LOS ANGELES, CA - Roll Global is now The Wonderful Company, a rebranding that the company says aligns its brand with its long-standing passion for harvesting healthy and nutritious foods.
“At The Wonderful Company, we are totally integrated in our approach to farming and distribution — we grow our produce, then harvest, package and deliver to a store near you,” Stewart Resnick, Co-Owner and President of the newly-named The Wonderful Company, said, according to a press release. “We established this vertical structure to ensure that our quality standards are maintained at every step along the way from our orchards to your tables.”
The company which created brands such as Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, Wonderful Halos, POM Wonderful, FIJI Water and Teleflora added that the new name and look is part of its growth and reflects that every year nearly half of American households purchase the company’s wholesome, delicious and delightful products “because they’re Wonderful!”
“Consumers know us from our iconic Super Bowl commercials and viral marketing campaigns,” Lynda Resnick, Co-Owner and Vice Chair, said in the release. “Now we want the world to know the company behind some of America’s healthiest and most popular brands.”
Products that will also undergo a fresh name are:
- Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds (formerly Paramount Farms)
- Wonderful Citrus (formerly Paramount Citrus)
- Wonderful Orchards (formerly Paramount Farming)
The Wonderful Company noted that it will be leveraging its rebranding to both unify its marketplace presence, as well as deepen its consumer connection. It will also continue its history of investing in its employees communities.
“Our company has always believed that success means doing well by doing good,” Resnick added. “That’s why we place such importance on our extensive community outreach programs, education and health initiatives and sustainability efforts. We are deeply committed to doing our part to build a better world and inspiring others to do the same.”
The Wonderful Company has given a total of $48.4 million to charities this year, including community development efforts, a new comprehensive employee health and wellness program, and educational initiatives. An additional $25 million has also been allocated toward the construction of a new campus for the charter school Wonderful College Prep Academy.
DENVER, CO - After 25 years in consulting with fresh produce companies, Julie Krivanek, President of Krivanek Consulting, seeks to remind the industry that just because produce is perishable doesn’t mean those who produce it have to be.
“The challenge for many produce businesses is sustained growth,” Krivanek said in a press release. “Too often I see leaders attend to the 'challenge of the day' instead of how to create growth 5-plus years into the future. When leaders spend their energy on firefighting, they sacrifice the time needed to grow their business and shape the future of their company.”
Krivanek is a senior strategist that has spent the last two-and-a-half decades helping to shift business strategies to a more lasting approach by identifying competitive forces, capitalizing on trends in the global marketplace, and creating the catalyst to profitable growth.
“Since beginning to work with Julie, our company has grown sales by over 26 percent,” Tony D’Amico, President of To-Jo Mushrooms, said, according to the release. “Julie has sharpened my focus and the focus of our entire senior leadership team. She has an uncanny ability to bring clarity to our strategic direction and her passion promotes an energy that continues to keep our team committed to reaching our goals.”
Other successes Krivanek’s track record lists include working with Dole Berry, Mann Packing, PRO*ACT, and many more, touching on almost every aspect of the produce industry’s supply chain.
Krinavek Consulting looks to dive deeply into the operations, sales and marketing aspects of fresh produce companies, in order to define their goals and prepare them for alignment, innovation, and growth, and has the professional perspective to do so.
Looking forward to the immediate future, the company is kicking off the first of three “silver anniversary events” at this year’s United Fresh convention in Chicago, Illinois, next week. Krivanek will be there to celebrate 20 years of the United Fresh Leadership program, where she has been a cornerstone speaker for each class since the beginning.
This year she will lead an invitation-only, exclusive session for the program’s alumni, addressing the evolution of leadership and its effect on long-term business strategy.
For this and all other events not to be missed in the produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger has announced that it will invest $46 million in a new expansion expected to add 650 jobs in produce distribution, customer service, and human resources.
"Kroger continues to innovate and invest to grow our business, and we are pleased to be able to do both in Ohio," said Mike Schlotman, Kroger's SVP and CFO, reports Cinncinati.com.
Kroger was approved for this 65 percent, 10-year job creation tax credit on Monday morning from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. The expansion will turn a former Nash Finch distribution facility purchased by Kroger this past spring into a new produce distribution center.
"The most exciting thing about being a growing company is that as Kroger expands, so do the opportunities for our associates," said Schlotman in a state-issued press release. "We created nearly 25,000 new jobs last year, including nearly 600 here in the Cincinnati area."
Another part of the expansion will renovating be a warehouse and distribution facility that Kroger purchased for $9.3 million in March, according to Hamilton County records.
Neil Hensley, Economic Development Director for the city of Blue Ash told The Cincinnati Business Courier, “This is the biggest new job creation project in a decade,” Hensley told me. “We’re very excited.”
According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Kroger created about 25,000 news jobs last year, including 600 in the Greater Cincinnati area.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The USDA has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under PACA.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Agro Trading International LLC, operating out of Coral Springs, FL, for failing to pay a $5,870 award in favor of an Idaho seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Forestals SA Cultivos Y Aprovecsamientos, Muguel E. Guerra Sosa, and Juan Antonio Reyes were listed as members of the business.
- Luis Nunez Corona, doing business as Only Fresh Distributing, operating out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay a $2,712 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Luis Nunez Corona was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) is celebrating four years since moving into its state-of-the-art facility.
After taking over a decade of intense planning, the company will be celebrating the birthday of the nearly 700,000 square foot home on Essington Avenue on Friday, June 5th.
“Our facility is unsurpassed in cold chain management, product safety, comfort, security, staging, loading, and recycling,” Sonny DiCrecchio, President and CEO of PWPM, said, according to a press release. “We are proud to be the largest enclosed, fully-refrigerated wholesale produce marketplace in the world.”
Philadelphia reportedly traces its produce roots back to colonial times, with merchants having once occupied local Dock Street and 1959’s modern concept of a Food Distribution Center, according to the company. Then by the year 2000, a demand was seen for upgraded facilities and more space to meet customer needs and expectations.
Now PWPM calls Essington Avenue home with over 1,000 employees, an establishment with what the company describes as the highest global standards for the distribution of premium produce, and donates over two million pounds of produce to local charities every year.
“We wanted to share this treasure with as many people as possible,” said DiCrecchio. “That’s why we chose to open our doors to the public.”
Congratulations to the PWPM on four years in its state-of-the-art home.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - SpartanNash released its Q1 2015 financial report this week, growing net sales for food distribution by 1.6% to $986.4 million following its acquisition of North Dakota-based Dan’s Supermarket chain.
"We are encouraged by our performance in the first quarter," said Dennis Eidson, SpartanNash's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As expected, our sales comparisons were negatively affected by the significant winter weather benefit in the first quarter last year and inclusion of the stores acquired in the merger with Nash Finch. Despite these headwinds, we achieved slightly positive comparable store sales in our Michigan supermarkets and our adjusted earnings from continuing operations exceeded our expectations as we benefited from lower expense levels and merger synergies.”
While net sales for the retail segment decreased 7.6 percent to $626.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from $678.6 million for the first quarter last year, the company reports that this was mainly due to the closure of retail stores and fuel centers, significantly lower retail fuel prices, and a decrease in comparable store sales, excluding fuel. As anticipated, comparable store sales reflect the inclusion of the stores obtained in the merger with Nash Finch, the significant winter weather benefit in the first quarter last year, and limited center store inflation.
“Omaha has been a particularly difficult marketplace,” Eidson mentioned in a call with investors. “There’s been a competitive intrusion led by Walmart and Hy-Vee, and we’re fighting back.”
Other highlights from SpartanNash’s report include:
- Adjusted EPS from Continuing Operations Improved 10 Percent to $0.44 per Diluted Share
- Reported First Quarter EPS from Continuing Operations of $0.28 per Diluted Share
- Operating Cash Flow Increases 50% to $48.9 Million
- Long-term Debt Reduced by $35 million in the Quarter
- Consolidated net sales decreased 0.9 percent to $2.31 billion
- Adjusted operating earnings were $33.9 million compared to $31.9 million in Q1 2014
Keep following AndNowUKnow as we update you on all the latest retail financial news.
CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON - Cherry season is quickly winding down in California and ramping up in Washington State. Consumer demand is strong for cherries following great quality fruit from California, and growers look forward to building on the momentum set in California with large volumes of fruit in the coming weeks. With lighter volumes and an early season for cherries this year, the market is tight and demand is high, so get ready for an interesting season.
I spoke with Brianna Shales, Communications Manager for Stemilt about what retailers can expect as the company transitions from California to Washington cherries.
“The California cherry crop offered the nicest quality fruit we’ve seen in a decade, which builds consumer demand and excitement for this impulse purchase. We just started harvesting cherries in Washington and anticipate a large crop of fruit in the right size profile (10.5 row and larger) with dessert qualities. The early start will make for great promotions on cherries during the important July 4th holiday,” Shales said.
Steve Lutz, Vice President of Marketing for CMI, echoed the message that retailers will have to prepare themselves for the early season this year.
“Retailers really have to be ready for this crop because of how quickly it’s going to be year. With our early start retailers that traditionally are slow to move into cherries risk missing the most important volume spike of the entire crop,” says Lutz, whose company has done a study of the top 100 retail grocery banners in the U.S. “The scan data analysis also shows that the first few weeks of the season are critical. The top 20 chains sell nearly 40% of their cherries in the first four weeks of the season. The bottom 20% of retailers only sell 28% of their cherries in the first four weeks. So, for retailers, getting cherries into stores quickly is a key to successful selling.”
The high demand thats being experienced by Northwestern growers is looking like it will provide equal pricing. Erin Smith, Communications Manager for Rainier Fruit Company, is really positive about this year’s crop.
“Size and quality are fantastic, and there will be considerable volume to promote, says Smith. “[Rainier sees] just the usual strong demand, due to their true seasonality and popularity, and corresponding pricing.”
Despite the strong demand from retailers, CMI’s Steve Lutz tells me that for consumers, research has shown that cherries are one of the highest impulse purchase items in the produce department.
“Cherries tend to not be on consumers’ minds when they get to the store, but purchases are triggered when they see the product displays in the supermarket. This is exactly why secondary displays are so powerful for driving cherry performance,” Lutz adds. “Retail studies conducted by the Northwest Cherry Commission found that secondary displays can drive as much as a 30% increase in sales…simply because more displays mean more opportunities for consumers to encounter cherries in the store, even on a quick trip to just pick up a few items.”
CMI reports strong success with its Nature’s Candy Orchard View 3D cherry shipper. The shipper is sent with fruit, and can be placed anywhere in the store where a retailer has high traffic and wants to drive incremental sales.
Consumers will make that impulse purchase as long as quality comes first and foremost, Shales said and that’s the impetus behind Stemilt’s two premium cherry programs, Kyle’s Pick cherries and Half Mile Closer to the Moon Cherries.
“In July, we pack Kyle’s Pick cherries where select premium varieties, largest sized fruit, and dessert flavors are those that make it into each pack. It’s built on the high quality of fruit grown by 4th generation cherry grower Kyle Mathison during that timeframe. In August, our Half Mile Closer to the Moon cherries deliver a great finale to cherry season, with the latest freshly harvested cherries coming from orchards located between 2,500 and 3,200 feet above sea level, or literally a half mile closer to the moon. Promoting flavor and quality throughout the summer, and telling the story of where cherries came from and how they were grown are ideal ways to appeal to cherry buyers in store,” Shales said.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to update you on this progressing cherry season and all the latest retail strategies.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The USDA has reportedly imposed sanctions on both a District of Columbia and a California-based company for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Elite Floral & Produce, operating out of Washington, DC, for failing to pay a $21,225 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eyal Balva was listed as a member of the business.
- 3 Brothers Produce LLC, operating out of Los Angeles, Calif., for failing to pay a $29,629 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Maria E. Sanchez was listed as a member of the business.
USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Village Farms International Inc. has reached an exclusive agreement with Great Northern Hydroponics, giving both companies an opportunity for growth and expansion.
“We are happy to be able to extend our exclusive specialty tomatoes varieties with additional production capacity,” Michael A. DeGiglio, President & CEO of Village Farms, said, according to a press release. “This allows us to expand our entire product line into the Ontario market, eastern Canada, as well as the midwest and eastern United States to both existing customers and new customers. The integration of our facilities will provide for better nationwide customer service, local product and a reduction in food miles. Village Farms will start to offer the new product volume to its customers beginning later this year.”
Great Northern is located in Kingsville, Ontario, and is reportedly one of the only greenhouse vegetable growers in the area that produces locally-grown production year-round, using supplemental lighting during the winter months.
“Although we have worked with growers in Kingsville-Leamington for over 25 years, this is our first distribution agreement in the Kingsville-Leamington area and we are very excited about the future possibilities for both organizations,” DeGiglio commented.
Guido van het Hof, President of Great Northern, also reportedly expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity this partnership would present for Great Northern.
“This is a great opportunity for Great Northern to expand its product lines through the exclusive varieties provided by Village Farms,” van het Hof stated in the release.
The Great Northern President also added that the company has known and followed Village Farms, and is excited to be able to provide its production to their customer base.
SOUTH BAY, FL - Hugh H. Branch, Inc., a sweet corn supplier out of Florida, has announced a new trade-facing name: "Branch: A Family of Farms" and the shortened version, "Branch."
“As we grow, we want to reposition our company and brand by putting our farmers at the center of everything we do,” said Brett Bergmann, President of Branch. “Our new logo says it all ‘Branch: A Family of Farms.’ We are much more than just one person, we are a family of farmers who all share the common purpose of providing customers with the highest quality vegetables possible.”
The company says it is making this change in an effort to be more encompassing of its long-withstanding network of famers and tell their rich history. The company wishes to not just pay homage to its founder, Hugh Branch, but also to all the farmers that have made up this operation from the beginning.
According to a press release, many of the Branch farmers have been growing quality produce for over 50 years, with most averaging 25 years of service. It is this family of farms that Branch Farms considers the core of their success.