JACKSONVILLE, FL - Crowley Maritime Corp.’s logistics group has reported it will be opening two new warehouses in Jacksonville, FL, and expects them to better serve the needs of its full and less-than-container load customers shipping cargo through, or within the Northeast Florida-area.
“Crowley’s warehousing and distribution business has continued to grow,” said Ayesha Diaz, General Manager, Logistics. “Both of these warehouse moves are part of a larger strategy to improve the customer experience while aligning our operational and customer needs.”
The first of the two facilities opened earlier this week, and is located at 1350 Tradeport Drive, near Jacksonville International Airport. The company says it will serve as a replacement to the company’s Jacksonville Parkway location, and offers customers increased capacity and yard space as well as 12 dock-high doors for faster cargo handling. The 49,702 square-foot facility will offers various warehousing and distribution-focused services including cargo receiving and segregation, labeling, packing and crating, pick and pack/kitting, storage, inventory management, retail schedule deliveries, and HazMat handling, according to a press release.
On October 1, customers with less-than-container load and cross-docking service needs will reroute cargo to a new, secondary location near I-95 and the 20th Street Expressway (Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway). The new facility will provide 31,500 square feet for cross-docking, 58 dock high doors, and more than 150 container yard spots.
“The cross-dock business has also been growing dramatically in the past year,” explained Diaz. “Therefore, it is very important for us to have enough yard space to allocate for the equipment and to have multiple doors that allow us to turn the equipment faster. With this new facility we will be able to accomplish this while also managing additional volume.”
This 45,580 square-foot bonded facility will operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, the company says. Customers can also utilize this warehouse and Crowley’s logistics personnel for a myriad of services, including cargo segregation, P.O. management, cargo tracking, transfers, freight forwarding, cargo insurance, consolidation and deconsolidation, less than trailer load, and HazMat handling.
BELLINGHAM, WA - The continuing saga between Albertsons and Haggen is turning a corner.
The two retailers are now “cooperating” to find employment for former Albertsons workers. According to a memo obtained by the Seattle Times, Haggen is seeking approval to waive the one-year ban that prevented Albertsons from hiring workers that were employed at the 146 stores it sold to Haggen.
As a pre-requisite for the approval of Albertsons’ $9.4 billion Safeway takeover, federal antitrust regulators required the ban, as well as the sale of the stores.
“We recognize that these are challenging days,” Haggen said in its memo to employees. “We want you to know with certainty that Haggen is supportive of employees securing work elsewhere.”
According to the Seattle Times, approximately 11,000 people are currently employed at Haggen. It had more than quintupled its workforce after buying more than a hundred Safeway and Albertsons locations, increasing its footprint from 18 to 164 stores total.
Now, Haggen and Albertsons have been involved in a legal back-and-forth that includes Albertsons’ lawsuit for unpaid inventory and Haggen’s lawsuit for alleged damages.
Only laid-off employees are currently eligible for hire at Albertsons. The United Food and Commercial Workers union successfully pressured Albertsons into giving former employees preference for open jobs and benefits based on their prior seniority with the company, the Seattle Times reports.
In the memo, Haggen said that getting a waiver from the FTC has been a “priority,” to “ensure our employees can take advantage of every opportunity available to them.”
The FTC is trying to approve the waiver on an “expedited basis.”
“We understand your frustration, but this is a process and we are only days into it,” Haggen said.
As we previously reported, Haggen intends to reorganize around 18 core stores that were found to be profitable. The company is currently in talks with potential buyers for a “significant number of locations,” and expects to share further news “perhaps as soon as next week,” it said in the memo.
For the latest on Haggen’s sale, stick to AndNowUKnow.
JAPAN - The aftershocks of the Chilean earthquake continue, now with small tsunami waves showing up on the coast of Japan.
After Wednesday's 8.3 magnitude earthquake, four aftershocks of 6.0 magnitude or greater occurred, including two on Thursday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported this morning that a wave of 80 centimeters (31 inches) was recorded on the northeastern side of the country.
The agency issued a tsunami advisory early Friday for Japan's entire Pacific coast, from Hokkaido in the North to Okinawa in the South. No injury or damages have been reported from the waves, according to The Weather Channel, but some coastal towns have issued evacuation advisories as a precautionary step.
Agency official Yohei Hasegawa warned residents to stay away from coastal areas, saying, "At this level of tsunami we don't have to worry that the land will be inundated, but underwater currents could be very strong and you may be washed away.”
Hasegawa also added that waves reached northern Japan first and were moving toward the southwest, including that the agency expects the swelling of the waves to continue and go as high as 1 meter (40 inches).
In Hawaii, tsunami waves hit early Thursday morning, reaching a magnitude of 3 feet at Hilo and 2.2 feet in Kahului, Maui, The Weather Channel reports. The Pacific Typhoon Warning Center has since canceled the tsunami advisory for Hawaii.
The U.S. government's National Tsunami Warning Center also issued a tsunami advisory for Southern California, including coastal areas of the counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange. The advisory was canceled at yesterday around noon PDT.
Keep watching AndNowUKnow for more updates on the events following the Chilean earthquake.
SALINAS, CA - Looking to bridge the gap between fresh produce and chefs, Markon Cooperative invited culinary talent from across North America to Salinas, CA to showcase fruits and vegetables first-hand.
Twenty chefs from the United States and Canada joined Markon for a variety of field and facility tours around Salinas to understand how products they use are grown, harvested, packed, and processed.
The group also enjoyed a Product Expo, where they could experience the quality and flavor of a wide array of fresh produce items. A number of roundtable discussions were also held to give these guests an opportunity to voice their informed opinions on the research and development of future products.
Check out some of the highlights from the event in the brief 68 second video below.
Markon Member Chef Chris Casson called the event a huge success.
“I look forward to future opportunities with our growers and culinary talent – and I’m excited for the potential of new items developed from this event,” he said in a press release.
Markon Member Chef Mark Emery concurred, saying the inaugural Chef Summit an “amazing experience.”
“Visiting the fields for the first time brought the familiar Markon message to life and the opportunities to network with other chefs allows us to share similar pains, opportunities, and needs,” said Chef Emery. “All in all, a great event that I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Markon says that the event “surpassed expectations,” resulting in an informative, truly bonding meeting that brought together chefs from all corners of the continent.
BENTONVILLE, CA - Wal-Mart has announced its decision to expand its grocery-pickup services, adding several dozen new locations to it repertoire.
Starting with five additional grocery pickup locations in Northwest Arkansas, the company says the new locations are part of a bigger expansion of the service. In recent weeks, the retailer has added dozens of grocery-pickup locations to parking lots of Supercenter and Neighborhood Markets around Phoenix, Denver, and Huntsville, AL, a spokesman for Wal-Mart told The Wall Street Journal.
With Wal-Mart’s service, shoppers can order groceries and other products online, and when customers reach the Wal-Mart parking lot, employees will bring the food and merchandise to the car.
Wal-Mart’s growing investment in grocery-pickup locations comes at a time when grocers and other retailers are searching for ways to make grocery delivery or pickup popular and profitable. This announcement comes on the heels of both Publix and Target adding new delivery services for their customers earlier this month.
Wal-Mart has also experimented with grocery delivery in the past, opening its first grocery-delivery test in San Jose, CA in 2011. The company expanded the service to Denver in 2013 but has since focused on opening more pickup locations.
Bryan Gildenberg, Chief Knowledge Officer at Kantar Retail, a research and consulting firm explained to The Wall Street Journal, “The U.S. is a car-based country. Convenience for many Americans isn’t waiting at home for something to show up.”
Will grocery pickup or grocery delivery become the next wave for shoppers wanting a more convenient way to buy their fresh produce? Stay tuned as AndNowUKnow continues to follow these developing trends.
Alfred “Al” Imbimbo, a well-loved and greatly admired produce industry veteran, has passed away on September 7, 2015. He was 55.
Best known for his warm, jovial nature, Al will be remembered for being incredibly loving and generous. Throughout the course of his career, he found his passion for produce in the Central Valley where he worked for a number of citrus companies, including LoBue Citrus, Riverbend, Paramount, and Sunkist before arriving at Suntreat Packing & Shipping in Lindsay.
Al was instrumental in shepherding Suntreat’s SUMO CITRUS® program, one of his greatest achievements.
“[Al] never met a party he didn’t want to go to and a car he didn’t want to buy, a Marlin he didn’t want to catch, or a friend he didn’t want to make. His world was full of possibilities. To have known Al is a treasure beyond reckoning. And now, a loss beyond measure,” Suntreat said in a memo.
Al is survived by Gia and Enzo, “the greatest and luckiest pups in the world,” and his wife of 21 years, Julie. He once remarked, “I wish I could have married her the day I met her.”
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Al’s favorite charity, a no kill shelter in Paradise: Animal Care Center of St. John In Memory of Al Imbimbo P.O. Box 429 St. John, Virgin Islands 00831-0429.
A funeral Mass of Christian burial was held Monday, September 14, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 608 N. Church St. Visalia, CA.
For more information, please visit http://www.suntreat.com.
AndNowUKnow would like to offer our sincere condolences to Al’s family and friends during this difficult time.
SANDPOINT, ID - Litehouse Foods has two new taste sensations in its Organic Dressings & Vinaigrettes line—Rosemary Balsamic and Ginger with Honey.
“Our Organics have grown nearly 40% over the past year as more consumers have been looking for organic options. We have recently taken the additional steps necessary to obtain the third-party verified on-pack seals that communicate our products have been through stringent testing and meet the highest standards for Non-GMO, Organic, and Gluten-Free,” said Alison Kellogg, Brand Manager for the Organic Line.
Coming in a newly refreshing bottle design, the company says its new bottles’ look reflect the fresh goodness of the product and features the certifications that consumers are seeking: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Gluten-Free Certified. Featuring the hand-painted artwork of one of Litehouse’s employee owners, Graphic Designer Lindsey Kuhn, the company says the refreshed bottle design reflects the clean products used to make the dressings.
“Our new look perfectly captures the natural, wholesome flavors in this line and we are excited to offer six delicious and healthy options for our fans,” added Kellogg.
The growth of Litehouse Organics underscores the changing tastes of consumers, the company says. According to the Organic Trade Association, eighty-one percent of U.S. families now choose organic food at least sometimes, and Non-GMO Project Verified was the fastest growing food label in 2014; representing $11 billion in sales.
The Organics line is available at a MSRP of $5.99.
WOODBRIDGE, ON - Rally Logistics Inc. is being recognized by Canadian Business and PROFITguide.com in their October issue as one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
With a five-year revenue growth of 157%, Rally Logistics has been ranked No. 332 on the 27th annual PROFIT 500, according to a press release.
“The PROFIT 500 represent the highest tier of entrepreneurialism in Canada,” James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of PROFIT and Canadian Business, said in the release. “They should be lauded for the positive economic contributions they’ve made to their communities—and the entire country. They are examples of what can be accomplished with innovation, discipline and determination."
According to Rally Logistics Inc. President Joe Rubini, the company offers a multitude of logistics services, having recently upped its service to clients with the addition of an Asset-based division. He said that the company is honored to be on the PROFIT 500 ranking.
“This achievement reflects the strength of our service and the dedication of our team throughout all four of our offices,” Rubini stated. “Rally has experienced tremendous growth over the past five years and this is reflective in our ranking in the PROFIT 500. An achievement I am proud of sharing with my team!”
With a special focus on time-sensitive perishables throughout Canada and the USA, the third party logistics provider serves manufacturers, shipper/growers, retailers and wholesalers.
WATSONVILLE, CA - “We don’t just grow mushrooms; we grow people,” Monterey Mushroom’s President and CEO Shah Kazemi often says.
Now, furthering the company’s commitment to its people, Monterey Mushrooms is giving 147 children of employees a combined $204,128 in scholarship awards for the 2015-16 academic year. Dependent children of full-time employees are eligible to apply for a scholarship up to $5,000 and for up to 4 years, according to the company.
Beginning in 1992, the Monterey Mushrooms scholarship program is part of Kazemi’s commitment to giving the next generation of decision makers the tools they need to thrive in society. The program was renamed the Carl Victor Fields Scholarship Program in 2004 to honor the company’s past Vice President of Marketing, who was especially passionate about the importance of young people achieving their potential. Since its inception, the program has awarded $2,400,000 in scholarship money.
According to a press release, scholarships are awarded to those who pursue higher education degrees at accredited colleges, universities and vocation/technical schools. Students that apply share their educational background, academic goals and aspirations, school activities, work experience, and personal achievements in order to be considered.
SALINAS, CA - While the weather in California has been cooling down this week, the warmer-than-expected summer has caused the need for a little restrategizing—just ask some growers in the state’s Salinas Valley. While Mother Nature can at times be challenging, Salinas Valley growers are continuing to provide quality product with practices in place to avoid unnecessary losses of product and to mitigate the issues caused by the recent heat wave in California. I spoke with Duda Farm Fresh Foods and D’Arrigo Brothers to get a few insights on their current programs in Salinas.
“Last week’s heat wave did cause a lot of issues that had to be dealt with. Harvest crews were left with little to no options other than to work shorter hours to avoid mid-day temperatures, and keep unwanted heat illness issues at bay. With reduced work hours came lowered daily totals of harvested product leaving the fields,” Martin W. Jefferson, Duda’s Production Manager for Northern California tells me.
For the retail and foodservice community, Martin reminds me that although this summer and last week’s heat wave have created multiple challenges, some resulting in a fluctuating supply, Duda is prepared and will continue to do its best at producing, shipping the best vegetables available.
Even though the heat wave was a major challenge, Duda’s team of harvest managers and growers did an excellent job of staying on top of fields and avoiding unnecessary losses of product from heat related issues.
“At times like these, the communication between our growers, PCA’s, harvest managers and sales personnel is more critical than ever. Product maturity, irrigation and inputs, harvest efficiency, and demand are a sample of all the items that have to be recognized and prioritized in order to deliver a high quality product that makes customers happy and still contributes to the bottom line,” Martin adds.
On D’Arrigo’s front, John Scherpinski, Director of Sales for D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of CA, echos the same challenges with harvesting hours. “The heat in the Salinas Valley from last week really set the company’s crews back in regards to harvest capabilities. Most days our crews stopped work after 6-7 hours when the temperature continued to increase,” he tells me.
The shortage of harvest hours and supplies were compounded when this occurred 4 to 5 days in a row for D’Arrigo. Currently, D’Arrigo’s lettuce volumes are really tight followed by romaine and romaine heart supplies. Although quality defects from the heat seem to be minimal, the selection and grading processes in the field are slowing crews as well.
“These setbacks have drastically affected the industry since we cannot keep up with demand,” John says. “Markets have the potential to continue to rise through the month of September. The North West finished their local season a bit earlier than normal and the East Coast seems to be right on their heels.”
Processors seem to be light in supplies as well and looking for additional supplies to support their programs. “This is just adding to the demand in our marketplace,” he adds.
Despite a few setbacks with the weather last week, however, it looks to be cooling down in the Salinas Valley this week. California saw record rains and cooler than expected temperatures earlier this week, granting some relief to the state's growers. We're looking forward to seeing how this cooler weather will help mitigate some of the region's issues.