MEXICO - Controladora Comercial Mexicana SAB is reportedly nearing an agreement to unload a package of 160 stores to rival retailer, Organizacion Soriana SAB, in a package valued at $3 billion (44 billion pesos).
Late last year, AndNowUKnow reported on similar rumors centered around a possible deal between Controladora Comercial Mexicana and Grupo Comercial Chedraui. That deal would have sent over the majority of Controladora Comercial Mexicana's 200 retail locations to Grupo Comercial Chedraui for over $4 billion. Importantly, it would have allowed Controladora Comercial Mexicana to retain ownership of the real estate associated with those stores. Instead, the real estate would be leased to Grupo Comercial Chedraui for its use in running its retail operations.
The new agreement stands in contrast to these previous rumors, according to Bloomberg. Sources close to Controladora Comercial Mexicana report that the current deal would include full ownership of all real estate associated with the stores.
So far, Controladora Comercial Mexicana has declined to comment on these ongoing negotiations beyond sharing that it's “continuing the process of analyzing strategic alternatives.” Bloomberg, however, reports that a deal is expected to be finished by the end of January.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track the progress of these important negotiations.
NETHERLANDS – Even though it’s 2015 and we don’t have flying cars or vacation homes on Mars, we do have some pretty cool advancement in robotics.
The European research project, Clever Robots for Crops (CROPS), has created the world’s first working sweet-pepper harvesting robot. According to CROPS, the robot was developed in Wageningen and is able to locate, to approach, to hold, to detach and to collect ripe fruits.
The project has been coordinated by Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture and was co-funded by the Dutch Horticultural Product Board. The four-year research project had 13 partners from 10 different countries and led to the creation of a universal robotic platform for producing and harvesting high volume crops.
The robot works autonomously and uses 3-D cameras to evaluate the size, color development and ripeness of the peppers to ensure they are ready for harvest.
While it is not commercially viable yet, its experiments in the commercial greenhouse have yielded valuable data and information to continue to build from.
According to physics.org, a new European research project has been awarded to Wageningen UR for a three-year period. This project will specifically focus on the further development of the pepper harvest robot.
OXNARD, CA - With Chinese New Year fast approaching, Asian greens are top of mind for those companies looking to capitalize on the latest Asian produce trends and the growing popularity of this holiday within the mainstream. It also doesn’t hurt that Chinese New Year falls on February 19th, while New Year’s resolutions for healthier eating habits are still in full effect.
Trending this year are top sellers that include:
- Baby Shanghai Bok Choy
- Baby Bok Choy
- Gai Lan
Garrett Nishimori, Marketing Manager and Corporate Chef, at San Miguel Produce, tells me, "Asian greens are easy to cook, trendy and offer consumers a way to maintain a healthy diet without sacrificing flavor and variety."
“The demand for Asian vegetables is rapidly increasing in the U.S. because of several factors, including burgeoning ethnic diversity in the population, increasing popularity of Asian cuisines, more emphasis on healthy foods, desire for more variety in the diet and increasing familiarity with their culinary use,” Garrett notes.
Some of the lesser known produce items that could make an impact this year are Yu Choy and Snow Pea Shoots, Garrett tells me, and San Miguel is tapping into the season’s promotional opportunities. During the weeks prior to the holiday, San Miguel will be offering promotions on both its bulk Asian greens and value-added Jade Asian greens program through a consumer e-mail campaign that should increase traffic for well-stocked retailers.
Let’s talk about health benefits. Bok Choy is currently ranked right behind Kale on the ANDI scoring system which has helped catapult the category to where it is today. Overall, many Asian greens rank high on the ANDI scale, making them the perfect addition to produce departments as consumers continue to look for versatility and great taste.
ANDI, or the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index, is a new and popular scoring system that rates foods on a scale from 1 to 1000 based on nutrient content. These scores take into consideration the item's range of micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidant capacities…all of which can be found in Asian greens.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Tom Lange Family of Companies hosted a company-wide employee challenge to raise money for charity over the holiday season.
That challenge was to see which Tom Lange office could raise the highest amount of money per capita. The winning location would be eligible to pick any national charity to receive the donation.
According to a press release, the company surpassed the $10,000 mark in total donations from employees coast to coast. M&M Marketing and Lange Logistics in St. Louis, MO was the winning location.
The office decided to donate the total amount to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Jesse Stuart, Account Manager at Lange Logistics, St. Louis, said, “When there is genuine excitement and competitive spirit amongst each other to raise money for charity, that is confirmation that you work with an amazing group of people.”
In addition to this charitable competition, Tom Lange Corporate also donated toys to its local Toys for Tots program and filled two large bins. The next event for the Tom Lange Charitable Foundation is the 25th Annual Charity Classic golf outing on June 27, 2015.
ZAANDAM, NETHERLANDS - Ahold's Netherlands-based Albert Heijin retail network made headlines this week after CEO Sander van der Laan announced his departure from the company. In his place, Ahold has named Executive Vice President of Specialty Stores and New Markets Wouter Kolk as the new acting CEO.
"On behalf of our Executive Committee, I would like to thank Sander for his outstanding service and greatly valued contributions to our company,” shared Dick Boer, Ahold CEO. “Under his leadership, Albert Heijn introduced iconic and award-winning commercial campaigns that were much appreciated by our customers. In addition, Albert Heijn developed into a multi-channel brand, and successfully expanded into new geographies. We wish Sander all the very best for the future."
"I am very grateful to Ahold for all of the professional opportunities offered to me over the years,” Van der Laan responded. “It has been a true privilege to work for this great company, with its highly motivated associates and strong customer base. I wish Wouter, the company and its associates all the very best."
"On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to sincerely thank Sander for all his efforts and the strong contribution he has made to Ahold," added Rob van den Bergh, Chairman of Ahold's Supervisory Board. "We wish him well. Additionally, I would like to wish Wouter every success. We are confident that his skills, knowledge and expertise will be of great benefit to the company in the years to come."
Wouter takes his new position during a time of strength for Ahold. On the back of strong same-store performances from its United States Stop & Shop and Giant retail chains, Ahold enjoyed a 7.9% gain in Q4 net sales to $9.5 billion. According to Reuters, this performance exceeded the expectations of Wall Street investors who had only forcasted $9.30 billion for the retailer.
“In the United States, we were pleased with the progress of our program to improve our customer proposition, which was deployed to 523 stores by the end of the year,” the company shared in its release.
Some highlights from Ahold's financial report include:
- Net sales of €8.06 billion ($9.5 billion) compared to €7.47 billion from the same period last year.
- A 0.3% increase in same-store sales in U.S. stores, compared to a 0.2% decline from the same quarter last year.
- A 0.5% decline in net sales for Ahold's U.S. operations (after taking changing exchange rates into account).
- A 4.5% increase in sales for Ahold's Netherlands operations, fronted by Albert Heijin.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track Ahold's retail operations, both in the United States and throughout the rest of the globe.
CALIFORNIA – California now has the nation’s strictest rules for pesticides after a change that was designed to protect farmworkers and people who live and work new agricultural fields.
According to CBS News, these new restrictions target chloropicrin, a pesticide that can be injected into the ground before planting crops like strawberries, tomatoes and almond orchards. These new regulations are even stricter than the standards required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Under this new rule, farmers are limited to applying the pesticide on up to 40 acres in one day. That represents a reduction of 75% of the previously approved amount.
Officials say that the rule will also expand the distance between fields and human activity. In some cases, that could double the current distance. Farmers who use upgraded tarps to cover their fields while applying the pesticide, however, can follow less stringent regulations.
What will this mean for costs?
Brian Leahy, Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulations, told CBS that the higher standards are needed in California. As far as costs, he added that costs are sure to rise for farmers and consumers, but that it will be worth it.
According to KCRA, the state has been in talks with growers for over a year about the new standards and will immediately begin to implement them, with full compliance required by 2016.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this story.
SANTA PAULA, CA - Calavo Growers enjoyed a record-breaking performance during fiscal 2014, setting historic highs in key metrics such as adjusted annual earnings per share. The gains of the year gave the company the confidence to predict additonal new records for 2015, both in terms of revenue and earnings per share results.
“In sum, it was an outstanding final quarter and year for Calavo as measured by our formidable results from operations,” shared Chairman, President and CEO Lee E. Cole. “Our company posted strong final-quarter results to cap a record-breaking fiscal 2014, during which all important metrics reached new historic highs. Of particular note, Calavo’s operating performance in the most-recent period reflects the beneficial impact of sourcing and marketing Mexico-grown avocados, which improved Fresh business segment gross margin and counterbalanced the cyclically smaller harvest of California fruit.”
“We registered sharply improved gross margin in our Calavo Foods business segment—a result of favorable fruit and production costs, as well as significant year-over-year improvement in segment sales—which further contributed to the uptick in overall company gross margin,” he continued. “Finally, sales in the RFG business segment rose by more than 31 percent in the most-recent quarter. RFG continues to execute impressively—penetrating the retail grocery channel with its broad line of refrigerated fresh packaged goods. Its operating performance made significant incremental contribution to Calavo’s top and bottom lines during fiscal 2014.”
Some highlights from Calavo's Q4 results include:
- Revenues of $200.7 million compared to $190.7 million from the same period last year.
- Gross margins of $19.4 million compared to $17.4 million from the same period last year.
- Net losses of $0.2 million.
- Static earnings per share numbers equal to $0.38/share.
Some highlights from Calavo's full year financial results include:
- Revenues of $782.5 million compared to $691.5 from the same period last year.
- Gross margins of $73.0 million compared to $60.1 million from the same period last year.
- Net income of $0.1 million.
- Adjusted annual earnings per share of $1.45/share compared to $1.11/share from the same period last year.
Going forward, the company is forecasting double digit revenue and gross profit increases in addition to 20% gains in the same categories for the company's RFG business segment. According to a press release, U.S. avocado consumption is expected to rise 20% to a minimum of two billion pounds.
“With our avocado market leadership—strong sourcing capabilities, sales and distribution expertise, and the vast breadth of resources Calavo brings to bear—we will be beneficiaries of the upward consumption trendline,” Cole explained. “The consistently large Mexico crop, an expected resurgent California avocado harvest, which adversely affected the all-source fruit supply last year and, most importantly, strong consumer demand, all point to a brightening picture for fiscal 2015.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track Calavo's future business plans and economic performance.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CA – Earthbound Farm has launched a new, completely redesigned and food-forward website.
“This website offers a richer environment for Earthbound’s consumer and retail communities,” says Samantha Cabaluna, VP of Marketing and Communications, Earthbound Farm. “We’re delighted with its aesthetic appeal.”
It features original photography and a rigorous publishing schedule to ensure that content will be continuously refreshed. According to a press release, this new site will be fully responsive and provide an optimal viewing experience regardless of what device you are viewing it on.
The brand also promises to grow “bigger smiles,” “sustainability,” “eats for all appetites” and more. The new site reflects Earthbound’s brand culture and its story and products while celebrating the company’s more than 30-years of leadership in the organic food revolution, according to a press release.
Samantha added, “The site is built around what visitors want from us – and that’s to be a resource for healthy living with a focus on enjoying the food we grow. We’re offering all the expected essentials – product information, recipes and details about the company’s history and values – but it’s the relevant, useful and beautifully presented content that truly differentiates Earthbound’s new site.”
The new site will also feature friendly, engaging and compelling content for users pursuing a healthy, organic lifestyle. The company’s wide-ranging recipe collection will feature not only strong visuals, but also an extensive database that is searchable by type of dish, dietary restriction, cuisine and occasion.
Another feature on the site is Earthbound’s web-based magazine, Organic Bound. It offers product coupons, recipes, cooking tips and practical information about organic as well as content developed by Earthbound’s internal contributors and content from partners like dietician Ashley Koff, RD. and popular food bloggers.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA – The Allen Lund Company (ALC) is starting off 2015 by paying it forward for a good cause.
The ALC, Los Angeles sales office has donated $2,500 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, according to a press release.
In a message to the Foundation’s Los Angeles Office Manager, Tracey Lewen, the company stated, “We are very fortunate to be able to ‘pay it forward,’ and help sustain your cause as you continue your efforts.”
The message continued, “We feel that the work you do is so very important; and even more significant because many of us here in our office have had personal experience with the devastation of breast cancer.”
Every year, the ALC, Los Angeles Sales Office donates part of its yearly profit to a charity of its choice.
We would like to thank the Allen Lund Company for donating to this worthy cause.
Emil Nemarnik, Co-Founder of Pacific Coast Fruit and industry patriarch, has passed away.
A Croatian immigrant, Emil was the only one of 12 children to be given the opportunity to begin a new life in the United States. After immigrating at the age of 10, he quickly displayed the traits that allowed him to rise through the ranks of the produce industry.
Emil worked in a grocery store to pay his way through college. There, he met his future wife, Kathleen Spada, and began his career in the produce industry. After graduation, he went on to broker, sell, and buy produce until 1976 when the company he worked for was sold and he was laid off. At the age of 50, he faced the daunting prospect of supporting five children without a job. Drawing on a career of experience in the industry, he took a risk and pulled together the money to found Pacific Coast Fruit. The company opened its doors in 1977 and grew from the smallest produce distributor in Portland to one of the largest independently owned produce distributors servicing the Pacific Northwest.
Emil was often quoted as saying “take good care of your employees, customers, shippers and farmers and they will make you successful.” I am sure those who loved him will reflect often on these words as they go through these difficult times.
AndNowUKnow would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to Emil's friends and family.