DELANO, CA - With a positive outlook on the table grape season ahead, Jasmine Vineyards has an exciting stretch ahead. I had the opportunity to check in with company President Jon Zaninovich to discuss Jasmine Vineyards’ current outlook and expectations for a season that is running two weeks ahead of last year’s schedule, as well as an exciting new aspect of the company’s Fresh Alerts™ program.

“The timing is a big shift from last season, when a cool spring delayed us by two weeks. Being ahead like this is a great position to be in because it gives us a much wider window to harvest the fruit and meet our suppliers' needs,” Jon shares. “We expect to have an excellent quantity of delicious red, green, and black grapes to support strong summer and fall promotions.”

With fruit looking exceptional across Jasmine’s entire lineup, Jon tells me that while there’s always a lot of excitement for varieties like Sweet Celebration™, Sweet Globe®, and Great Green, every variety the company grows is a standout that meets the exceptional quality retailers expect from its ranch.

As we discuss maximizing the opportunities teed up by the quality and timing of the current outlook, Jon says he always felt that when it comes to the produce aisle, a free sample is the best way to give a consumer a real experience with the fruit.

“Once they taste that crunch, the quality speaks for itself,” he says simply. “I also love seeing ‘edible table’ displays where whole bunches are presented—it really shows off the beauty of the fruit we’ve worked all year to grow. It’s also a perfect time to promote grapes as a wonderful hydration food. They’re packed with nutrients, which is exactly what health-conscious shoppers are looking for as they head into the warmer summer months.”

Jasmine Vineyards, Jon mentions, will also soon be taking another big step in supporting its retail partners.

“We have a big update coming for our Fresh Alerts program, finalizing an upgrade that will provide our buyers with more direct, real-time visibility into the harvest as it passes through the packhouse,” he shares.

With that latest teaser in mind, AndNowUKnow will be sure to come back with more details once available, so stay tuned!

ST. LOUIS, MI - Save A Lot, one of the largest independently owned and operated value-focused grocery chains in the U.S., announced the release of its 2025 A Lot of Good Report, detailing the company’s continued efforts to support Team Members, Retail Partners, customers, and communities through operational excellence, local engagement, and expanded food access initiatives.

The report highlights Save A Lot’s work across its network of approximately 650 stores and showcases key programs, milestones, and partnerships from the past year that reflect the company’s commitment to providing fresh, affordable groceries while strengthening the communities it serves.

“Customers are feeling squeezed, and winning loyalty today requires real engagement and focus,” said Bill Mayo, Chief Executive Officer of Save A Lot, in the recent release. “The stories in this report are examples of how we continue leaning into the strengths that define Save A Lot, from operational excellence and everyday value to local ownership and meaningful community support.”

Highlights from the report include:

• Expansion of Save A Lot Rewards, which reached more than 750,000 registered users and helped customers save more than $1.71 million through personalized offers and rewards. The program was also recognized as one of Newsweek’s “America’s Best Loyalty Programs of 2025.”
• Recognition from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), where Save A Lot achieved the largest year-over-year customer satisfaction increase among supermarkets, driven by investments in loyalty, store refreshes, app enhancements, and reopening initiatives.
• Continued investment in private label innovation, including the launch of 100 new products in 2025, multiple industry product awards, and the rollout of initiatives to remove select artificial dyes from all private label offerings by the end of 2027.
• Investment across Save A Lot’s store network, including the return of the Save A Lot brand in 27 stores across Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as continued focus on corporate store growth and operational excellence initiatives such as Store in a Box, which certified 200 locations in 2025.
• Expansion of culturally tailored offerings, including the launch of Save A Lot y Mas and the rebranding and expansion of Hispanic private label products under the new La Tierra de Sabores brand.
• Significant growth in eCommerce and food access initiatives, including partnerships with Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Evermore, and Forage to expand grocery delivery access and enable SNAP EBT payments across hundreds of store locations.
• Ongoing support for hunger relief and community engagement efforts nationwide. Through Bags for a Brighter Holiday, Save A Lot, and its customers donated more than 103,000 bags of food valued at approximately $549,000 to local charities, while the company also maintained partnerships with 30 food banks across the country.
• Continued investment in Team Members through expanded training and development initiatives, safety programs, and recognition efforts, including more than 16,400 completed training courses in 2025 and the launch of new safety-focused roles across the organization.

“Our commitment to community, accessibility, and operational excellence continues to guide how we grow as a business,” said Mayo. “As we look ahead, we remain focused on being a trusted partner for the families and neighborhoods we serve every day.”

View Save A Lot’s full 2025 A Lot of Good Report here.