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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Sun World is in the midst of yet another excellent grape harvest out of Mexico and Coachella Valley this season. Despite an early start, color and taste for the company’s signature grapes are continuing to prove exceptional, and retailers are encouraged to start promoting now to get the most out of this season.
“Crops in Mexico and Coachella are coming off in a controlled steady fashion due to cooler weather in the areas,” said Jason Fuller, Sun World’s Sales Manager. “We’re continuing to watch for any unusual weather patterns as the crop continues to develop, but we anticipate a phenomenal season ahead.”
Sun World started harvesting Flame Seedless grapes on May 6 and has reported excellent color and eating quality, with over 20 brix recorded on the first day of harvest. Likewise, SUPERIOR SEEDLESS® green grapes, which started harvest earlier this month, are also showing outstanding sugar development. Volume, color, and overall quality are expected to remain consistent for the foreseeable future, barring any significant weather changes in Mexico or Coachella.
The atypical cooler weather patterns in Mexico and Coachella, however, could potentially slow down the harvest if these temperatures continue. That looks to change in both areas in the coming week, as temperatures are expected to climb into late next week.
“Both regions have been experiencing unusually cool temperatures that could easily slow both harvest and affect brix levels, yet will improve color development on red and black grapes,” Fuller continued. “Unseasonably warm temperatures may have contributed to a lighter set on the SUPERIOR SEEDLESS® variety out of Coachella, but in spite of that, taste has been exceptional. The Mexico region is experiencing similar volume reductions on SUPERIOR SEEDLESS®.”
In the coming days, Sun World will harvest its first crop of SABLE SEEDLESS® brand grapes out of Coachella, providing earlier than usual availability of the mid-season variety. Summer Royal grapes out of Mexico have started to cross with bigger volume, while Sun World’s premier black seedless grape, MIDNIGHT BEAUTY®, will begin harvest out of Coachella on May 15th and in early June out of Mexico.
Two of Sun World’s newest grapes, STARLETTA SEEDLESS®, an ultra-early black grape, and SONERA SEEDLESS®, an early through midseason red grape, are currently being assessed. More information on these latest grapes from Sun World will be coming shortly, so keep an eye out.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track the progress of Mexico and Coachella Valley’s grape season.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Camposol’s first quarter for the 2015 fiscal year was released by the company yesterday.
"The Company expects to continue its diversification strategy by increasing the production in the F&V Segment (blueberries) and Seafood Segment (shrimp farming), as well as continue to reinforce our Trading Segment (direct sales to retailers), adding value to its clients through commercial, marketing and service initiatives which should result in higher margins,” Samuel Dyer Coriat, Executive Chairman of Camposol Holding Ltd., said in a press release. “Within the next 2 years, we will see an important growth in our volumes (blueberries, shrimp and avocados), without additional substantial CapEx."
While Camposol reported lower figures for the start of the fiscal year, it cited that this time is lower than the rest of the year due to one of its largest products, avocados, being produced mostly in its second and third quarters.
The company, however, reportedly sold 24,598 net metric tons (MT) during the first quarter of 2015, up 0.9% from Q1 2014, which it contributed mostly to an increase in volumes for blueberries, as well as shrimp and other seafood products.
Contributors and key factors included:
- Volume sold during Q1 2015 was $24,598 net MT, up 0.9% from Q1 2014 due to increased volumes of blueberries and seafood products, as well as lower volumes of asparagus and mangos.
- Average price was USD $2.92 per net KG, up 17.7% from the same period in 2014 due to increased prices of preserved white asparagus, blueberries, and fresh mangoes.
- Sales of USD $71.7 million, up 18.6% from Q1 2014 mainly due to increased peppers and seafood products volumes sold.
- Average cost of goods sold during Q1 2015 was USD $2.42 per net KG, up 37.5% from same period last year due to costs of asparagus, shrimp and peppers increasing to lower yields.
- EBITDA of USD $1.5 million, 79.7% lower than Q1 2014 due to lower fresh mangoes and preserved white asparagus volumes, plus increasing cost of goods sold of shrimp and preserved peppers. EBITDA margin for Q1 2015 decreased to 2.1%.
During this period, the company reportedly recorded an EBITDA of USD $1.5 million, 79.7% lower when compared to the same period 2014, and a loss for the period of USD 2.0 million, having experienced a profit of USD $1.1 million in 2014.
Looking forward, the company stated in the release that the long-term growth prospects for exotic fruits and vegetables markets are excellent. Avocados and blueberries consumption is reportedly growing, with headroom for increased per capita consumption in key markets. Overall, it expects good demand for all fresh produce in general, for avocados specifically, in both the United States and Europe.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NatureSweet® is rekindling its partnership with Weber® Grills for a contest that endeavors to make the company’s Glorys® brand of Fresh Ingredient Tomatoes a grilling season necessity: The Glorys of Grilling Sweepstakes.
According to NatureSweet, money saving coupons, grilling ideas, and instructions on how to enter the seasonal sweepstakes can be found at the company’s Glorys of Grilling displays in participating retailers nationwide. Entering the sweepstakes gives consumers a chance to win weekly giveaways of Weber Q® 1200 Gas Grills™ or the Ultimate Weber® Grill Prize Package, valued at $3,000.
“Whether you are seeking out a back-to-basics approach to charcoal grilling or smoking, or want to simply improve your technique at the gas grill, NatureSweet’s summer combination of Glorys recipes and Weber® Grills is returning to participating retailers across the U.S. to get you fired up!” the company exclaimed in a press release.
The contest officially opened for entry on May 18th, and contestants can enter by submitting a photo or video with a description of their favorite grilled Glorys “masterpiece.” The company also encourages all entrants to showcase their entries on social media after submitting them for the contest.
The sweepstakes will close on July 5th, with judging of all photos and videos being based on:
- Relevance - aligning with the contest theme “Glorys of Grilling.”
- Creativity - how compelling the image and description are while portraying the theme
- Audience support - votes, views, reviews, and attention across the Internet.
For all the latest promotions and produce-related campaigns, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
Glorys of Grilling Sweepstakes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The honey bee has a new ally these days: President Barack Obama. Responding to the continuing decline in honey bee populations, the Obama administration has just released a National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.
This new strategy will reportedly make millions of acres of federal land more adaptable to bees, spend millions of dollars on research, and finding new ways to use fewer pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency is also scheduled to re-evaluate a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids.
Some scientists believe that these strategies may help pollinators that are starving, because much of the American landscape has been converted to lawns and crops that don't provide foraging areas for bees.
"This is the first time I've seen addressed the issue that there's nothing for pollinators to eat," said University of Illinois Entomologist May Berenbaum, according to the Associated Press. "I think it's brilliant.”
The Obama administration says honeybee pollination adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year, and over the past five years, winter losses of commercial honeybee colonies have averaged roughly 30 percent. According to the Washington Post, several universities and research laboratories announced last week that beekeepers lost 42.1 percent of their colonies over the past year, signaling an 8 percent spike from the previous year, and that the number of summer deaths exceeded winter deaths for the first time since the survey began in 2010.
The administration's strategy seeks to reduce honeybee colony losses during the winter to no more than 15 percent within 10 years, as well as increase the Eastern population of the monarch to 225 million butterflies occupying an area of approximately 15 acres in the insect's Mexico wintering grounds. Obama has set a goal of restoring or enhancing 7 million acres of land for pollinators over the next five years.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - The parent company for the Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., and Harveys Supermarkets has changed up its own title.
Formerly Bi-Lo Holdings LLC, the company is now going by Southeastern Grocers to avoid any confusion between names, according to a Jacksonville Business Journal Report, as well as with the intention of encompassing all supermarkets and not show any favoritism between banners.
“This change symbolizes that, regardless of whether they work for BI-LO, Harveys, or Winn-Dixie, they are all part of a unified family with a common aim to do the best they can for all of our customers across the Southeast,” Tiffany Valla Hutto, Spokeswoman for the Southeastern Grocers, reportedly told the Business Journal.
Though the company reportedly operates nearly 800 stores, making it one of the top five largest in the nation, according to its website, it stated that the change will not affect the name of the banners it parents.
Southeastern Grocers had planned to undergo the change when it filed for an IPO upwards of $500 million in September of 2013, according to the report, but ended up withdrawing.
KINGSVILLE, ON - These tiny, crunchy cucumbers are headed overseas and straight to China, says Mucci Farms. The company is continuing its shipments of CuteCumbers snack-sized cucumbers into the Chinese Market.
CuteCumbers have been well-received in the country, Mucci says, and shipments have continued regularly since their first arrival into China on April 16 of this year. Marketing and advertising promotions have been distributed in China and the awareness and interest has only increased.
Mucci Farms' Cutecumbers were one of the first cocktail-sized cucumber to hit the market in North America, and are bite-sized and perfect for snacking on the go. These bite-sized cucumbers are known for their crisp flavor and crunchy texture, all while fitting perfectly in your hand for snacking on the go. CuteCumbers are a good source for B vitamins, are made up of 95% water, and are a good source of dietary fiber, which is very effective in helping the body rid itself of toxins, according to a press release.
The graphics on the Chinese version of the packaging are kid-friendly, and target adults and kids alike. A clean layout on the package makes the product information easy-to-read, and stand out on store shelves. CuteCumbers™ are packaged using ultra-clear stand-up, re-sealable bags, with a reinforced handle and stand-up gusset. The packaging also includes a Matte Varnish Finishing, one of the first of its kind on cucumber packaging, creating a unique look and adding depth to the design. The QR code on the back provides fast access to recipes and nutritional information.
Mucci Farms has also recently announced it is now certified Kosher for its entire line of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and strawberries by Kosher Check, a widely recognized and accepted Orthodox Kosher certification agency.
Kosher Check is a certificate with a symbol that represents a “Global Trade Mark of Trust,” for both religious beliefs and assurance to consumers on Superior Quality, Food Safety and Good Health, the company says. This reinforces the belief among consumers that Kosher products are also safer to consume.
PULLACH, GERMANY - IFCO Systems has completed the acquisition of Renta Pack S.A., one of Chile’s leading providers of RPC pooling services.
Rentapack, a privately owned company, was founded in 2003 and serves major retailers including Wal-Mart, Cencosud, Unimarc, Montserrat, and Tottus, as well as approximately 800 fresh produce growers, according to a press release. The company is comprised of approximately 230 employees and currently has four service centers in Chile.
IFCO Systems CEO Wolfgang Orgeldinger expressed his pleasure with the completion of the acquisition, noting that the deal supplements the company’s growth in new sectors.
“This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of complementing our organic growth in attractive segments and geographies by acquiring companies that have a leading market position, strong financial returns, and promising growth outlook,” said Orgeldinger. “Rentapack has all of these characteristics.”
During 2014, Rentapack generated sales revenue of US$19 million and about 40 million RPC rentals. The company is projecting strong growth over the coming years as it increases penetration with major retail partners and launches RPC products in sectors such as bakery.
“We are excited about building Rentapack’s strong position in the Chilean fresh food supply chain to deliver value for retailers, growers, and producers,” Orgeldinger continued. “The acquisition will drive step change for IFCO’s RPCs footprint in Latin America.”
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
NOGALES, AZ - Del Campo has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website. This new design brings to life all the facets of the company, the products, and new initiatives.
“Our goal is to use our website as another communication tool to our customers and consumers. We are very proud of the work we have done on this project. Del Campo has many new exciting projects in the pipeline so we will use our website as a promotional vehicle,” says Diego Ley, General Manager of Del Campo Supreme.
The new website features a bright and vibrant look, with a user-friendly and easy to navigate interface. The product pages are visually stimulating and highlight features, benefits, and specifications for each item, including the newest product additions: t’mates and Sweet Baby Bell Peppers.
www.delcampo.com.mx has links to the company’s Facebook page, information on its new recycling program, and recipes for every Del Campo product. You can also check out Del Campo Cares, the company’s initiative to help community and social responsibility programs.
Other highlights from the new website include:
- A Harvestmark link for consumers to see when their product was harvested
- A partner login portal that is easy to login and navigate
- A fully integrated services page detailing everything from cold storage to traceability
According to a press release, the website will continually be updated with new content, recipes and new product launches, so keep checking in for all your Del Campo needs.
BENTONVILLE, AK - Overall, Wal-Mart reported a quarter that President and CEO Doug McMillon felt remained strong, having generated nearly $115 billion in revenue and delivered earnings per share within the retailer’s reported guidance range at $1.03, despite this being about 0.1 percent lower than the same time last year.
"We had a solid first quarter,” McMillon said in a press release. “We took some important strategic steps to strengthen the foundation of our business for the future. We need to continue to get better at consistently running great stores, clubs and e-commerce everywhere we operate...and we are."
While overall numbers are being reported to have fallen short of expectations, the company’s fresh foods sector reported a positive over the quarter.
“We were pleased by the operational improvement we saw in fresh,” Greg Foran, President and CEO of Wal-Mart U.S., said during this morning’s Management Earnings call. “As we mentioned in April, this is a key area of focus, and getting fresh right is critical to the customer experience.”
According to Foran, overall net food inflation negatively impacted comps by approximately 20 basis points, but the company estimates that moderation in fresh foods (partially offset by inflationary trends in dry and frozen foods) impacted Wal-Mart’s overall comp performance by almost 70 basis points this quarter, a healthy boost in the company's fresh category.
The overall financial summary included:
- Q1 diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.03, within guidance of $0.95 to $1.10.
- Currency negatively impacted EPS by approximately $0.03.
- Wal-Mart U.S. 1.1% comp includes positive traffic for the second consecutive quarter.
- Customer experience scores improved in all formats. Customers benefited from lower gas prices.
- E-commerce sales globally increased approximately 17%.
- Consolidated operating income declined 8.3%, due to impacts from currency fluctuation.
"Based on our views of the global macro-economic environment, and assuming currency exchange rates remain at current levels, we expect second quarter fiscal 2016 earnings per share to range between $1.06 and $1.18,” Charles Holley, Executive Vice President and CFO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, said in the report.
Holley also noted that the company’s second quarter guidance includes the impact of approximately $0.04 per share from the company’s previously announced investments in both U.S. associate wages and training, as well as $0.04 per share from currency.