AUSTIN, TX – A new Whole Foods pilot program is cutting produce prices in its Austin stores.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that the retailer has cut prices on all produce products in its five Austin stores. That is approximately 400 items. Executives tell the Statesman that the company also plans deeper discounts in about a dozen special deals each week.
This price cut comes after Whole Foods’ announcement that it will be adopting a customer loyalty rewards program by the end of 2015, a move that surprised many with the retailer’s three decade resistance to adopting such a program.
Bloomberg suggested that rising competition from other retailers like Wal-Mart and Kroger, which are increasing their natural foods categories, has pushed Whole Foods to look at new strategies.
The Austin Business Journal reports that this move is part of an investor-driven emphasis to find ways to boost same-store sales, which have been slipping.
Whole Foods’ stock saw a large decline in the past year, falling from a high of $64.47 on November 6, 2013 down to a low of $36 per share in July, according to the Journal. As of today at 12:36 p.m. Eastern Time, the stock is at $37.87 per share.
If this new pilot program is successful, it could eventually be expanded to other stores in the chain. Only time will tell if these new strategies will be successful, but I will definitely be keeping a close eye on this retailer.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for future updates on Whole Foods and the retail industry as a whole.
MCLEAN, VA – Gladstone Land Corporation has acquired 808 acres of land with 590 farmable acres and an onsite cooling-distribution facility in Manatee County, Florida from Wish Farms for $13.8 million.
"We are privileged to partner with such an esteemed grower and add another large fruit and vegetable farm to our portfolio," said Bill Frisbie, Managing Director at the Company. "This property has been farmed for many years by Wish Farms and has a good water supply in place. We now own 29 farms across the U.S. that produce a variety of high-value fruits and vegetables."
Wishnatzki, Inc., a leading grower and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables, currently farms the land, so Gladstone Land and Wish Farms have entered into a 10-year lease with two 5-year renewal options, according to a press release.
"Wish Farms is excited to partner with Gladstone Land on a long-term basis for this property. This transaction frees up capital that we can deploy into our farming and marketing operations to continue growing our business," said Gary Wishnatzki, Owner of Wish Farms. "Gladstone Land has strong roots in fruit and vegetable farming, making them a great resource for our real estate needs."
This is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Gladstone. In August, we reported that the company acquired five farms in California and Florida totaling 3,522 acres for $45 million.
Gladstone Land Corporation currently owns 29 farms, comprised of 7,641 acres in 5 different states across the U.S., valued at approximately $158 million.
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - GS1 US is uniting suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, solution providers and industry associations under a new Retail Grocery Initiative designed to facilitate supply chain collaboration and the implementation of GS1 Standards to uniquely identify products around the globe. AndNowUKnow recently talked to Angela Fernandez, Vice President of Retail Grocery and Foodservice, on how the industry is evolving and reacting to new changes.
“I always describe GS1 Standards as something we all use every day and don't even know it - the barcode is scanned five billion times a day around the globe,” shared Fernandez. “GS1 offices are in 110 countries, working every day to apply the global standards to the local environments they serve. Twenty-five industries use the global supply chain standards and the retail grocery was the first to pioneer the barcode and the efficiencies of GS1 Standards. Today, the GS1 US Retail Grocery Initiative is composed of retailers, suppliers and other industry stakeholders who have joined together to identify emerging industry challenges and further drive supply chain efficiencies. Members have had the opportunity to provide their thought, leadership and expertise to shape the future of the industry, and we’re now starting to address a few critical industry issues.”
What issues are at the forefront of the Initiative’s agenda?
- Expanded Product Information: GS1 US recognizes that consumers are demanding more information than ever about food specifications such as whether the item is organic or GMO-free and is helping the industry better share this information.
- Supply Chain Visibility: Where did the product come from? Where is it going? Was this product created in a sustainable process? Retailers and their trading partners want answers to these questions in order to both streamline operations and answer the questions of consumers who are increasingly interested in the place of origin for their favorite products.
- Operational Efficiency: How to leverage the information in barcodes to lower the total delivery costs of their goods and increase efficiency at all levels of the supply chain.
GS1 US is currently working closely with executives to further build the Retail Grocery Initiative and drive an efficient, holistic industry approach to these challenges. GS1 US will begin to work on these issues with the industry in October.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more information on GS1 and the global retail industry.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Frieda’s Specialty Produce is bringing jackfruit, the world’s largest tree fruit, to PMA Fresh Summit attendees this month. Visitors at Frieda’s booth #2830 can sample the fruit and take on the company’s challenge to “Eat One Fruit A Day That Scares You.”
“Jackfruit is a definite showstopper of tropical fruits,” said Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s. “It has the impressive size, a unique fragrance that reminds you of Juicy Fruit® gum, and these succulent pods of sweet, yellow flesh that taste like all of your favorite tropical fruits in one perfect bite.”
This seemingly “scary-looking fruit” has a distinct flavor profile that includes hints of mango, banana, and melon when eaten fresh. As the fruit ripens, the exterior turns yellow and becomes fragrant. NPR called jackfruit “the ginormous fruit to feed the world” for its versatility, according to a press release. The seeds are also edible if boiled or roasted.
Frieda's will display other “scary fruits,” like Organic Finger Limes, Buddha’s Hands, Kiwano®, Cherimoya, Mandarinquats, and Mangosteens at its booth as well.
Welcome to What's In Store. Bay Baby Produce is gearing up for the Fall season this year with their new Grab N' Go Paint kits! These paint kits make the perfect addition to any pumpkin painting party. Each kit has four festive colors that kids are sure to love, a paint brush and six mini pumpkins.
Home spun family fun, moms and dads will love these kits, too. What could be a better way to spend quality time with your kids than over pumpkin painting?
Bay Baby is also encouraging moms to bring pumpkin painting into their classrooms! Teachers love this because it makes a great lesson in art, history, nutrition, and science. Plus, they are the perfect size to bring home in their backpacks.
Bay Baby Produce also has an expansive line of Autumn designs including their unique long stem ornamental pumpkin line. Moms can check out different ideas for decorating by visiting Bay Baby Produce’s Pinterest Boards! You can also buy some of these great products online at baybabyproduce.com!
Since starting out over 20 years ago, Bay Baby Produce has vastly expanded its operations. Its major boom was in 2002 with its signature Pumpkin Patch Pal line. To learn more about the Pals' unique personalities, visit pumpkinpatchpals.com! Now selling in Canadian, Asian, and Mexican markets, the Pals are worldwide. Thanks for watching What's In Store.
SONOMA, CA – California pomegranate growers are reporting that the Wonderful variety has now achieved the right color and sugar content for harvest.
Tom Rouse from POM Wonderful says that the company expects to have promotable quantities in a full range of sizes by October 8-10.
He said, “If Mother Nature continues to cooperate, our full-season shipments should match, or slightly exceed last year. We anticipate again setting a new record in the percentage of the total that goes out in our increasingly popular display bins and stackers. Retailers recognize the high-impulse purchase nature of pomegranates and these stand-alone units bring incremental profit to previously unused space in the produce section or by the front-end registers.”
Jeff Simonian of Simonian Fruit Company reports that his company will be starting their Wonderful program at the same time, according to a press release. “Our early varieties have moved smoothly into the distribution channels and we are now ready to ship our principal variety. Like the rest of the industry, we expect to peak on the medium sizes.”
Tom Tjerandsen, Manager of the Pomegranate Council, said, “There are still some low-index consumption markets in the U.S. and as shoppers discover the great taste and substantial nutritional benefits of pomegranates, there will be no problem absorbing the increasing annual volume. Surging export and foodservice demand, along with sales of the increasingly popular arils and juice products, are also helping to move the harvest.”
The Pomegranate Council reports that a census of the principal growers suggests that shipments should exceed six million boxes this season.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more updates as this season progresses.
ALBANY, NY - McDonald's, the single-largest purchaser of U.S. apples, had New York Apple Association (NYAA) growers' apples front-and-center this week during its Open Door Tour event. The September 23rd event served to provide a behind-the-scenes look into the restaurant's operations, including its menu and commitment to food quality and the local community.
Owners and Operators John and Kathie Reeher were on-hand throughout the day to guide guests, who ranged from legislators, to local business owners, to members of the media and bloggers. NYAA Marketing Director Molly Golden was also in attendance, representing the New York apple industry and talking about the strong ties between McDonald's and the great produce grown in New York state.
“As a mom myself, I know how important it is for parents to feel comfortable with the restaurant choices they make for their families,” said Golden. “The whole family loves healthy, delicious apple slices, and the local McDonald’s restaurants are supporting our growers by sourcing slices locally.”
According to a press release, McDonald's values New York state apple varieties such as Gala and Empire because they naturally resist browning. Their attractive look and fresh taste provides customers with an easy choice for healthy living, even when their busy lives necessitate eating outside the home.
John Cisna, who gained national attention after losing nearly 60 lbs on an all-McDonald’s diet, and local nutritionists also gave presentations during the Open Door Tour event. They led attendees in a “Eat This, Not That” game, showing how McDonald's restaurants in many cases offer healthier options than traditional food choices.
Congratulations to the NYAA and McDonald's for the success of this great promotional event!
BRAMPTON, ONTARIO - Let’s face the facts. One in ten Canadian children fight through a battle with hunger every day. This frightening statistic is what’s motivating Loblaw’s Mike Venton to make a difference and bring awareness to an issue that’s preventing kids from having a truly healthy, long-lasting life. The SVP of No Frills and National Produce and Floral Procurement at Loblaw is spearheading a worthy cause that asks us to help give children the nutrition they deserve and promote the importance of healthy foods in their daily lives.
With Loblaw’s support, Mike will be participating in a 24 hour fast through the President’s Choice Children’s Charity. His hope is that with his team’s efforts, he will raise awareness for this startling problem and the struggles these children go through on a daily basis, all while raising life-changing funds for this cause. Together, we can all make a meaningful impact in these children’s lives.
If you'd like to support him yourself, you can donate to his page on the President’s Choice Children’s Charity here.
“In support of President’s Choice Children’s Charity, I am participating in a 24 hour fast. While fasting, I will feel what 1 in 10 Canadian children go through on a daily basis,” Mike shared in a statement to industry members. “With your help, we can make a difference. 100% of the funds raised go directly to the community to support children with nutritious meals who may otherwise go hungry and assists children with disabilities.”
So far, Mike has raised over $6,500. Just one small donation can make a huge difference. Don’t let Mike starve, he is thin enough as it is!
Having looked into the work the President’s Choice Children's Charity has done during the course of writing this article, I must admit how impressed I am. During 2013 alone, this wonderful organization donated $14 million in funds to help prevent child hunger and improve the lives of special needs children in Canada. This is just some of what the President’s Choice Children's Charity did last year:
- Donated $4 million to Breakfast for Learning.
- Donated $1 million to the PCCC Basic Needs Brighter Future Program through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.
- Supported 2,333 childhood nutrition programs throughout Canada (extending into 2014).
- Provided 280 special needs children with home or vehicle accessibility modifications.
- Provided $9.5 million in aid grants to over 2,144 families of special needs children.
On behalf of everyone at AndNowUKnow, I'd like to commend Mike and his team for the wonderful work they are doing for these kids. It's people like this that make our industry what it is.
ESSEX, VT - Reinhart Foodservice is opening a new $26 million facility in Essex, VT in mid-October to significantly enhance the service it provides for its customers. The new building consolidates three warehouses into one, generating space for more products, more temperature zones, and more features focusing on energy efficiency than ever before.
“We’re really excited about this facility – it’s incredible,” said Chris Kurek, Division President at Reinhart Burlington. “Operating out of one building versus three will improve our productivity dramatically, and will allow us to be more efficient, provide a greater product selection for our customers and better meet the needs of this dynamic market. This new facility is also a huge investment in the community and a long-term commitment to Vermont.”
Some key figures on the new establishment include:
- Office Sq. Footage: 12,600
- Dry Sq. Footage: 47,700
- Freezer Sq. Footage: 34,000
- Coolers Sq. Footage: 21,600
- Dock Sq. Footage: 19,580
- Number of Warehouse Slots: 19,550
- Number of Employees: 137
The state-of-the-art facility will also feature several environmentally-friendly enhancements including, but not limited to, a new energy efficient refrigeration system, LED lighting, efficient plumbing fixtures to minimize water use, a fuel station for trucks, and battery chargers in the parking lot for electric-powered vehicles.
“As one of the first LEED® certified foodservice buildings in North America, we’re predicting over 30% savings in energy costs,” Chris tells me. “The energy efficient features are staggering. It’s an amazing building – down to the carpeting all the way to the materials they picked out for our desks and walls. Our employees are very pleased with the design, and are excited to move in.”
These improvements go beyond improving productivity internally. “Having a new building with products under one roof will prove to be a tremendous improvement for Reinhart’s customers,” Chris continued. “There’s less of a chance products will be damaged since they won’t have to be handled so often during cross-docking.”
It’s an impressive commitment to both Reinhart’s employees and customers nationwide to construct this massive environmentally-friendly undertaking. Here’s to looking forward to great things from Reinhart with its new warehouse.
ALEXANDRIA, VA - News is coming out that the industry has lost one of its finest elder statesmen, with the passing of former United Fresh President and CEO Bernard J. Imming. According to his obituary in the Washington Post, he went peacefully at the Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads on September 22nd, 2014. He was 94 years old.
Tom Stenzel, United Fresh President and CEO, said in a statement, "Bernie was a wonderful leader of our association and the produce industry. He joined United in 1948 at the United Merchandising Institute in Kansas City, later moved to Washington, D.C., was promoted to President in 1975 and retired in 1985. I was fortunate to join the staff in 1993, and Bernie still served as a mentor to me. His regular phone chats and drop-bys to the office were times for me to pick his brain about industry issues, but really learn more about the culture that is an essential part of our industry's character. I was so pleased when Bernie could travel to New Orleans for our convention in 2011. It wasn't an easy trip for him but I've never seen him happier than seeing old friends and rolling around the trade show floor in his wheelchair. We will miss him."
During WWII Bernard served his country honorably in the Pacific theater, retiring from active duty as a First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserve. He would go on to hold a whole host of prestigious positions, including:
- President and CEO of United Fresh
- Founding President of the United Nutrition Education Foundation
- Founder of the The Association Consultancy
- President of the American Society of Association Executives
- Member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Association Committee of 100 for a decade and a half
- President of Alexandria Rotary Club
- Member of the Army Navy Country Club
For his work in the industry, he was awarded a lifetime designation as a Certified Association Executive. In 1985, he was named Association Executive of the Year by Association Trends, a national professional publication.
Visitation will be held at Everly-Wheatley Funeral, 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA at 10 am, Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Funeral Mass will take place at 11 am followed by interment proceedings at the Columbia Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Bernard's loved ones have requested that contributions be made to the Alexandria Rotary Foundation, PO Box 32066, Alexandria, VA 22320 or the Goodwin House Foundation, 3440 S. Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA 22041.
Everyone at AndNowUKnow would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to Bernard's family and loved ones. He will be missed.