CORONA, CA – Good Life Organic™, a division of Veg-Fresh Farms, said this week that it will begin shipping its Organic Sweet Grapes Tomatoes in its new environmentally-friendly fiber tray after extensive testing.
“Our initial sales have surpassed our own high expectations for this product. We are doing what’s right for the environment, what’s right for the consumer, and what’s right for retailers whose customers are looking for companies that use eco-friendly packaging,” said Randy Cancellieri, Partner at Veg-Fresh, in a statement.
Good Life Organic™ hopes to court eco-minded consumers with the new fiber trays. The company said switching to compostable packaging will remove about 1.5 million plastic trays from store shelves this year alone. The fiber tray is compostable and a sustainable option for consumers who partake in home composting, the company said.
Veg-Fresh said that Good Life Organic™ Sweet Grape Tomatoes were an obvious choice for the new fiber tray packaging. “First and most important of all the considerations for this new packaging is putting the correct product in,” said Cancellieri, adding that the company “will not compromise on our high standards for pack out, only the best fruit makes it in the tray.”
Good Life Organic™ developed its compostable fiber tray packaging after months of in-house product development and testing. The new trays are made from Veg-Fresh’s own recycled corrugated produce boxes and sport a printed clear film lid. “By recycling our own corrugated boxes we extend the life cycle of the cardboard to another life… another Good Life!” the company added.
Keep AndNowUKnow in your knowledge lineup for all the latest news and headlines, and visit Veg-Fresh Farms today at FPFC’s booths #143-145 for an up close and personal look at all its new offerings!
SPARKS, MD – McCormick & Company announced this week that it has purchased 100 percent of Botanical Food Company, Pty Ltd’s shares for approximately $114 million.
Botanical Food Company is the maker of the Gourmet Garden brand of packaged herbs.
"We are pleased to expand our portfolio of leading brands around the world with the addition of Gourmet Garden,” said McCormick President and CEO, Lawrence E. Kurzius, in a press release. “The owners and employees of Gourmet Garden have built a great business, and we look forward to working with them to achieve continued success.”
Gourmet Garden, specializing in packaged and chilled fresh herbs, is currently sold in 15 countries, with 90% of customers located in North America and Australia. McCormick plans to drive the brand’s sales by expanding global distribution, building awareness with increased brand marketing, and greater household penetration.
McCormick said the company’s product portfolio, international distribution, double-digit company growth, and annual sales of $53 million inspired the acquisition.
“We anticipate strong growth for these products, particularly in the U.S. and key international markets where consumers appreciate the value and accessibility of cooking with a more convenient flavoring alternative,” said Kurzius.
McCormick added that it expects the acquisition to be fully accretive in 2017, but to see no earnings per share impact in 2016 due to the estimated impact of transaction and integration costs.
AndNowUKnow will continue to track the company’s growth with its new home, as well as other growing companies in the industry.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Target has plans to electively raise its employee’s minimum earnings to $10 per hour this May. Although the company declined to officially confirm the increase, two sources told Reuters that Target management has already informed store managers and employees of the upcoming hike.
Director of Communications for Target, Molly Snyder, did state, "We pay market competitive rates and regularly benchmark the marketplace to ensure that our compensation and benefits packages will help us to both recruit and retain great talent.”
This hike reportedly comes after the company has seen increasing competition in the employment market, paired with the calls from labor groups for higher wages. These insider reports came from sources close to story under the condition of anonymity.
According to CNBC, Target previously raised its minimum pay rate from the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour to $9 per hour. This previous hike took place last April, making the upcoming raise in May the second time in a year Target will raise its hourly wage.
Employees who already make over the $10 per hour minimum will still see benefits in an annual merit raise, and pay-raises based on experience and performance.
The report noted that Target’s plans mirror competition between workers in a strong labor market. As CNBC cited, there is a historic low amongst Americans filing for unemployment, with the unemployment rate at 5.0 percent.
CNBC also noted that this announcement marks a trend for Target, as it is the second announcement the company has made following a similar one from Walmart. As we previously reported, Walmart announced in recent months that it will be increasing its own minimum wage to $10 per hour.
Keep your eyes on AndNowUKnow for developments in this story and other retail-heave announcements.
MEXICO - Mexico’s Popocatépetl has erupted this past Monday morning 50 miles outside of Mexico City, blanketing the city in ash and shutting down the city’s airport. 25 million people live within a 62 mile radius from the volcano between Mexico City and the city of Puebla.
The Daily Mail reports that the Puebla International Airport was shut down from 7 AM until 1 PM local time. National Coordinator Luis Felipe Puente noted that locals should not attempt to approach the volcano, tweeting on Monday, “It is important to respect the security radius of 12 kilometers (seven and a half miles) due to the danger of incandescent fragments being emitted.”
WATCH: Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano explodes, spews ash on nearby towns https://t.co/WJwU73vmAvhttps://t.co/dPdzvceYTm
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) April 19, 2016
Popocatepetl’s eruptions happen fairly frequently, and we have recently reported on one eruption at the beginning of this month and another at the end of March. The grit and ash can damage cars, plane engines, and lungs, according to The Guardian. Watch a video of the eruption for yourself above.
According to the Associated Press, the eruption that began around 2:30 AM CDT Monday morning spewed ash as high as three miles above the crater, and volcanic rock as high as one mile. The volcano is Mexico’s second-largest mountain, standing at a height of 17,797-feet.
La ceniza hay que barrerla y depositarla en bolsas. Hay potencial de lluvias en Puebla: drenaje puede taparse. pic.twitter.com/DCCmlTDlRU
— Volcán Popocatépetl (@Popocatepetl_MX) April 18, 2016
As of now, no damage to agriculture has been noted by the country, but travel has been postponed due to closed roads and airports. For more on the possible effects of this volcano as information is released, keep watching AndNowUKnow.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Debbie Vest, produce industry and Safeway veteran of more than two decades, has joined the Renaissance Food Group (RFG) team as its new Vice President of Procurement.
“Renaissance Food Group is very fortunate to have Debbie on our team,” said Jim Catchot, President of RFG. “Her experience with procurement and grower/shipper relationships will continue to push RFG’s position as a leader in the fresh food industry.”
With a 24-year tenure at Safeway, most recently overseeing procurement for the entire company as the retailer’s Group Director, Vest brings buy-side knowledge to the RFG team in this newly-created role.
According to the company, Vest will serve as the primary strategic leader, responsible for further developing RFG’s vertically-integrated supply chain and raw material sourcing programs.
Additionally, Vest will use her expertise to work with the internal procurement team directly, as well as grower partners, to help deliver premium products to RFG customers.
This latest additions goes into effect this month, April 2016. AndNowUKnow congratulates Vest on this newest chapter to her long produce career, and will continue to follow RFG and other companies in their strategic growth.
SALINAS, CA – In an effort to provide the fresh produce industry with a “go-to” source for improving sustainability efforts, Measure to Improve has debuted a newer and sleeker website. Offering the industry a comprehensive set of solutions for all sustainability needs, the company’s new website aims to help guide clients through a proactive approach from farms to facilities, surveys to soils, water to waste, and energy efficiency.
"Our vision is to shape and mold what sustainability is in the California produce industry by communicating and translating economic and environmental benefits between sellers and buyers,” said Nikki Rodoni, Founder and CEO, in a press release.
Rodoni said that the newer, simpler design will make for easier online navigation, allowing the company to serve the needs of its customers more fully and effortlessly. The site’s new layout will feature a series of labeled tabs to direct clients through the company’s sustainable solutions down the supply chain.
“We will guide California produce companies on using sustainability initiatives to increase profitability, gain market visibility, engage employees, and take a proactive approach to addressing sustainability in a way that is meaningful to the produce industry,” commented Rodoni.
The series of accessible tabs will outline the company’s services for growers and processors, and also provide users with overviews on specific methodologies and baseline analyses for the implementing the following protocols:
- ISO
- ANSI
- ASHRAE
- GHG
In addition, MTI’s site now hosts a series of testimonials, which provides new users with contextual confidence in the company’s abilities. As Recycling Coordinator Mandy Brooks stated from the Salinas Valley Recycles, “Our partnership with MTI has allowed our agency and local businesses to benefit from MTI’s expertise in recycling and waste management programs but also in working towards over-all sustainability and zero waste as a real possibility in the ag community.”
Rodoni also added that the company is able to provide a stable foundation for its comprehensive set of sustainability solutions through its dedicated team of experts, comprised of the following:
Wyatt Maysey, Zero Waste Program Manager
Transitioning from an MTI intern, Wyatt now works full time as they company’s Zero Waste Program Manager. Backed with a B.S. in Business Administration from CSU Monterey Bay, Way specializes in Zero Waste certification projects, and oversees the company’s database management.
Virginia Ruiz-Ugalde, M.Sc.Eng, Energy and Water Program Manager
Virginia’s sustainability experience began with the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Mexico, then moved onto General Electric Company/Global Nuclear Fuels in the U.S. as a Technical Program Manager in 2002. Virginia is currently working towards her Master of International Environmental Policy at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Rebecca Graham, Sustainable Agriculture Program Coordinator
Rebecca received her B.S. in Soil Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2015. While there, Rebecca harvested and managed produce from the Cal Poly Organic Farm for a weekly farmers market. She is currently focusing on Agroecology in her M.S. in Crop Science studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Rebecca expects to graduate in 2017.
Niles Brinton, M.E.S.M, Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager
Niles obtained a Master’s degree in water resource management and entrepreneurship from U.C. Santa Barbara, and also graduated with honors from Clemson University after receiving B.Sc. degrees in Biological Sciences and Natural Resource Management. Niles develops agricultural sustainability programs for MIT with a holistic focus on soil, water, and waste management. Niles also works with produce industry growers to document, measure, and leverage current on-farm sustainability efforts.
To learn more about the MIT team and the sustainability services the company provides, and to click around on the new site yourself, go here. Click on at AndNowUKnow for more industry announcement and sustainability profiles.
HOLLYWOOD, FL - With plenty in the works as summer quickly approaches, Sun Pacific Marketing’s Domestic Sales Manager, Eric Jones, took a few moments to discuss both the current and upcoming fruits.
While the company is perhaps best known for its Cuties® and Mighties™ kiwis, that isn't all Sun Pacific is looking forward to.
“We’re here talking about Navel oranges and the beginning of the California grape season which will be fast upon us starting about the first of July,” Eric tells me.
And the buck is far from stopping there. Sun Pacific also has high hopes for its Cuties® and Mighties™ kiwi seasons.
Eric explains that the company is anticipating a strong finish to the California Cuties® season as it prepares to transition over to Chilean Cuties®, offering a full suite of things to look forward to as summer comes.
Find out all Eric had to say about Sun Pacific Marketing’s seasonal fruits by watching our exclusive video above, and keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow further developments in the industry.
ATLANTA, GA – Bill Green, Kroger’s Director of Regional Operations for the Atlanta Division, will be promoted to the company’s Vice President of Operations for the Columbus Division at the end of this month.
“I am thrilled to be promoted to Vice President of Operations,” Green said in a press release, adding, “My enthusiasm for our customers and associates will be carried over into the Columbus Division, and I cannot wait to begin working with an incredible team.”
Bringing 16 years of experience into this newest position, Green began his career with the retailer in 2000 when he joined the law department in Cincinnati as an attorney.
Three years later, Green relocated to Atlanta to complete Kroger’s management trainee program. He was promoted to his current role of Director of Regional Operations in July 2015.
“Bill brings leadership, people skills, a great knowledge of the business and an engaging community spirit to his new role,” said Bruce Lucia, President of Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “Bill has contributed greatly to the success of our Division, and his broad range of experience across different departments makes him an ideal candidate for this leadership role.”
Kroger said Green’s passion for the community is exemplified by his involvement and support for several community organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America and the Junior Achievement Association.
Green’s promotion goes into effect later this week, April 24th.
Keep informed on the latest in produce and buy-side news with AndNowUKnow.
TEXAS - Persistent waves of rain and storms have brought flooding to historic levels, bringing rain totals to highs of up to 16 inches.
"One to three month's worth of rainfall [will fall] in a matter of days and hours," explained AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said, adding that the rain will only worsen the flooding that has already taken place across parts of southeastern Texas.
Nearly 4 inches of rain fell in one hour at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport early Monday morning, with some locations in the northwestern part of Houston receiving 7-14 inches of rain and triggering several high water rescues and road closures.
“Houston has been pummeled by torrential rainfall. There are reports of up to 16” in some areas in the last 12-24 hours, with many areas seeing at least a foot or more of rain in the last 18 hours,” says Bret Erickson, President of the Texas International Produce Association. “The weather has also created some problems with transportation and logistics getting up and though the major metropolitan areas of Houston and surrounding areas.”
So what will that mean for the state’s thriving growing regions? It’s too early to tell exactly how different categories will fare, but peaches, watermelons, and onions may see some contact with the storm.
“Texas Hill country peaches are due to come off in May, and Texas watermelons on the Eastern Side of the state could certainly be pushed back by the flooding,” says Tommy Wilkins, Grow Farms’ Director of Sales. “The worst part this storm is supposed to hang around for the next 3 to 4 days, and now the onion guys are carefully watching to see how much comes in.”
Bret also added that the Rio Grande Valley was put under a flash flood warning last night, saying that as of Monday evening the area had not seen any rainfall, but they are sitting tight and hoping for the best. There are still some onions that have yet to be harvested, Bret continued, and has onion growers a little worried, especially since markets have been positive as of late.
According to AccuWeather, the increasingly saturated ground will cause any more rainfall to lead to additional flooding problems.
Thunderstorms, and localized wind and hail are possible across portions of central, southern, and eastern Texas through the middle days of the week, AccuWeather says. As the storm shifts eastward, rain and storms will become more scattered and less intense, with drier weather projected to by the end the week.
As AndNowUKnow learns more about the results of these storms, we will continue to update you on the latest.
NEW YORK, NY - Moody’s Investors has given The Fresh Market its first-ever rating, granting the retailer a B2 Corporate Family Rating and B2-PD probability of default rating.
“In addition to the volatility in financial policies inherent with ownership by a financial sponsor, our ratings also reflect the execution risks associated with new management's turnaround plan which will be challenging to implement in a very competitive business environment,” Moody’s stated in a press release in regards to its rating system.
In addition to its new rating, The Fresh Market has also been given borrowings to help finance its recently announced acquisition by Apollo Global Management, LLC, as well as general corporate purposes.
For this, Moody’s has assigned the company a Ba2 rating (Moody’s scale ranges from Aaa to C) to the retailer's proposed $100 million revolving credit, and its $800 million senior secured notes has received a B2 rating.
A number of ratings were assigned as part of the Fresh Market’s first-time addition to Moody’s listing, including:
- Corporate Family Rating at B2
- Probability of default rating at B2-PD
- Proposed $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility maturing 2021 at Ba2(LGD1)
- Proposed $800 million senior secured notes maturing 2023 at B2(LGD4)
Despite currently being under investigation and in the midst of a lawsuit with shareholders for allegedly entering an acquisition agreement that “undervalues” The Fresh Market, the retailer’s stock was up .07% as of yesterday’s close at 4:35 p.m. EDT.
Moody’s added that the rating outlook is stable, and that it reflects high leverage for the company on a relatively small scale.
This rating can be upgraded based on the improvement of The Fresh Market’s operating performance, so stay tuned as we continue to follow this and other retailers throughout 2016 and beyond.