“We continue to include ANUK in our media mix because we believe they do a really good job of reaching, engaging and retaining the audience we seek, at an affordable rate, and the team at ANUK is great to work with.”
IRVINE, CA - The bringer of Doritos Tacos and Chalupas appears to be joining the fresh trend sweeping fast food, having announced that it is cutting out artificial flavors and coloring beginning this year.
“People haven’t slowed down, and more than ever want quality and convenience,” Brian Niccol, CEO of Taco Bell Corp, said in a press release. “They are seeking more information and a variety of options they can customize to meet their lifestyle, without giving up the flavors they love or the innovative food they expect at Taco Bell. They’re also telling us less is más when it comes to ingredients, so we’re simplifying with natural alternatives and staying true to who we are and what makes us unique.”
The company is calling the menu makeover a commitment to simple ingredients in response to a consumer desire to understand what they are eating.
“We’re part of an exciting time – a food revolution,” Liz Matthews, Chief Food Innovation Officer for Taco Bell Corp, commented in the release. “Today’s customers are more curious and interested about food than ever. They want to understand what they’re eating and expect to know more about it.”
Corporate sibling Pizza Hut will also be participating in the content cleanup, both companies sharing Yum! Brands as a parent company, reportedly shooting to have eliminated all artificial flavors and coloring by July of this year, according to 10 News.
Taco Bell, however, will be a slower transition. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company said it would remove additional artificial preservatives and additives where possible within the next two years.
“We are excited to bring new tools and the right information that is relevant to our fans today,” Mathews said in the release, adding that these changes are to make it easy for them to understand what’s in the company’s food, providing options for current lifestyles and price points.
The company also suggested that these changes are not all it has, so stay tuned.
OCEANSIDE, CA - Dick Robson, the 45-year Vons/Safeway veteran, passed away on May 12 of this year. Dick is survived by his wife of 42 years Sue, two daughters Janel and Rebecca, and five grandchildren.
“There are few people that you meet in life that you just like immediately, Dick was one of those people,” said Carissa Mace, President of the Fresh Produce and Floral Council. “Dick was a leader and mentor to many people. He always conveyed a positive message and was well respected by his produce staff, peers and senior management.”
Dick started his career at Vons in 1970 as a box boy like most in the retail business, and held many positions throughout his 45 year career at Vons, his last being as a merchandiser in San Diego. His presence and dedicated service to the industry will be missed.
Carissa continued by saying that Dick’s knowledge, experience, and strong work ethic has helped him drive positive results in sales and profit for the company throughout his career. He was often sought out by other merchandisers to help resolve issues and just be a sounding board for them to vent. Dick will be missed, along with his great smile and his keen insight on the larger picture.
According to the Fresh Produce and Floral Council, services for Dick Robson will be held on May 29, 2015 at the Calvary Chapel located at 3715 Oceanic Way in Oceanside, California.
If you plan on attending, the Fresh Produce and Floral Council asks that you please RSVP to Sue Robson at [email protected].
AndNowUKnow would like to offer our sincere condolences to all affected by this loss.
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - C.H. Robinson is celebrating 25 years of operating in Mexico, with over 200 bilingual employees in ten offices in the country and along the U.S./Mexican border.
“Customer-led innovation brought us to Monterrey, Mexico 25 years ago,” Mike Burkhart, Director of the Mexico Region at C.H. Robinson, said in a press release. “We are committed to continuing to help our customers navigate the ins and outs of doing business and providing cost effective supply chain solutions.”
According to the company, Mexico’s business culture, educated workforce, and proximity to the United States have contributed to its playing a vital role in global supply chains, with C.H. Robinson providing service addressing unique transportation challenges throughout Mexico and at the border.
“Our customers rely on our experience and cultural knowledge, confidence, and unmatched expertise to accelerate their success in Mexico,” Burkhart said in the release. “We look forward many more years of collaborating with our customers and deepening our value proposition in this growing region.”
The company reported that doing business in Mexico for the past 25 years has provided companies with capacity network, flexible cross border solutions, intra-Mexico transportation services, and more.
For all the latest in the industry, continue to check in with AndNowUKnow.
JUPITER, FL - Locus Traxx is introducing a new product to its line of SmartTraxx devices – the SmartTraxx™ GO LUX.
The GO LUX comes equipped with a highly sensitive light sensor that informs you of unauthorized access to your products during transit, and also provides Locus Traxx’s original award winning real-time temperature and location technology.
“Whether your product is at the border, a DOT checkpoint, or the receiver’s dock, you know in real-time when and where your cargo is being accessed as well as the temperature throughout the trip,” said David Benjamin, Locus Traxx Worldwide CEO.
GO LUX offers real-time location, temperature, and security monitoring so that you can remain in control of the supply chain and protect your products while in transit, according to a press release.
Locus Traxx will provide United Fresh 2015 attendees a chance to see the new GO LUX first-hand during the event, where it has been nominated for the show’s “Product of the Year” award. GO LUX has also been named as the 2015 “Product of the Year” by the IoT (Internet of Things) Evolution Magazine.
DELTA, BC - Houweling's Nurseries Limited has acquired the Loveland, Colorado based company Sun Valley Farms Inc., expanding its sales and service in what the company calls, "key mountain states."
"In addition to improved access and sales service coverage, we establish sourcing capabilities with pre-built track and trace structure and excellent grower relationships, backstopping our own grown product to improve customer fill rates and deliver overall service excellence," said Kevin Doran, Chief Operating Officer at Houweling's.
The Sun Valley Farms business will continue to operate independently under the leadership of President and CEO Dave Fahrenbruch.
"For Sun Valley Farms, being vertically integrated with a large North American producer is the direct to grower model our customers want,” said Fahrenbruch. “With the expansion in Utah, Houweling's has solidified its position in the Western United States, and is a perfect fit for Sun Valley and our customers.”
According to a press release, this acquisition is also well aligned geographically to Houweling's new state of the art greenhouse production facility in Mona, Utah.
SACRAMENTO, CA - California’s farmers have agreed to reduce their water consumption by 25 percent, in response to one of the state’s most severe droughts on record.
As we’ve previously reported, Governor Jerry Brown has already imposed a mandatory 25 percent reduction in water usage for urban areas and for water agencies. These cuts had no effect on California’s farmers, however, who have water rights that reach back more than a century. But now, farmers are taking matters into their own hands to possibly preempt even more drastic cuts by the government.
"We're in a drought unprecedented in our time. That's calling upon us to take unprecedented action," Felicia Marcus, Chairwoman of the California Water Resources Control Board, said in her announcement of the agreement.
According to ABC News, the offer potentially could cover hundreds of farmers in the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, the heart of California's water system. About 25 percent of all California’s river water runs through the delta, reports the state's Department of Water Resources.
This deal is expected to give certainty to farmers who have been threatened by looming cuts in recent months. In exchange to the 25 percent deal, the state gave assurances to the farmers it will not cut the remaining 75 percent of the water to which they are entitled.
With only delta farmers' signed up to the offer so far, the cuts may not be very effective, but the hope, officials say, is that this will spur even more people to sign on. According to ABC News, California’s nearly 4,000 senior water rights holders consume trillions of gallons a year alone.
Michael George, State Water Master for the Delta called the agreement, "an illustration of creative practical approaches that water managers in the state of California are taking to help get us all through this devastating drought.”
"That doesn't necessarily mean they'll all participate" in the voluntary 25% reduction, he continued.
The agreement gives the farmers until June 1 to present plans for how they will make the proposed cuts.
KINGSVILLE, ON - As flavor and quality continue to drive consumer buying behaviors, family-owned greenhouse company SUNSET® has been honored with the Superior Taste Award from the prestigious International Taste and Quality Institute (ITQI) in Belgium. Among the honors was Campari®, which led the pack with an incredible evaluation during its milestone anniversary.
“What a way to celebrate Campari’s 20th anniversary,” shared CEO Paul Mastronardi. “For 20 years, we’ve been researching to see what could top Campari®, and we’ve yet to find anything that could replace it as the tomato lover’s tomato. This achievement truly solidifies our dedication to flavor and quality, and represents our passion behind Campari®.”
SUNSET® WOW Berries, introduced to the Midwest this past year as a flavorful, local strawberry available during the winter, were also honored by the ITQI in addition to the Campari® tomato. Past SUNSET® award-winning brands include Kumato™, Zima™, One Sweet™ , Angel Sweet™ , and SUNSET’s latest cocktail tomato, Y.E.L.O.™
“We warmly congratulate Mastronardi Produce on this achievement,” Christian de Bauw, Manager Partner at ITQI, said. “The company should be proud to market products that are so valued for their superior taste.”
Products are evaluated on a number of criteria, according to a press release, including appearance, smell, texture, and taste. Several hundred food and beverage brands participate in the ITQI Awards each year. The Superior Taste Award is the only stamp of quality in taste granted by the area’s opinion leaders, who happen to be Michelin-starred Chefs and Sommeliers. The ITQI jury is composed of 13 nationalities and members of the most prestigious culinary institutions throughout Europe.
ITQI is a leading independent organization dedicated to testing and promoting superior tasting food and beverages from around the globe.
Congratulations to the SUNSET® team and for driving flavor in the greenhouse tomato category!
WILLIAMSVILLE, NY - Tops Friendly Markets has opened two new locations in New York state, bringing the total number of locations to 164. In the past three years, Tops has invested over $25 million in stores in Monroe and Wayne counties in New York.
This comes on the heels of Tops’ recent announcement of record fiscal year 2014 sales. As we previously reported, the company’s net sales reached $2.51 billion for the year, up $27.5 million from the previous year.
Frank Curci, Tops President and CEO, commented in the company’s latest financial report, “Our solid results demonstrate the success of our strategy and effective execution by all of our associates. Investing in our existing supermarkets, adding more locations to our footprint, and successfully implementing new promotional and marketing programs continues to drive the top line.”
The first new location in Walworth, NY was a $3.4 million project and is 42,674 square feet. Prior to the stores opening, Tops made $500 donations to the Walworth Town Recreation Center, the Walworth-Seely Public Library, the Walworth Food Pantry, and the Walworth Fire Department.
The second store in Lyons, NY is in the former Loson's Big M Market building, which Tops purchased in March 2015. The store is 20,134 square feet and renovations for the building cost $475,000. Tops also made $500 donations to the Lyons Fire Department, the Food Panty of Lyons, the Lyons Community Center, and the Lyons Public Library.
According to news source the Democrat & Chronicle, both stores are full-service supermarkets with deli, bakery, floral, meat and seafood and prepared foods sections. Both locations also offer fuel sales. The two locations created a total of 165 new jobs.
ORLANDO, FL - This year’s mango volume has seen shipments of more than 4 million boxes weekly; an 18 percent increase compared to the largest week in 2014, and the National Mango Board (NMB) is encouraging retailers and suppliers to act quickly to move more mangos.
"This is a great opportunity for retailers to build their mango business and be champions for their mango partners,” stated Rachel Muñoz, NMB. “This historic mango season comes just in time for the summer months when customers are most excited about mangos."
Offering mangos by the case may be a way to pump up mango sales and increasing product movement, as well as setting up secondary mango displays in the front of the store or front of the produce department. The NMB recommends using point of sale materials (POS) to teach shoppers about mangos, including how to cut, how to judge ripeness, and provide exciting recipe ideas. For free POS materials from the NMB, check out its website here.
According to a press release, volumes are expected to remain steady through Q2 of 2015, so there’s still time to jump on this great opportunity. Mexican mango imports are expected to be 3 percent higher than 2013, which was a record-breaking year for Mexican mango import volume.
As we’ve previously reported, Empacadoras de Mango de Exportación (EMEX), the organization that represents Mexico’s mango export packing facilities, forecasts approximately 36 million boxes of mangos will be imported during the Q2 2015.