those consumer New Year resolutions still come into play, making it a great time to remind consumers to focus on a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet to form year-round habits that incorporate more fresh produce.
AFM supplies avocados year-round, offering a great addition to a nutritious lifestyle.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Katherine Brooks, prepared foods veteran of ten years, is the new Regional Director of Prepared Foods for the Renaissance Food Group (RFG).
Katherine is making the leap to RFG after having served as Director of Business Development at Taylor Farms’ Illinois division, where she oversaw sales, marketing, and research and development.
“Katherine will be instrumental in supporting RFG’s Business Development and Sales teams to ensure the continued growth and execution of our prepared foods category at all six of our regional fresh food production facilities,” Chris Schully, Corporate Chef & Director of Deli Strategy, said of the team’s newest member.
In addition to her experience with Taylor Farms, Brooks has worked in a number of positions that have afforded her experience in ranging from procurement, to sales, to business development.
For her newest role, RFG stated that Brooks will be responsible for both developing and executing a prepared foods strategy which can be replicated at each of RFG’s production facilities nationwide.
The company express confidence that Brooks’ impressive background will help contribute to more growth in its food program in the future.
She relocated to RFG's headquarters in Rancho Cordova, California, from Chicago, Illinois, in order to take up her new post, which went into effect this month.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Giumarra Wenatchee has announced the addition of a new apple variety to its lineup—the French grown Antarès®.
“We are offering Antarès in a 13 kg. Euro-style carton on the East Coast,” explains Jason Bushong, Division Manager for Giumarra Wenatchee. “This is a classic, red-orange hued apple with similar characteristics of consumers’ favorite apples, but it offers the added benefit of a unique sustainability story.”
With initial trial shipments scheduled to begin in February, Antarès is naturally disease resistant and boasts a sweet, aromatic taste. The company describes its flesh as juicy and delicately acidic, touting its excellent flavor balance. A hybrid of the Elstar variety, Antarès is a firm, medium-sized apple developed in a French breeding program.
“Giumarra will continue to offer our customers unique, exciting varieties from around the world, grown for peak flavor while considering what’s best for the environment,” adds Scott Ross, Eastern Region Business Manager for Giumarra. “Market research indicates that specialty apples are driving category growth, and help draw consumers into the produce aisle. We want to continue delivering memorable flavor experiences to shoppers.”
Antarès is naturally-bred to require 70 percent less traditional disease treatment, according to a press release, which is expected to both reduce environmental impact and promote shelf life.
Ross suggests retailers pump up in-store sampling as an effective way to introduce consumers to the story and flavor profiles of Antarès.
For retailers looking for a specialty apple with disease resistance and great flavor, Antarès may be just the answer.
WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms and Cabot Cheese are crossing wires to create a berry-centric football spread for Super Bowl 50.
“For the next two weeks as players begin practice for the big game, our trading partners are stocking up their stores for shoppers on the hunt for their Super Bowl spreads, whether they are hosting a party, attending a party or just filling up the coffee table with food for the family,” California Giant said in a press release. “At the same time, California Giant is using all their social media channels to make sure fresh berries are on the menu Sunday, February 7, 2016.”
According the company, it’s a move that makes sense when statistics show that 91% of Super Bowl viewers watch with their families and/or friends, and when it is the second largest eating day in the year, beat out only by Thanksgiving.
In partnership with Cabot Cheese, California Giant proposes berries crack into this market with some of the following collaborations:
Fresh Berry Bruschetta
Perfect to warm up to the game as viewers look for a refreshing appetizer to munch on. For the recipe, click here.
Blackberry Beef Chili
“Beefing up” during the apex of the football season is essential, and this gives produce a direct avenue into those main course meals. For the recipe, click here.
Chocolate Greek Yogurt Cupcakes
Whether you are celebrating or wallowing, this will certainly take the edge off those final minutes of the Big Game. For the recipe, click here.
Together, the duo have created a number of menu items to push produce for this milestone Super Bowl, giving consumers a fresh flavor among all the usual snacks.
For those who still ache for the traditional staples, however, California Giant also offers tasty berry alternatives such as:
- Raspberry Chipotle Hot Wings
- Blueberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Strawberry Pepper Salsa
No matter who consumers are pulling for, this offers a fresh variety that can reach all those football fans.
Keep checking with AndNowUKnow as we, too, get geared up for the Big Game.
TAMPA, FL - The University of South Florida is about to get a lot more spirited, this time not for the Bulls, but for a brand new Publix store coming right to campus.
Scheduled for completion in fall 2017, this will reportedly be the first ever Publix to grace a college campus. The 29,000-square-foot neighborhood market-style store will be part of an expansive new student housing project, according to Tampa Bay Online (TBO), under the name Andros Village.
“The entire campus community is thrilled and excited to welcome Publix – one of Florida’s most respected companies – to our campus,” USF System President Judy Genshaft said in a written statement. “Our students’ top request was to bring a grocery store to campus so that we could create a healthy living and learning environment that fully supports them in their goals and ambitions.”
Publix has also announced it will hold upwards of two job fairs during each calendar year on the USF campus, and consider hiring qualified students for employment or internships.
The retailer will pay the university $130,000 a year to rent the land for the store under a 21-year lease, TBO reports. Under the deal, Publix will have six opportunities to renew the contract another five years, and the university has the right to increase rent by 10 percent every five years.
PHARR, TX – A few weeks ago, what appeared to be a mere ordinary shipment of carrots made headlines all over the news after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found a hidden cache of marijuana hidden inside. As it turns out, that wasn’t the only fresh produce drug bust that week.
On January 15, officers at the Pharr International Bridge discovered 2,575 pounds of marijuana contained within 515 packages inside a commercial lime importation shipment from Mexico. The packages were concealed in wrapping that was decorated with images of limes. Sounds like Christmas came a little too late.
The estimated street value of the suspected narcotics is $515,000, according to a press release.
The drugs were found after the shipment was referred for a secondary examination following a preliminary non-intrusive imaging system inspection.
“Within a week, our officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility have intercepted two substantial loads of marijuana, carrying over a ton of the illegal narcotic,” said Efrain Solis, Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “We are continuously watchful and alert to prevent these illicit activities from transpiring at our international crossings.”
The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents.
MINNETRISTA, MN - Adam Brady, seasoned produce marketing professional, has been named as the newest Senior Marketing Manager for Golden Sun Marketing, joining Jennifer Velasquez in the role.
“The story of how produce arrives on the shelf at my local grocery store fascinates me,” Adam said in a press release when discussing his passion for marketing fruits and veggies. “Learning about the unique histories and people behind each product drives my passion for this industry and creates in me a deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into providing the market with fresh and flavorful food.”
Adam brings five years of experience to the position, bringing a wide array of expertise including POS and copy-writing to design, packaging, and more.
“Adam’s marketing expertise will fit in well with the broad range of services we offer to the fresh produce supply chain, from seed to retail,” Don Goodwin, President of Golden Sun Marketing, said.
Adam started out as Marketing Coordinator for Shuman Produce, working his way up to the company’s Director of Marketing, where he helped increase brand awareness and market share for Shuman’s RealSweet onion brand within the category.
Before joining the produce industry, Adam was in the journalism field. During that time he worked in several positions, including as a reporter, an editor, and a layout designer.
“Along with hiring Adam, we are also realigning our marketing team to better support our clients. We have split into two marketing teams which will be led by Adam and Jennifer Velasquez,” Goodwin continued.
In his new role, which is effective immediately, Adam will be leading a variety of projects for clients such as FirstFruits Marketing of Washington and RPE, effective immediately, while also overseeing his team’s accounts.
Congratulations, Adam, on this new opportunity and chapter in your career.
SALINAS, CA - Church Brothers Farms has just announced a restructuring of its sales department, with the newly formatted department now being led by new Sales Manager, Tom Bramers, and new Vice President of Sales, Jeff Church.
“We realize that a building business is not just about getting the order, but servicing the customer before, during and after an order loads,” Jeff said in a written statement. “My expanded, new role is now directing the combined efforts of our team to make that happen.”
As the company’s new Sales Vice President, Jeff will be shifting to a larger scope from his previous role as one the company’s lead Salesmen and Commodity Manager, Church Brothers says. He will now be in the position of managing the company’s regional sales team, national accounts, business analyst, logistics, and marketing. According to a press release, these changes will allow him to focus on supporting corporate initiatives and maintaining the growth the company has experienced over the last decade.
In Tom Bramers' new role as Sales Manager, all twenty members of the sales team, commodity managers, and appointment loading teams will now be reporting to him.
Tom has over 13 years experience in the fresh produce industry, holding prior positions at both Merrill Farms and River Ranch. He is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agribusiness, and is nephew to company Co-Founders Tom and Steve Church.
To learn more about the Salinas-based Church Brothers, visit ChurchBrothers.com.
LAS CRUCES, NM – Inspection Masters (IM) has added a new member to its team, with ag industry veteran Don Sieling joining as the company’s VP of Sales & Marketing. In his new role, Don will manage the company’s growth in California markets as well as oversee IM’s network of salespersons, OEMs and Distributors world-wide.
“The technologies that Roger Holt and company have, and are continuing to develop, will certainly be game changers for the agriculture Industry,” Don shared in a written statement. “I was drawn to the company by their unique, cutting edge Optical Sorting Equipment for nuts, but was convinced that IM was the company I needed to be a part of because of Roger’s brilliance, integrity, and leadership. I was impressed to learn that Roger worked for NASA prior to starting Inspection Masters 20 years ago. IM is a solid, well capitalized company and will be around for the long haul. And the IM team is as close to a family as you can get.”
To learn more about IM's Walnut sorting technologies, watch the video below:
Don has had life-long involvement with agriculture, started by growing up on his family’s 4th generation farm in the Midwest. Don went on to graduate with a B.S. Degree in Agribusiness Marketing from Arizona State University. After graduating, Don moved to the Salinas Valley working for such notable companies as Dole Fresh Vegetables, Tanimura & Antle, Monterey Mushrooms, River Ranch Fresh Foods, and Pacific Coast Fruit Company, then made the jump to positions with tech companies, including heading the Sales & Marketing for Filtrona Porous Technologies and NubeTrak Technologies.
“After a nearly yearlong, nationwide search, inspection Masters has found a key component to our future growth and success,” explained Roger Holt, Inspection Masters President and CEO in a press release. “That component is Don Sieling. Don brings to Inspection Masters literally a lifetime of agricultural connections.”
Roger went on to call Don the “unicorn” that IM has been searching for, touting his rich experience as an ag marketing and tech veteran.