ORLANDO, FL - As far as Mexican mangos go, the National Mango Board (NMB) is expecting the season to pack quite a punch, encouraging retailers and those in the mango industry to focus on promotions that will help move the highest volume on record.
“By communicating this information, we hope it will give everyone involved in the process the opportunity to plan ahead and prepare for better results,” Manuel Michel, NMB’s Executive Director, said in a press release.
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, ten percent higher than the 33 million boxes imported this time last year. Mexican mango imports during Q2 2015 are also expected to be three percent higher than the current record set in 2013.
The Mexican mango season is expected to continue through September, in which the NMB stated it will continue to work closely with EMEX and other foreign mango organizations to help forecast weekly shipments and arrivals of mango crops to the U.S.
During that time the NMB will continue to issue additional updates and projections in the market as the information becomes available, so continue to follow AndNowUKnow.
OXNARD, CA - Freska mangos have been officially Mickey Check-approved this season.
The company is promoting fresh mangos featured beloved Disney characters on display-ready boxes, stickers, and in a Mango Recipe and Activity eBook at grocery stores nationwide.
With the help of some Disney favorites like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck, Freska aims to help boost sales of the category among families, as well as promote a healthy lifestyle.
“The appeal of Disney characters on our product packaging in stores and online further promotes a healthy lifestyle for families in an exciting way,” said Gary Clevenger, Managing Member and Partner at Freska.
The Mango Recipe and Activity eBook, made available by clicking here, further encourages kids to eat nutritious foods and build a strong, healthy body, and mind. Inside, consumers can find 11 mango recipes, fun facts, and activities including a maze, word find, coloring page, and more, according to a press release.
“The Mango Recipe and Activity eBook is a great tool showcasing the delicious flavor, nutritional value, and versatility of mangos,” continued Clevenger.
From now until August, four varieties of Mexican mangos, including Tommy Atkins, Kents, Keitts, and Ataulfos, will be available in stores.
SWEDEN - Those who associate Swedish-originated IKEA with furniture and home décor have not been to the in-store café at the end of the maze-like shopping experience.
But the company plans to change that, vegetarian and vegan-style.
Allow us to introduce the veggie ball.
You may be surprised to know that already IKEA’s meatballs are quite the hit, with a billion having been sold last year alone. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, five percent of the company’s $1.5 billion in sales was made in its food department. Now the furniture center wants to attract a more diverse, health-conscious crowd as well.
“The veggie ball is meant to cater to a wider audience and offer more choice,” Michael La Cour, Managing Director for IKEA’s food business, said, according to the report. “Our prime ambition is to drive visitation to stores.”
The veggie balls are a rolled up combo of, among other vegetables, green peas, kale, corn, and carrots, gearing specifically towards the ever-growing vegetarian market, which the Wall Street Journal reports is currently valued at about $973 million. While it did do just that, PETA reportedly jumped in and convinced the company to go one step further.
According to the Huffington Post, PETA posted a celebratory blog after having worked with IKEA to make the veggie balls compatible with vegan diets as well, expanding the scope of its intended market even more.
This world-wide roll out, which took place last week, is reportedly the company’s “first step to include a wider variety of healthier and more sustainable food choices,” with more in the works. Though what is next, we will have to wait and see. So keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for all the latest produce industry news.
CARLISLE, PA - Two of Ahold’s brands, Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets, have announced that they are raising their minimum wage threshold to nine dollars per hour as of June 7th this year.
According to a press release, the decision stems from the company’s commitment to provide competitive wages.
“Our associates are the foundation of our success, and we have always believed in paying competitive wages to attract the best talent,” Tom Lenkevich, Giant/Martin’s President, said in the release. “We believe that this is the right thing to do. Our goal is to continue to be an employer of choice by offering a competitive total compensation package, a work environment based upon respect, an emphasis on personal excellence and opportunities for career advancement.”
While about two-thirds of the company’s 33,000 associates currently make more than nine dollars an hour, Giant/Martin’s estimate about 10,000 part-time associates will be impacted by the raise.
This announcement follows both Wal-Mart and Target having announced similar ramifications to up their starting wages and raising competitive market expectations, leaving us to wonder, “Who’ll be next?”
CORAL GABLES, FL - Chilean grapes are adding a new route to the U.S. this season with the help of Flagler Global Logistics. The integrated logistics and real estate solutions company has opened a new treatment facility at the South Florida Logistics Center in Miami, Florida, bringing Chilean grapes closer to its customers in the Southeast. Chilean grapes are typically imported between December and April, and this new route adds another option for product that traditionally travels to the East Coast through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or Wilmington, Delaware.
“We are striving to add value for our customers and the end consumer. Because of the travel time associated with imported perishable items, there is an industry wide issue with shrink that we are trying to mitigate,” Chris Scott, President and CEO of Flagler Global Logistics, tells me. “Our model is designed to improve the quality of the product and not only reduce shrink, but increase produce consumption.”
Chris bring 30 years of experience in logistics to his role at Flagler Global Logistics, from his days at PepsiCo and Marriott to head of the supply chain for Bi-Lo/Winn-Dixie. Chris has now been with the company almost 2 years.
“If we are speaking in dollars, this new route alone can save customers up to $2,000 per truckload or container and a lot of travel time,” he says.
Flagler Global Logistics’ faster and more effective transport comes on the heels of its new, patented fumigation technology. This technology helps to extend the shelf life of grapes by up to 7 days by more efficiently managing the cold chain and also recapturing the majority of fumigation gases in an environmentally friendly and safe manner.
And it’s not just for grapes. Asparagus, ginger, blueberries, citrus, flowers and other products are now taking route through Flagler Global Logistics’ South Florida facility.
“If we can offer the consumer a quality product that last 7 days longer when they bring their grapes home, they will keep coming back,” Chris notes. “And that is the intangible value.”
From managing supply chains, including perishables to transportation to Foreign Trade Zones and real estate development, Flagler Global Logistics is looking to enhance the Chilean grape trade with new paths and innovation.
UNITED STATES - Healthy fast-casual chains are on the rise and racing to meet the current trend of bridging the gap between healthy foods and delicious flavors, with an emphasis on raw and vitamin-rich veggies.
"Make it better for me, but I don't want to give anything up. I want less salt, no antibiotics, no trans-fats, more fruits, more veggies,” Greg Dollarhyde, CEO of Santa Monica-based chain Veggie Grill, told ABC News while summarizing the typical consumer. “I don't go out to restaurants to give stuff up; I go to restaurants to be tantalized."
This latest trend of bringing produce to the center of the plate has started a new term within the food chains; Veggie-centric.
The idea behind the new buzz term is to incorporate the widest audience base possible, with words like “vegan” or “vegetarian” posing the possibility of alienating certain consumers.
Harry Balzer, Vice President at the Chicago-based consumer research firm NPD Group told ABC News that veggie-centric conveys a marketing message that incorporates trying to bring declining protein consumption back into the fold through a produce angle.
"We're not trying to get more protein,” Blazer said. “We're trying to get different sources of protein... Generally, they're cheaper plant-based sources."
Art Smith, former personal chef to Oprah Winfrey, has also joined in. The top chef opened over a dozen Lyfe Kitchen restaurants in California, New York, and Illinois, with a focus on veggies, tofu, beans, and nuts.
A huge percentage of restaurant chains are diving into the veggie-boosted fast food movement that jumped 30 percent from 2013 to 2014, totaling about $384 million, according to Technomic preliminary data.
So keep an eye out, food trenders. Veggie-centric is in.
AUSTIN, TX - Jimmy Bassetti, Partner/Owner of J&D Produce, joined AndNowUKnow to discuss the company’s proprietary HoneySweet Onions and its year-round program for the variety.
“It’s a very mild onion,” Jimmy tells us. “What we’ve done over many, many years of natural selection was remove the acid out of the onion to a level where it still tastes a little bit like an onion but doesn’t have that biting hot flavor.”
In doing so, Jimmy says that the company is helping to increase onion consumption and kids can eat them on burgers or you can eat them raw on salads.
“We’re seeing tremendous growth in this category,” Jimmy added.
To learn more about J&D Produce’s HoneySweet Onion program, check out the 60 second video above.
BRUSSELS - The European Union officially filed action against Google yesterday on the grounds that it intentionally diverts search traffic away from competitors to favor its own products and services, shopping websites in particular.
“If the investigation confirmed our concerns, Google would have to face the legal consequences and change the way it does business in Europe,” Margrethe Vestager, European Union Competition Commissioner, said in a New York Times report.
But isn’t the promotion of your own product against your competitor's just practicing good business?
This is not the first time Google has been questioned for possible antitrust violations, having been investigated by the Federal Trade Commission in 2013, which was closed without any action taken against the company. Google has also faced complaints from big tech businesses like Microsoft and TripAdvisor.
But still no formal reprimands have come to light saying that anything Google has done is illegal, and the promotion of its own products through selective placement makes sense per traditional business practices. The company did, in fact, release a statement defending its position, arguing that consumers actually have more choices than ever before.
“While Google may be the most used search engine, people can now find and access information in numerous different ways—and allegations of harm, for consumers and competitors, have proved to be wide of the mark,” the company stated on its official blog site.
On the E.U.’s side this is a question of antitrust law violations, but on the other hand is common business practices of promoting your own products before your competitors. And it appears the line is how successful that business becomes.
“Smartphones, tablets, and similar devices play an increasing role in many people’s daily lives,” Vestager continued. “I want to make sure the markets in this area can flourish without anti competitive constraints imposed by any company.”
According to the New York Times, the Commission also intends to step up a separate investigation into whether or not Android makers face contractual agreements to place Google-branded mobile applications in prime locations on devices.
Google did address this issue in a separate post, according to the New York Times, stating that any partnerships that use Google’s Android operating system (about 81 percent of the world’s market share in operating systems for cell phone makers) are voluntary, offering benefits to manufacturers and consumers alike.
Where this legal action goes could call into question a precedent for a business promoting its own products. Is there a ceiling to the amount of success a business can experience before concerns of market power come in to play? Or will this, like the previous investigation, be just another hiccup in being one of the largest names on the web?
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as this story continues to develops.
ONTARIO - Loblaw and Uber? What’s a retailer doing joining forces with a ride-sharing service?
Uber has announced a new promotion in partnership with the Canadian grocer to help customers without cars pick up groceries they have ordered online.
Loblaw’s “Click & Collect” e-commerce service, which is still currently in a test phase in three Toronto-area locations, allows customers to order their groceries online and pick up the items in-store. The service is intended to speed up the grocery trip.
“In Toronto, we want to connect with Canadian companies, Canadian brands,” said Susie Heath, Uber Spokesperson, according to The Globe and Mail. “By partnering with a brand like Loblaw, that’s a great way of connecting with Canadian consumers.”
The promotion runs from April 14 to April 20, and Uber says it will provide free rides valued at up to $30 from one of three Loblaw Click & Collect locations. Customers who complete their Click & Collect order with Uber will also be entered in a contest to win $1,000 in free groceries at Loblaw locations in Toronto. In addition, every Click & Collect shopper that’s new to Uber and uses the service to pick up their groceries will receive a voucher for $10 off their next Click & Collect purchase.
“We believe there is a high level of commonality between the typical Uber user and Loblaw’s Click & Collect user: Both are technologically savvy and utilize social media and apps regularly, both are digital early trend adopters and both value service that help to simplify a busy urban lifestyle,” said Peter Sklar, a BMO Nesbitt Burns retail analyst, according to The Globe and Mail.
Uber has faced some opposition from the City of Toronto who argued that the company’s model violates municipal taxi regulations. Despite these claims, Toronto Mayor John Tory has supported the service, saying that it technologies like Uber are “making people’s lives easier” and that regulators need to adapt to a changing world, The Globe and Mail reports.
The promotion is an interesting experiment and could lend some legitimacy to Uber in Toronto, but it remains to be seen how the courts will rule.
LEAMINGTON, ON - Greenhouse vegetable production in Leamington, Ontario is starting to kick into high gear as growers in the area are reporting fantastic quality across the board for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, as well as a few specialty items.
It appears that the slow start to the season due to the persistent, long winter hasn’t been much of a detriment to growers. Most companies are picking every item now while production continues to build.
Over at Double Diamond Farms, production out of Leamington is moving smoothly and the company is continuing to capitalize on the demand and excellent quality for its proprietary varieties.
“TOVs this year are fantastic all around and we’re starting to ramp up production,” said Jeremy Stockwell, Director of Procurement and Sales, Double Diamond Farms. “This season is building up to be a great one as we look forward to the warmer weather.”
“Despite the slower start, tomato production is building,” said Harold Paivarinta, Director of Sales & Business Development for Red Sun Farms. “We’re approaching peak volume with peppers and tomatoes and all of our specialties are climbing up as well. The new crop this year is fantastic.”
Matt Quiring, Sales Manager for Nature Fresh™ Farms, agreed, noting that favorable weather has resulted in “strong picks and near perfect quality for tomatoes,” he said.
The year started off extremely strong for peppers with reports of excellent quality and volume coming out of Ontario. “Picks for Ontario growers started off extremely strong,” said Quiring. “The presence of Ontario new crop bells in the marketplace, along with the beautiful product quality, has really turned some heads.”
Cucumber quality was reportedly as outstanding as ever as well. Growers are currently in the re-planting process for the item.
“Cucumber inventories are now clean and we expect this to continue another few weeks until the majority of the growers start to produce on their second planting of the year,” continued Quiring.
With the strong tomato and pepper season, SUNSET® Produce is reaping the benefits as well as it celebrates 20 years of Campari®.
“So far the season is going very well,” said Daniela Ferro, Communications Coordinator for SUNSET® Produce. “Our production is in full swing; we’re harvesting, and are very happy with everything so far. We’ve also ramped up our organic production, so we have more organic produce available now than ever before.”
Leamington production is picking up, and growers are optimistic about the start of the season. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue tracking the season’s progress.