WESTBOROUGH, MA - BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (BJ's) has welcomed seasoned retail veteran Christopher J. Baldwin as its new President and Chief Operating Officer.
"I am very excited to welcome Chris to the BJ's team," Laura Sen, BJ's CEO, said, according to a press release. "Chris' record of excellence in leading large and successful organizations in the retail and consumer sectors will help us to build upon BJ's strong heritage of offering a distinctive shopping experience and deep value proposition to BJ's millions of loyal members."
Having held several leadership roles, including President of Snacks at Kraft Foods (Nabisco), President of North America at the Hershey Company, and several executive roles at Procter and Gamble, Baldwin brings more than 30 years of executive retail and consumer products industry experience to the position. Most recently, he operated over 1,300 fuel and convenience stores on the East Coast as CEO of Hess Retail Corporation prior to its sale to Marathon Petroleum Corporation.
"We are delighted to welcome Chris Baldwin to the BJ's team,” Cameron Breitner, Partner of CVC Capital Partners, said in the release. “Over a long career in the retail and consumer sectors, Chris has proven himself to be an outstanding and innovative leader at a number of great companies, and we expect him to make similar contributions at BJ's."
Baldwin is enthusiastic about the opportunity, saying that he feels both privileged and excited to joining the BJ’s team.
"BJ's operates a unique and well positioned model within the very exciting wholesale club retail channel,” he said. “I look forward to working with BJ's executives, team members, and its Board of Directors to help bring value to all our stakeholders."
Baldwin will responsible for a number of BJ’s operations, including:
- Merchandising
- Logistics
- Membership
- Marketing
- Club Operations
Baldwin will also join BJ’s Board of Directors, and steps in as acting President and COO effective September 8th.
MCMINNVILLE, OR - The “no fuzz, no fuss” berry is making its comeback this fall.
HBF International is launching full speed ahead into its kiwi-berry season out of Oregon and supply is holding steady with the current demand. In fact, the demand for this unique item has continued to grow annually as more consumers become aware of this easy-to-eat, fuzz-less, large berry.
Lori Hickey, Marketing Manager for HBF International, tells me that the consumer response has been fantastic thus far.
“We anticipate the demand to continue to grow as more consumers become aware of this berry,” she said. “Hands down there is a positive response by those trying kiwi berries for the first time. The kiwi lovers out there also love how easy it is to eat this berry.”
Kiwi-berries have a very similar flavor profile to the traditional kiwi fruit. In fact, most people will say that they taste like kiwi, only sweeter. Nutritionally, Lori tells me that they’re considered a super fruit because they offer more vitamin C than an orange. Those deemed “super” by nutrition scientists are packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients that can help you live longer, look better, and even prevent disease. Being high in vitamin C is just one of the perks.
With the steady increase in demand, HBF International has also been increasing its acreage for this item.
“Our existing growers continue to add acreage as they work out the kinks of growing this somewhat difficult-to-grow berry,” Lori tells me.
For this season in particular, the volume has been great and the company expects to meet the demand. More than ever, however, it’s crucial that more consumers become aware of this item.
“We do know that there is a need to inform and educate the new consumer about the best time to consume these berries, and we have been working with the retailers to do just that. We like to say, ‘the softer the fruit, the sweeter the flavor,’” Lori says. “We are willing to provide POS/POP materials at the retail level to help get that information, as well as nutritional information into the hands of the consumer and recipes on our website to encourage other uses.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track the rising popularity of this unique berry.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ - Capespan North America has announced that 20-year produce sales and marketing veteran Erin Meder will be joining the company as its new Sales and Category Director for Grapes.
Starting September 28, Meder will lead Capespan North America’s table grape sales and marketing efforts for imported grapes from Peru, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and Mexico as well as its domestic California table grape program. Erin has been in the business of fresh produce sales and marketing for over two decades, gaining an extensive amount of experience in sales and marketing table grapes, citrus, berries, and a variety of other fresh products along the way.
To view some of Capespan's locations from above, watch the video below.
“Erin’s addition to the Capespan North America’s New Jersey – based sales team will bring augmented sales and marketing strength, deep product knowledge, and a wealth of experience,” the company says in the release. “This will translate into enhanced customer service and will fortify its relationship with its grower base around the world.”
Meder will be spearheading her new position out of Capespan North America’s Gloucester City, NJ location. In addition to leadership and management of the company’s grape programs, a press release has stipulated that Meder will have senior retail account responsibilities for the other imported and domestic products that Capespan North America distributes including imported and domestic citrus, apples, and pears.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Though back-to-school season is up-and-running, Wal-Mart is reportedly cutting back on employee hours rather than adding them like usual.
Bloomberg reports that the retailer’s regional executives announced to store managers that expenses need to be cut by dialing back on any additional hours beyond what was allocated to those locations. According to the report, these are based assigned hours quotas are based on sales projections.
Kory Lundberg, Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, told Bloomberg that the reduction in hours is only taking place in stores where managers have over scheduled workers beyond what they were allowed. “The reductions won’t affect efforts to better staff stores, shorten checkout lines, and improve cleanliness and stocking,” he added.
As a result of these new orders, managers have been either asking employees to leave early or to take longer lunches to trim down their time on the clock.
As we previously reported, Wal-Mart recently promised a $1 billion investment in boosting its minimum wage well beyond the federal limit, as well as other condition improvements. And while the company turned out a slip in profits for its Q2 of the 2015 fiscal year, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon said during a conference call with investors that the progress towards its plan is not moving as quickly as desired, the fundamentals of serving customers are consistently improving.
While Strategic Resource Group LLC Managing Director Burt Flickinger appeared to agree with this, telling Bloomberg that Wal-Mart has made strides during the past year in addressing customers’ complaints of barren shelves, dirty stores, and long check-out lines. He also said that cutting hours now could risk both alienating customers through the backlash of being understaffed and losing some of its best employees to competitors who might provide more stable hours.
An employee from the Houston region, who did not have permission to speak with the media and so asked to remain anonymous, told Bloomberg that her store had cut back more than 200 hours per week, and as a result she has seen longer wait times for customers to be helped. She recalled that on August 19th, at least eight people were sent home by late afternoon amidst one of the busiest times of the season, including sales-floor associates and department managers.
Greg Foran, Head of Wal-Mart’s U.S. Operations, stated earlier this month in regards to the company’s quarterly report that the company is still focusing on both improving the stores and yet curbing expenses.
“Amid the investment, we’re focused on growing sales and controlling costs, as you would expect from Wal-Mart,” Foran said earlier this month after the company announced disappointing earnings. “We are staying true to our roots.”
He concluded, however, that Wal-Mart is committed to improving the customer experience and will protect the investments necessary to achieve that goal.
BOISE, ID - The USDA has approved Simplot’s Russet Burbank variety potato, which is genetically modified to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine.
“For historical reasons and current agriculture reasons, this is an important milestone,” said Haven Baker, Vice President of Plant Sciences at Simplot. “The Irish potato famine did change a lot of Western history. Even today – 160 years later – late blight is a $5 billion problem for the global potato industry.”
This is the second generation of Simplot’s Innate-brand of potatoes, which we’ve reported on earlier this year. The GMO spud also includes the first generation’s reduced bruising and a greater reduction in a chemical produced at high temperatures that some studies have shown can cause cancer. The new potato variety also includes an additional trait the company says will allow potatoes to be stored at colder temperatures longer to reduce food waste.
Before these potatoes can hit the store shelves, the next step is approval by the Food and Drug Administration, which ruled the first generation as safe in March. The potatoes must also be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates GMOs.
Baker said the modifications were made by silencing existing genes or adding genes from other types of potatoes, according to news source The Idaho Statesman, not from other plants or animals. The late-blight resistance came from an Argentinian variety of potato that naturally produced a defense to the blight.
“It’s potato genes in the potato,” he said. “There are clear benefits for everybody, and it’s just a potato.”
The first generation of the Innate potatoes were marketed as White Russets. Doug Cole, the company’s Director of Marketing and Communications, said about 400 acres’ worth sold out last summer in grocery stores in 10 states in the Midwest and Southeast. The company plans to market about 2,000 acres of potatoes next summer, according to the Statesman.
“Our focus is on the fresh market for the coming year,” Baker said. “We think the benefits are clear. We’ve got customers, and it’s a place that we’re excited to be. To some degree I think we need to prove that consumers are willing to buy White Russets, and they know what they are and that they see the benefits. Then I think the other parts of the industry will come.”
The company said it expects FDA and EPA approvals within a year. Commercial planting would likely begin in 2017, the Statesman reports, with the second-generation potatoes available to consumers that fall.
The company is already working on a third generation, Baker says, which is expected to have a resistance to a type of virus that can potentially make potatoes unmarketable. He also mentioned that the company eventually hopes to have potatoes that require less water and can better survive heat and drought.
PORTERVILLE, CA - Another successful summer fruit program has come to a close, and Homegrown Organic Farms is jumping into its fall fruit category with full force.
Kicking off its fall program with organic Shinko and Hosui Asian Pears, grown in the heart of the valley, in Kingsburg, CA, these varieties will be offered in both double and single layer trays depending on size. Last year, Homegrown expanded its entire organic fall fruit line with new growers and new acreage, continuing the company’s commitment to sustainable growing.
“The organic fall fruit category continues to grow for us and it’s an exciting time to be a part of it,” Cherie France, Marketing Manager of Homegrown Organic Farms tells me. “Along with the category growth, we have seen an increased concern of social responsibility, including food safety, sustainability, and labor, across all fresh produce commodities. We pride ourselves in the fact that we’ve always been a market leader with regard to these topics, and our customers have come to recognize this.”
Also on Homegrown's agenda is the company's pomegranate harvest, with new acreage expected to start production both this year and next. The Smith variety, which Cherie describes as a unique early season variety known for its vibrant red color, soft seeds, and high juice content, may arrive any day now, but the company is also expecting Wonderfuls to begin in early October.
“We’ll be harvesting in Fresno, Madera, and Tulare Counties this season. The crop is looking good with excellent flavor profiles and eating quality," Cherie continues. "All our #1 production will be packed in double layers while our new EcoPac label will be packed in both double layer and volume fill which will provide an exceptional value for our retail and wholesale partners.”
On the home front, Homegrown launched its new sustainability program earlier this year, called Committed to Caring, and continues to use it to showcase the company’s efforts in caring for the land, the environment, and our communities. According to the company, the response from our customers has been outstanding.
“We offer a full line of resources to help retailers merchandise and promote Homegrown products including grower photos and bios,” Cherie says. “Consumers love to know where their food is coming from and who their farmer is so we’ve recently included a QR code on our packaging that links with our grower stories on our website. This, along with many of our other resources, helps to bridge the gap between consumers and their growers and we love to help folks make that connection.”
Keep watching AndNowUKnow as we continue to cover all of Homegrown’s fall varieties and its continued dedication to growing organics.
DELANO, CA - Marko Zaninovich of Sunview Vineyards joined AndNowUKnow to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s exclusive Stella Bella Seedless Grapes.
This Sunview variety is part of the company’s unique breeding program. Featuring a bright green color, large berries, and crunchy texture, Zaninovich emphasized the unique flavor of the Stella Bella grape, highlighting its sugars and 18-21 brix level.
“This variety is exclusive to our table grape green seedless program we’re shipping around the world,” said Zaninovich. “The flavor is what’s really unique about it. We hope you really enjoy it. It’s got a great flavor.”
The family-run farm prioritizes quality above all and combines consistent quality with the volume required to meet the needs of buyers, both large and small.
Sales of Sunview grapes begin near the end of June and continue through mid-January.
The company offers a broad variety of conventional and organic grapes, including Autumn King, Autumn Royal, Black Seedless, Crimson, Flame, Gem®, Great Green Krissy, Princess, Red Globe, Rosa®, Scarlet Royal, Stella Bella®, Sugraone, Summer Royal, Thompson, Timco, and Timpson.
For more on Sunview’s Stella Bella grapes, check out our interview with Marko Zaninovich above.
SALINAS, CA - Starting this school year off on a healthy note, D’Arrigo Bros has helped sponsor a program that awards schools with salad bars to help put fresh produce on the plate.
Sacred Heart School was a recipient of “More Produce in Schools” Salad Bar thanks to the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation in 2014, and has since been able to commit to the health and education of its students through the new addition. According to a press release, the Salad Bar Program has given the students of Sacred Heart the opportunity to learn the importance of putting fresh produce on their plates in order to promote healthy living and to make them aware that the highest quality of healthy vegetables grown in this country comes from their very own Salinas Valley.
"D’Arrigo Bros is proud to be a produce sponsor of this exceptional healthy program since its inception," the company says, and is committed to the health of the students' minds and bodies.
The salad bar is served 5 days a week and consists of a variety of seasonal produce such as mix greens, cactus pears, spinach, romaine, cauliflower, broccoli, broccoli slaw, sugar snap peas, grape tomatoes, strawberries and celery.
Other local produce companies who donate their fresh produce weekly throughout the school year are Taylor Farms, Mann Packing, Tanimura & Antle, Steinbeck Country Produce and Blazer-Wilkinson.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - 40,000 baseball fans watched as Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County recognized Frieda’s Specialty Produce as the Wells Fargo Community Hero.
“As a family-owned and managed company, we value the relationships we have with our community,” Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, said in a press release. “We have been donating edible but not saleable produce to Second Harvest since the company moved to Orange County more than 20 years ago.”
Frieda’s was presented the title at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on August 21st. Wells Fargo also made a $1,000 donation to Second Harvest to further support its mission to end hunger.
“It is such an amazing opportunity to be able to highlight our most supportive partnership with Frieda’s, thanks to Wells Fargo and the Angels,” Menna Eshete, Community Relations Coordinator of Second Harvest, commented in the release. “Working with organizations that share our passion in ending hunger creates a stronger team to make what seems like the impossible, possible.”
According to Second Harvest, every dollar donated provides enough food for three meals for the hungry.
“There are so many people who face hunger, right here in our own backyard, and we feel the best way to help is to donate fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste,” Caplan said.
Second Harvest, a member of Feeding America, distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods in 470 locations throughout Orange County through a network of more than 320 community partners. To learn more about its work in the community, or how to join in, go to FeedOC.org.
Congratulations to Frieda’s Produce on this honorable recognition!
SOUTHEASTERN, UNITED STATES - After tearing through the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico over the past week, the effects of Tropical Storm Erika finally made an appearance in the United States last weekend, bringing plenty of rain to states like Florida and South Carolina.
Starting Saturday morning and expected to continue through Tuesday, rain ranging from 2 to over 7 inches has been hitting the U.S.’s southeastern coast. Another 1-2 inches of rain are likely to fall in coastal areas of the Southeast states, with rainfall likely to focus along the West Coast of Florida and the Carolina coast.
"The remnants of Erika will produce spotty flooding over the coastal sections of the southeastern United States as it drifts northward and merges with a non-tropical low-pressure area," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.
According to the Weather Channel, both strong winds and local thunderstorms may be a concern, with some communities be warned that flash flooding may still be somewhat of a concern. While the National Weather Service had originally issued a flash flood warning for the state, the organization has since called off the alert.
Rainfall Since Saturday Morning, August 29, 2015, according to AccuWeather:
- Charleston, South Carolina
- 7.39 inches
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- 4.22 inches
- Miami, Florida
- 3.55 inches
- Vero Beach, Florida
- 3.30 inches
- Homestead AFB, Florida
- 2.56 inches
- Savannah, Georgia
- 3.75 inches
Slow-moving thunderstorms along the South Carolina coast on Monday morning resulted in flash flooding near the Charleston area, with reports of water rescues and road closures. The Charleston airport had seen 6.43 inches of rain so far today, the Weather Channel reported at 10 a.m. EST, making it the second wettest August day on record there.
The brunt of the storm, it seems, brought over 24 inches of rainfall in the Dominican Republic, and bands of locally heavy rain to Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. The United States being relatively dry in comparison.
Stay tuned as we continue to update you on all relevant weather news.