NOGALES, AZ – Del Campo is making a big upgrade to its Nogales, AZ facility in an effort to invest further in its sustainability initiatives.
The company has added new solar roof panels and a solar covered parking structure to its 120,000 square foot warehouse facility. The new solar panels will provide over 50 percent of the energy the warehouse uses for cooling and daily operations.
Diego Ley, General Manager, said that it was important to not only invest in the company’s facilities, but also contribute to the environment.
“Converting some of our energy to solar power will help us stay competitive and continue servicing our customers’ needs,” he said.
According to a press release, some of the benefits this investment brings include:
- The estimated coal saved will be 559,232 pounds
- The estimated CO2 reduction will be 1,118,464 pounds
- The estimated water saved will be 419,424 gallons
Del Campo y Asociados is also exploring more solar energy possibilities for their ranches in Sinaloa and in Jalisco.
“We have analyzed the benefits and investment to adding solar energy at our ranches and currently working on a plan to build solar farms that will provide the majority of our power,” said Juan Jose Ley, General Manager of Del Campo y Asociados.
This is just one more way the company continues to be on the forefront of technology, operational excellence, and customer service.
ATLANTA, GA - I think it’s pretty much a given that PMA Fresh Summit exhibitors truly bring their A-game to this annual event, and this year’s convention in Atlanta, Georgia, was no different.
While this industry is definitely the unique beast that it is because of the people, equally as important are the product innovations. From pioneering varietals to packaging and product debuts, here are some of the companies that stood out from the crowd, and while there were many more I’d love to list, here are some of my favorites.
Stemilt - Fresh Blenders™
As always, visiting with Stemilt Growers brings with it a wealth of education and, for this show, apples. This year, the company showcased its Fresh Blenders™ pouch bags which offers a unique product to help retailers appeal directly to this consumer. Fresh Blenders™ come in a 5-pound bag of value grade apples that present sweet or tart flavor profiles and multiple varieties for each. I love the ease of the resealable pouch bag which is designed to stand up vertically for easy display at retail and in the refrigerator at home.
Red Sun Farms - Biodegradable Fiber Packaging
Red Sun Farms' Biodegradable Fiber Packaging was another great highlight from the show, as companies throughout the industry continue to align their programs with sustainability initiatives. Red Sun's organic grape tomatoes will now be packed in an Earthcycle fiber base which is top sealed and offers a 90% reduction on plastic. The item is also fully compostable and recyclable. Red Sun is responding to the consumer demand for an eco-friendly - environmentally conscious packaging option.
Village Farms - Cherry no. 9: Fall in Love Again & Cabernet Estate Reserve
Village Farms was one of my first introductions to innovation in the greenhouse category. This year, the company debuted two new cherry varieties, Cabernet Estate Reserve, a wine colored tomato with a deep red color, and the Cherry no. 9: Fall in Love Again, which is a sweet and juicy tomato, both bred for flavor. The company looks the world over for unique varieties with quality attributes and these are examples of those efforts.
Ocean Mist Farms - Season & Steam
Kalettes™ are truly taking off at retail and foodservice and consumers look to diversify their diets and bring more flavor and innovation to their meals. Ocean Mist Farms’ value-added Season and Steam product line has expanded to include Kalettes™ along with four Brussels sprouts items: SuperShreds SuperFood™, Quick Cook Sprouts, whole Brussels sprouts and Baby Sprouts. This Steamfast pack gives users the opportunity to pre-season the contents, reseal with the zip lock and steam by microwave. The new redesigned packaging for the line offers fresh graphics on each of the Season & Steam packages to make the instructions clearer on the shelf and more user friendly.
Naturipe - "Ready to Eat" Fresh Berry Snacks
Berry growing is this company’s business. That is a given. And when it comes to convenience, Naturipe is always a go-to. This year, the company showcased its “Ready to Eat” fresh berry snacks in single serve and trio portions. These berries, combined with an exceptional wash system and state-of-the-art sealed packaging, ensure a great snack and premium quality fruit that is available year-round. I hope you got the chance to try the Blueberry, Blueberry Mango, and Blueberry Grape options. The fun and vibrant packaging only adds to the appeal.
Grimmway - TRUE ORGANIC
The organic juice category is growing in leaps and bounds, thanks to companies like Grimmway who are offering a premium juice option driven by flavor and quality. The company is rebranding its organic juices to simply read “TRUE ORGANIC” as it celebrates the first anniversary of the line, placing a greater emphasis on the organic nature of its super-premium juice offerings. Additionally four new flavors have been added to mark the occasion - Kaleifornia, Blissful Beets, Citrus Carrot, and seasonal Apple Cherry Harvest.
Clear Lam - PrimaPak™ Technology
This company’s PrimaPak™ technology is a unique, flexible, stackable, reclosable package produced from a single roll of film on a Vertical FFS machine. PrimaPak™ also features peel and re-seal technology, which eliminates the need for rigid lids/banding and gives consumers an easy-to-open and close lid. This technology can also help processors and retailers achieve measurable cost savings and sustainability improvements throughout the supply chain. Brands have the opportunity to deliver messaging on all six sides of the package… which provides more opportunities to tell the story of the product.
If you missed part one of our series, check out Jessica Donnel's favorites from the show by clicking here. Stay tuned for part three!
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA - German-based retail chain, Lidl, has made the first step in expanding its footprint in the U.S., having broken ground on a new distribution center on Tuesday in Spotsylvania County.
“We chose Spotsylvania not just for its central location, but also for its talented workforce and economic vitality,” Brendan Proctor, President and CEO of Lidl U.S., said in a statement, according to the Virginia Business.
The 82-acre property, once completed, will house a $125 million distribution facility, employing about 200 workers.
The retail chain received about $16.7 million in state incentives, including $1.4 million paid upfront. Among those were:
- $5 million in grants from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund
- $2 million from the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant Program
- $9.7 million incentive package for Lidl from the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors
"As one of the leading European retailers, we are happy Lidl chose Virginia as its gateway to the United States,” Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, stated, according to the report.
In total, Lidl is investing more than $200 million in its operations in Virginia, the Virginia Business reports, and has pledged to create about 700 new jobs by 2018.
ATLANTA, GA - Maybe you were one of the few who didn’t make it out to PMA’s Fresh Summit this year, or maybe you were just overwhelmed by the what seemed like thousands of aisles—either way, I'm here to give you some insight on some of the products that stood out to me and had me thinking even after the show floor. With this being the convention that company’s bring out their best and brightest new products, here are some I think you definitely shouldn’t miss:
Mastronardi Produce - SUNSET® Minzano™
SUNSET's Minzanos were definitely one of the most beautiful tomato products shown on the floor this weekend. This mini San Marzano-type tomato is greenhouse grown and vine ripened for a powerful burst of Tuscan flavor. The product was a petite item that would work perfectly for bringing a splash of red to the salad plate, for consumers to munch on out of the convenient resealable pouch bag, or hopefully, you got a chance to try some of Chef Roger Mooking’s delicious recipes that featured the product on the floor.
Shanley Farms - Citron Caviar
The interior of these Citriburst Finger Limes can best be described as citrus pearls, or citrus caviar. Shanley Farms debuted the item in a new presentation at Fresh Summit this year, showing off the limes’ caviar-like qualities in a jar not unlike its upscale counterpart. The flavor is similar to that of a lemon-lime-grapefruit combo, the juice bursts from the citrus pearls when bitten into. If you didn’t get a chance to try these, they are worth seeking out for sure.
Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company - Natalie's Fresh Tomato Juice
Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company debuted a new addition to the company’s juice line at this years’ convention— Natalie's Fresh Tomato Juice. Locally sourced from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, these unique juices only use two ingredients—fresh tomatoes and lemon juice. These juices are capitalizing on the trends millennials are seeking, including having no preservatives, no “hidden” ingredients, being Non-GMO, and gluten free. This was definitely one of the pasteurized juices we sought out during the show, and I’m happy to report it did not disappoint.
Mann Packing - Culinary Cuts®
Winner of a 2015 PMA Impact Award for Excellence in Packaging, Mann’s Culinary Cuts® feature fresh cut vegetables cut into distinctive shapes including Sweet Potato Ribbons and Butternut Squash Zig Zags. Before I even came to the show, my grandmother formally requested I made sure to check them out in person, as she read about them on AndNowUKnow and wanted me to get even more details. Each package contains four to five, 1-cup servings, detailed cooking instructions, and three unique recipes and usage ideas. Congrats on the award to the whole Mann Packing team!
Evolution Fresh - Evolution Fresh Cold-Pressed Juices
As a person who is always looking to get my veggie intake on-the-go, Evolution Fresh’s Cold Pressed Juices are a frequent staple of my diet. Introduced by Starbucks, the company is now expanding its line of popular juices to include new protein smoothie blends and a new Organic Green Lemonade flavor. You better believe that with the added protein and delicious flavors, these new additions will be making it into my weekly pressed juice rotation.
North Shore Living Herbs - N.S. Living Herbs®
One stand out in the herb category was North Shore Living Herbs® rolling out new varieties a its booth, with the eye-catching promise that retailers love their longer shelf-life, as well as using less waste and offering high quality. The clamshell presentation gives a window to the "living herbs," which look freshly picked. This not only gave me the feeling of using fresh ingredients, but also the idea of adding a gourmet touch while cooking in the kitchen. This was definitely a lively addition to the herb category while browsing the rows of PMA Fresh Summit.
Ippolito Produce - Value Added Brussels Sprout Pouches
Anyone who knows me knows I am a Brussels Sprouts fiend, and one of my favorite new products featuring one of my favorite veggies was Ippolito’s new value-added line. Under the company’s Queen Victoria label, the company introduced a 1 lb. Microwaveable Pouch that you can cook in the bag, a 1 lb. Gourmet Microwaveable Pouch that comes trimmed and cut, 1 lb. Petite Microwaveable Pouch that features smaller sizes, and a 12 oz. Shredded Microwaveable Pouch that is perfect for warm salads. I’m always on the lookout for something I can cook quickly in the microwave, so this is a product I had to check out first hand.
This show was actually the first PMA Fresh Summit I had the honor to attend, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Thank you to all the companies I had the chance to visit for the hospitality and all the great innovations to the industry!
Stay tuned for our other writers' favorite picks coming soon!
ORLANDO, FL - Darden has sold its headquarters in Orlando, FL for $133 million to an affiliate of U.S. Realty Advisors.
"It's all part of the strategy to strengthen the business," said Rich Jeffers, Director at Darden, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "Selling the building and leasing it back from the new owner provides us with a better way to utilize our capital to further strengthen the business and drive shareholder value."
The company moved into the headquarters six-year-old, 9.5 acre, 1.5-million-square-foot property and building for $152 million and does not plan to move out despite the sale, according to the report.
Jeffers stated that the company and its 1,000 employees will not be leaving the area, and that Darden has signed a 20-year lease with an option to extend an additional 30 years.
The company does seem to be in the midst of a turnaround plan. In addition to this change up, the company’s Olive Garden banner just recently selected Mcgarrybowen as its lead creative, and that it is currently selling upwards of 500 properties, including 424 spin-off sites into a real estate investment trust, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Darden has also put 64 additional restaurant properties on the market.
BALA CYNWYD, PA - Chris Horrell has joined the Love Beets team as its new Western Regional Manager.
“I am truly honored to be working with the Love Beets team,” Horrell said in a press release. “They have a great product line with a significant following and are a brand with continual innovation and new concepts.”
Horrell, who brings six years of experience in commodity produce sales from working with Ayco Farms, is part of Love Beets re-emphasis on its focus of the West Coast. As we previously reported, the company is also launching a large U.S.-grown operation in Rochester, N.Y. in the first part of 2016.
"We are excited to have Chris on board with Love Beets,” Joe McGuire, General Manager, commented in the release. “He brings to our organization great experience and a passion to carry our brand's values. We look forward to exciting success in the West for Love Beets.”
Horrell will be responsible for actively managing the Love Beets brand in retail, foodservice, and any other channels of distribution. The company stated that he was greatly successful in building both new and existing accounts previously and expressed confidence he will do the same in this new role.
YAKIMA, WA – Domex Superfresh Growers® is heading into its Autumn Glory® season with a host of expanded marketing programs and increased volumes.
With demand, praise, and consumer awareness on the rise for Autumn Glory, Superfresh Growers says that volumes have doubled every year for this unique, exclusively grown apple. The company projects harvesting approximately 50,000 cartons of Autumn Glory apples in 2015 and up to 800,000 cartons in 2020.
Along with the uptick in in volumes, consumer response to the flavor of Autumn Glory has been “tremendous” ever since its launch in 2011, says Vice President of Marketing Howard Nager.
“With its sweet, firm flesh and subtle cinnamon notes, the Autumn Glory has an intense apple flavor that embodies the essence of a crisp fall harvest, thus the name,” he said in a press release.
Autumn Glory will be ready to ship in early November with availability through March of 2016. Organic Autumn Glory apples will be available beginning in January.
Superfresh Growers will support the 2015/2016 season with a variety of marketing tools that partner retailers can utilize in-store and online to introduce the new apple variety to consumers.
These tools include in-store sampling and education programs, with high-graphic packaging and point-of-sale artwork; in-store radio spots; and various ready-to-post recipes, usage ideas, graphics, and high-quality photography for social media and digital promotions.
It’s going to be a busy season ahead! Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest on Superfresh Growers’ Autumn Glory.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo and Harveys, is moving its headquarters into the newly renovated Prominence office park with NGA Human Resources.
According to the Jacksonvville Business Journal, owner of the park, Crocker Partners, stated that it has invested $8 million in the property and that the "prime location" was a major selling point for Southeastern Grocers.
“Southeastern Grocers is looking to the future -- as are we,” Josh Edwards, Vice President of Crocker Partners, said according to the Jacksonville Business Journal. “As one of Florida’s most prominent companies, this long-term commitment is good news for the region, and it demonstrates that our investment in realizing Prominence’s potential as Jacksonville’s premier office park is paying off.”
The move into the four story, 160,000 square-foot office building will consolidate several regional offices, and Southeastern Grocers stated that the majority of the associates at the Jacksonville Store Support Center, Astor and Baypine offices, plus some associates from the Baldwin office will be in the new headquarters.
"The market is tightening and demand is increasing for quality space in the Jacksonville market, ideal timing as Prominence’s re-branding takes hold and the makeover becomes more visible," Edwards reported in a statement, adding the company has a number of significant leases in the works.
Southeastern Grocers announced that the new building should be completed and ready to move in by the first quarter of 2016.
WATSONVILLE, CA - It was an amazing PMA Fresh Summit event for Well•Pict Berries this past weekend, with new products and a showcase of proprietary berries for buyers and attendees. The company debuted its new 18-ounce Raspberry Club Pack which marks a milestone for Well•Pict as the largest pack the berry grower has ever made available.
These new packs offer a larger window to allow the color and size of the berry to speak for itself and can be merchandised within a berry-patch to help keep the category front and center.
Well•Pict’s berries are available all year with extra large sizing along with extra sweet flavor. This new consumer pack was created in response to retail demands as the company continues to grow the category. Well•Pict also has 12 ounce and 6 ounce consumer packs for consumers.
Also on the horizon for Well•Pict’s strawberries and raspberries is newly designed package labeling that will have a full scale launch in 2016.
“Our clamshells already offer large windows with great visibility,” Dan Crowley, VP of Sales and Marketing, says. “These new labels really complement the beautiful fruit, helping the packs to ‘pop out’ even more on retail shelves and the catch the consumer’s eye.”
The growing trends toward healthier food options is helping to drive the growth of the berry category across the board and Well•Pict is working to stay at the front of the pack in terms of growth, flavor and variety. According to the company, superfoods including strawberries and raspberries are helping to boost profits in fresh produce departments.
Well•Pict’s berries are proprietary berry varieties bred through traditional cross-pollination for superior taste and quality.
Stay tuned as we bring you more innovation from Well•Pict!
DEERFIELD, IL - With a number of large mergers and acquisitions in the previous two years of some of the largest banners in retail, could the landscape of the industry be changing?
Yet another large dollar merger has taken place with the announcement of Walgreens’ $17.2 billion purchase of rival Rite Aid, which represents a 48 percent premium to Rite Aid's closing stock price Monday, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
Walgreens, who is one of the largest drugstores in the nation, added fruits and vegetables to 37 stores in or near food deserts back in 2013, according to a CBS Denver report, as part of a commitment to bring healthy foods to areas in need. Some stores even offer produce options on line, depending on availability.
Now, this latest union marries the U.S.'s largest drugstore with its third-largest and adds 4,570 stores in 31 states to Walgreens 8,200+ existing locations.
Retail strategies at a glance over the past two years have yielded a growing trend in uniting rivals to create an even bigger banner in the market, most recently including:
- Safeway and Albertsons
- Ahold and Delhaize
- Kraft and Heinz
Many have awarded close attention by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make sure there is no violation of antitrust laws that could potentially monopolize the market, resulting in rapid growing pains for chains like Haggen who bought a significant number of Albertsons to allow the merger to succeed.
The same attention prevented yet another marked merger, that of US Foods and Sysco, who finally agreed to remain separate after the FTC took the two distributors to court.
As of yet, however, no antitrust issues have been raised in regards to this latest union, despite the fact that this will bring Walgreens store count to almost 13,000 in the U.S. when Crain’s reports closest rival CVS Pharmacy only has 7,800.
It will be interesting to see how this and other mergers in the retail circuit continue to change the buy-side. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow these trends and their influences on the produce industry.