IRWINDALE, CA – Ready Pac Foods, Inc. has named Phil Yamamoto as Ready Pac’s Vice President, Procurement.
“Phil has built his reputation on a unique ability to maximize profitability by streamlining operations and improving productivity,” said Peter Laport, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Ready Pac. “Phil’s leadership style will bring a fresh and collaborative perspective to Ready Pac and I’m eager to see him flourish within our team.”
In this role, Phil will be responsible for establishing a consistent, dependable, and cost-effective supply of materials and agricultural goods to provide the most efficient delivery of high quality products, according to a press release. He will also help in the assessment and rebuilding of the company’s current supply chain footprint.
Prior to this position, Phil was a Global Director of Supply Chain Management for Reiter Affiliated Companies where he supervised sourcing, procurement, market analysis, national and international contracting, and cost savings for 3 regions, 10 districts and over 40 production operations.
Before Reiter, Phil spent over 20 years working in senior and executive management positions. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Management from Adams State College in Alamose, Colorado and his Master of Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations on this new position, Phil!
MISSION, TX – The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) has announced Dr. David Katz as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Viva Fresh Conference and Expo on March 26-28, 2015 in Austin, Texas.
Dr. Katz is the founding director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center and the principal investor of the NuVal nutritional guidance system, which is currently in about 2,000 U.S. supermarkets in more than 30 states, according to a press release.
“The Viva Fresh Expo provides a platform to assist the produce industry in promoting the health benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. As a visionary leader in preventive medicine, who has authored and co-authored 15 books, Dr. Katz can provide important insights and information for the industry to raise the bar on education and the critical health benefits of fruits and vegetables,” said Bret Erickson, TIPA CEO.
Dr. Katz has a myriad of honors for his work. He has been named one of America’s Top Physicians in Preventive Medicine three times by the Consumer’s Research Council of America, serves as a judge of best diets for the annual ranking published by U.S. News & World Report, named one of the 25 most influential people in the lives of children by Children’s Health Magazine and in 2012-14 has been named one of the 100 most influential people in health and fitness in the world by Greatist.com.
The keynote session is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am and will be the follow-up to the previous day’s educational sessions.
GLENDALE, WI – Maglio & Company has announced that Paul Schulz will be joining its executive team as the new Director of Sales and Marketing.
“Paul is a valuable addition to our company and will play a crucial role as the Director of Sales and Marketing,” said Sam Maglio, President of Maglio & Company. “As we continue to evolve the way we deliver value to customers, I’m confident Paul will be one of many keys to our success.”
“I am extremely happy to be part of a growing company,” Paul shared. “I’m looking forward to both sharing former experiences with the team and learning from them as we help customers define and execute on their fresh produce strategy.”
According to a press release, Paul has over 25 years of experience in the food industry as a top contributor in sales and marketing departments. He has a proven track record of establishing and managing strategic partnerships and has held several management positions with Sysco Corporation and Reinhart Foodservice.
Congratulations on this new position, Paul!
SANTA PAULA, CA – Limoneira Company has contracted Compac Sorting Equipment to manufacture its new pack line solution.
“After more than a year of research and visiting citrus and stone fruit houses in California, Argentina and Mexico, Compac's sorting solutions stood out as the best choice for Limoneira,” said Stewart Lockwood, Director of Packing, Lemon Operations at Limoneira.
According to a press release, Limoneira’s pack line will require cutting-edge engineering of multiple sorting systems to meet the stringent quality selection standards of fruit for both export and domestic markets.
“They offer the ideal combination of cutting-edge technology, superb manufacturing quality, excellent service and technical support and non-stop research and development. We carefully studied, tested and compared the optical graders and sorters of six different vendors and I truly believe that Compac's blemish-detection technology is at least a generation ahead of everyone else,” Lockwood added.
Compac’s line features advanced InVision software, which has set the benchmark for vision technology, according to a press release.
“InVision is built on a philosophy which balances ease of use with power and flexibility. It is this philosophy that has allowed our equipment to outperform all other solutions on the market,” says Ken Moynihan, Vision Systems Program Manager for Compac.
To achieve a high standard and efficiency, InVision uses digital cameras to scan produce. The cameras take up to 30 images of every piece that passes along the line, and InVision then builds a complete 3D model, which assigns it to the correct packing destination.
This new pack line and its advanced technology should make the process faster and gentler for Limoneira’s produce.
CHESHUNT, ENGLAND - A report by HSBC Securities suggests that it will cost over $4.9 billion in order for Tesco to turn around its recent economic slump, one aggravated by the £250 million ($403.25 million with today's exchange rate; at the time of the original story the value was listed north of $408 million) profit overstatement controversy which has led to the suspensions of 8 top executives.
“We think Tesco needs to do better in very many areas,” said HSBC analyst Dave McCarthy. “There are no short-term solutions, shortcuts or cheap solutions. Tesco has disappointed the U.K. consumer for too long and it must rebuild trust, which can only be done by giving the consumer a better deal.”
According to Bloomberg, McCarthy argues that a proper turnaround plan could require over 5 years and a 5-6% cut in prices. Despite costing between an estimated $2.58 billion to $3.06 billion, he says this price cut is necessary to fend off competition from the surging discount grocery sector in the UK.
The remaining costs of the turnaround plan proposed by HSBC Securities would involve a 20% increase in store staffing to increase service quality paired with new spending necessary to improve food quality. According to Bloomberg, the staffing increase is estimated to cost around $858.04 million, while food costs would increase by $1.61 billion.
According to McCarthy, taking these steps would “open up a meaningful gap” with Tesco main competitor, Sainsbury, putting it “within touching distance on price to Asda.”
In order to assuage some of the pain of the spending increases, McCarthy suggests Tesco could cut $1.61 billion out of its $19.36 billion cost base by reducing head office staff, scaling back its corporate jet program and eliminating non-key store roles.
Tesco's recent sales numbers may offer investors reason to hope for brighter times to come. While sales in the four weeks leading to October 12 have fallen 1.5%, this number is better than all of its competitors, save Asda.
CEO Dave Lewis told the Financial Times that Tesco's “recent performance in Food has been one of our strongest for a very long time. Whilst one swallow does not make a summer, we can take some small comfort that our efforts are having an impact.”
Hopefully this is just the first sign for a brighter future for Lewis and Tesco's many investors and partners in the produce industry.
The following was copied verbatim from a press release:
Anaheim, Calif. — During the annual State of the Industry Address at Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit in Anaheim, California, the association’s President Cathy Burns announced that Cornerstone Government Affairs, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm, with the leadership of Hunt Shipman, will represent the association’s members on global industry issues. As a result of PMA’s new strategic plan announced late last year, the association is strengthening and restructuring its approach to addressing those issues that are most critical to the global produce industry like food safety, trade and consumption. This new focus, termed Issues Leadership, encompasses elements of government relations, public affairs and public relations to provide the industry with a solutions-based approach to shaping issues. Shipman and his team will provide critical expertise and communications approaches to bring value to PMA members.
“Our member leaders were very judicious in defining our Issues Leadership strategy and we couldn’t have found a better organization to guide our work as we implement that strategy,” says Burns. “The entire team at Cornerstone, led by Hunt Shipman, brings decades of experience to the conversation, with an extensive knowledge and passion for agriculture. I’m very confident that their addition to our team will have a great impact on our industry and the issues we face on a global level.”
Cornerstone Government Affairs is a market leader in the agriculture space and specializes in food and agricultural issues. In addition, the firm also has a large health practice with a strong emphasis on public health issues.
“We’re excited to put our team’s experience and expertise to work on behalf of the largest trade association for the produce and floral industries and the members they represent. This weekend’s show will provide us with a great opportunity to get to know more of PMA’s members and discuss firsthand the issues they face,” said Shipman.
With over two decades of experience in Washington, D.C., Shipman has held a variety of positions in government and the private sector. Prior to joining Cornerstone, he was a senior executive for the Food Products Association, where he led the association’s government affairs and communications programs. From 2001 to 2003, Hunt was Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and served as the acting Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture and was the Department of Agriculture’s principal negotiator with Congress for the 2002 Farm Bill. Hunt also served as the staff director of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Professional Staff Member at the Senate Appropriations Committee, and on the personal staff of Senator Thad Cochran.
“The newly redefined approach to Issues Leadership includes a comprehensive toolkit,” says Tim Riley, president of The Giumarra Companies, and immediate past chair of PMA. “It’s a holistic approach that goes far beyond lobbying government organizations and focuses on developing relationships to create workable solutions. The tools we have will be used to address issues that were identified by industry members of the Issues Leadership task force. A set of filters was used to determine what issues were important to lead, based on the expertise of PMA staff and its volunteer leaders. We also developed a strategic role for PMA that sets out to support allied organizations where their expertise is better suited.”
PMA’s issues of focus, identified by the Issues Leadership Taskforce, include:
- Food Safety Modernization Act
- Outbreak investigations
- Research funding for produce
- Nutrition
- Technology
- Sustainability
- Global trade
- Information and data standards
- Crisis management
Members of the PMA Issues Leadership task force which defined PMA’s areas of focus were:
- Maureen Torrey Marshall, Torrey Farms, chair
- Dave Corsi, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
- Mike Hollister, Driscoll’s
- Kent Shoemaker, Lipman Produce
- Vic Smith, JV Smith Companies
- Mike Stuart, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
- Jin Ju Wilder,Valley Fruit & Produce Company
- Lee Woodham, FreshPoint, Inc,
- Jan DeLyser, California Avocado Commission
ANAHEIM, CA – This year’s Fresh Summit was breaking records and taking names all weekend long. Here are a couple highlights from the event!
ATTENDANCE
Breaking records again, this year’s Fresh Summit featured 1,090 exhibiting companies occupying 265,300 net square feet this past weekend. More than 22,400 members of the global fresh produce and floral industry’s supply chain were in attendance as well as over 1,150 retailers, the largest retailer attendance since 2001.
“I love when Fresh Summit lands in Anaheim, it’s home to me and many of the exhibitors and attendees. Coming back after just two years gives us a great opportunity to reflect on the progress the industry and the association has made since 2012,” said Kevin Fiori, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Sunkist Growers and PMA Board of Directors Chairperson.
BEST OF SHOW
At the event, four exhibitors were chosen by an anonymous panel of industry experts for “best of show,” a contest designed to amp up employee excitement and encourage exhibitors to enhance the effectiveness of their exhibition experience. The winners are:
- Best of Show, in-line booth: Suja Juice, Booth 4639
- Best of Show, island booth: Panera Bread Salad Dressings, Booth 1414
- Best New Product Launch: Rhythm Superfoods, Booth 488
- Best First-Time Exhibitor: Delallo Salad Savors, Booth 676
IMPACT AWARDS: EXCELLENCE IN PACKAGING
This year, 56 companies submitted 67 submissions to the 2014 PMA Impact Awards: Excellence in Packaging. To determine the five winners, a panel of judges scored each entry in five areas: marketing, food safety, supply chain efficiency, sustainability excellence and consumer convenience excellence. The winners are:
- CMI Columbia Marketing International: “GO GO” Fresh Cherry Package
- Earthbound Farm: PowerMeal Bowls
- Fresh Solutions Network: Side Delights® Gourmet Petites
- Mucci Farms: The New Pint
- Wholly Guacamole: Wholly Guacamole® Grab N Guac™ Box
WELCOMING RECEPTION
A great moment from this year’s Fresh Summit was the welcoming reception, which hosted a record number of attendees this year. It featured 14 food trucks that offered eccentric, global flavors and a pair of breweries.
Make sure to check back this week for more great highlights from this event.
EAGLE, ID – To help customers find the potato varieties that best fit their menu needs, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has created a brochure called ‘Bringing Variety to the Plate.’
The full color brochure details the qualities, characteristics, and applications for almost 30 potato varieties, according to a press release.
One of the varieties included is the Russet Burbank. The brochure tells customers that that this is a late-maturing variety, oval-shaped and thin skinned with a distinctive, earthy potato flavor. It also shares information like it bakes fluffy, fries crispy and is well suited to all applications.
To get a copy of the brochure, operators can order one from the Idaho Potato Commission at [email protected]. The Commission also offers a selection of recipes on its website.
HAMMOND, IN - Strack & Van Til has named Ken Diehl the new President and CEO of its retail operations. Diehl, a 29 year industry veteran who previously served as EVP and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer for A&P, will be taking over for longtime Strack & Van Til President Dave Wilkinson. Dave announced his retirement last August.
"Ken Diehl has an excellent track record in operations, sales, and merchandising and particularly in identifying means of improving efficiency and consumer engagement in our industry," Central Grocers President and CEO Ken Nemeth said. "His background provides Strack and Van Til the opportunity to enhance the success that was built by Dave Wilkinson during his tenure with the chain."
In his new position, Ken will look to build on the work done by Dave Wilkinson, who saw the retailer's revenue nearly triple since 1998 as business expanded and new stores were build and acquired. The Times of Northwest Indiana notes that in 2012 alone, Strack & Van Til added seven WiseWay and PayLo stores from WiseWay Supermarkets. A veteran of the U.S. military, Ken revealed that he was excited to take on these challenges.
"My family and I are very excited to be returning to the Indiana-Illinois market," he shared in the Times of Northwest Indiana. "I appreciate the confidence shown in me by Ken Nemeth and the Strack & Van Til Board. I have competed against their stores in the past and I recognize the excellent reputation they have built through outstanding merchandising and operations. I look forward to getting to know the employees and doing my part to lead the chain to even greater heights in a very competitive market."
Before his work with A&P, Ken served in a variety of roles in the retail industry, working for Albertson’s and NAI’s Jewel Osco as Director of Grocery Sales, Director of Marketing and Merchandising, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising and Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Merchandising and its Lead Merchant. He will bring this wealth of experience with him to Strack & Van Til in running its retail operations.
Congratulations on the new position, Ken!
The following was copied verbatim from a press release:
CORAL GABLES, Florida (September 2014)– As a part of its mission to grow smiles and share goodness, Turbana is once again participating in the Marine Corps Marathon as the official banana sponsor and composting partner. This is the fourth year the premier banana producer has partnered with the marathon. Working with the Marines year after year and experiencing the passion the runners carry inspired Turbana to bring the “Powered by the Peel” initiative and Turbana’s on ground participation to the marathon on October 26. Always compelled to do more than just donate bananas, Turbana yet again, will show its full admiration for the Marines, runners and volunteers at the marathon by cheering them on starting far before the race and beyond the finish line.
“Powered by the Peel” will fuel runners weeks before the race when Turbana and the Marine Corps Marathon, together, invite runners to voice their motivations to run on social media in order to share and inspire others. Together with the Marine Corps Marathon, Turbana will select 15 of the empowering social media messages, contributed by the runners, to be displayed along the 26.2-mile course. Also, Turbana has partnered with 15 local hotels where out of town participants will be welcomed with a “Turbana Power Pack” upon check-in. This will be packaged in a drawstring backpack and filled with motivational sentiments and a special stress reliever shaped as a Turbana banana to inspire the runners. Turbana’s street team will be in the city the morning of the race looking out for runners who seem a bit chilly to provide them with hand warmers to let them know Turbana is there with them.
As runners cross the finish line Marines will be congratulating them and helping them re-fuel with 30,000 Turbana bananas. At the Finish Festival, Turbana’s “Powered by the Peel” street team will be congratulating runners and satisfying their craving for salt with 7,500 bags of Turbana plantain chips. The bananas and chips will replace electrolytes, sodium and other nutrients that the runners lost while running the marathon. Turbana’s street team won’t stop there; they are known to give out hugs, high-fives, and always smiles.
“The Turbana team has been moved time and time again by the emotions that the Marines and runners infuse into this community event. This is why we are so excited to go above and beyond traditional sponsorship at the Marine Corps Marathon,” says Marion Tabard, director of marketing at Turbana. “We want the runners to feel supported throughout the entire weekend and we will be encouraging them to unpeel their power while we are with them every step of their 26.2 mile journey.”
As a pioneer in sustainability and social consciousness, Turbana is excited to present the 200,000 people that attend the Marine Corps Marathon with the option of composting. In order to ensure that all of the banana peels would be discarded in a responsible way, Turbana felt compelled to work with the Marine Corps Marathon and the city of Washington D.C. to bring a composting program to the marathon and to donate the compost that is made at the Finish Festival. Runners, spectators and volunteers will be encouraged to compost their banana peels at the Finish Festival for the second year in a row. At the Finish Festival, Turbana will be educating people on the importance of composting as they pass out bananas. Aligning with Turbana’s philanthropic roots, all of the fresh bananas that are leftover after the event will be donated to local food banks. Turbana takes pride in using an active and highly involved approach in working with its communities to affect positive change.
“Turbana approached the MCM with innovative ideas to enhance the experience of the participants. The composting program that Turbana initiated last year really resonated with the participants as smart and responsible. Turbana’s involvement at the MCM is always growing in bigger and better ways and this year is a testament to that,” says Marc Goldman marketing manager of the Marine Corps Marathon.
Turbana’s “Powered by the Peel” campaign encourages what Turbana practices everyday, growing smiles and sharing goodness. Since the company’s inception in 1970, its philosophy has been that its success depends on the well being of its communities. Turbana sees it as an honor to support the military, their families and their communities.