KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO - With summer officially in the rear view mirror, Double Diamond Farms has a lot to be proud of this season. Within the last several months, the grower has been officially non-GMO certified and has completed an impressive expansion of its greenhouse facilities.
“Getting non-GMO certified was very important to us here at Double Diamond Farms,” Jeremy Stockwell, Director of Procurement and Sales, shared with me. “We want our retail partners and consumers to know the extent of our commitment to providing fresh, natural, high quality produce, and we felt that this certification was a key step in communicating that.”
In addition to this certification, Double Diamond Farms has just completed a 10 acre expansion of its greenhouse facilities, with another 25 acres to come this December.
“We've been investing heavily in technology this season,” Jeremy told me. “With upgrades to our automation infrastructure, packing lines, and our greenhouses, we're positioning ourselves for some very strong future seasons.”
For example, Jeremy explained how Double Diamond's high-tech greenhouses are equipped with diffused glass and automated transportation lines, allowing the grower to consistently provide its retail partners with a top quality premium product.
What's next for Double Diamond?
“We're very excited about the coming year,” Jeremy said. “We have a lot of momentum behind us right now and I think we'll be bringing some very strong crops to market in the future.”
One thing I know for sure is that I'll certainly be keeping my eye on this Ontario grower.
Congratulations on a great summer, Double Diamond!
ROSEMONT, IL – US Foods is introducing a new Fall Scoop product line featuring traditional and fun options that restaurants can add to their menus. To check out the full line, click here.
“Summer is coming to a close, and with colder temperatures comes cozy gatherings among friends and family, inspiring chefs to bring fall comfort foods to their menus,” said Pietro Satriano, Chief Merchandising Officer, US Foods. “Our 10th edition of Scoop features traditional dishes with a trendy, modern twist that give our customers everything they need to make their restaurants the center of fall gatherings.”
For great taste and a pop of color, Mini Heirloom Tomatoes offer a nice variety of tomatoes like Zima™, Kumato®, Angel Sweet™ and Y.E.L.O™ all together in an eco-friendly bowl that is 100% recyclable, according to US Foods. These tomatoes are great for salads, pizza, pasta and much more.
The new Multipurpose Pumpkin Spice Baking Mix from Monarch® comes just in time for fall. This multipurpose mix is a dry blend made with real pumpkin that offers versatility for different dishes from cookies to muffins to waffles or pancakes.
The Fall Scoop is bringing a southern favorite to the mainstream. Monarch® Pickle Fries are making a strong debut in the fry category. These look like French fries but have the crunchy goodness of a kosher dill pickle. They are double battered for a crispy bite and pair with dipping sauces or salad.
Cross Valley Farms® Sunset Blend is a combination of butternut squash, candy-stripe beets and golden beets for a ready-to-cook product. Pre-washed, pre-peeled and pre-cut, this offering reduces prep time and saves labor. This colorful blend complements almost any entrée. They are packed in different bags to all for use together or separately.
Combining two classic favorites, Monarch® White and Sweet Potato Frites combine the julienne cut potatoes into a fun pairing. These can be fried or baked for a healthier option as well. Sweet potatoes continue to trend on restaurant menus, and these frites combine the best of both worlds.
To go alongside these new menu offerings, US Foods is also introducing a new entertainment option for group outings. The exclusive ‘Q & Ate’ game allows diners to download a game app displayed on drink coasters, according to a press release. The quizzes feature questions on players’ knowledge of food and history.
Make sure to keep your eye out for these new menu offerings as we move into the fall and holiday season.
WENATCHEE, WA - CMI’s new Sweet Gourmet Pears™ pouch bags are launching nationwide after a retail test conducted late last year proved positive among consumers and sales numbers.
The test, conducted in part with a large eastern retailer, documented consumer demand for the item as well as whether the new pouch bag lineup would cannibalize sales from existing bulk pears. Katharine Grove, Marketing Specialist for CMI, says the results were astonishing.
“Not only were existing bulk sales not affected, the Sweet Gourmet Pears™ test drove almost $900,000 in incremental dollars,” said Grove.
The success of the Sweet Gourmet Pears™ program was a result of the educational and usage information included on the new bag. “Immediately after introduction in the test retailer, the Sweet Gourmet Pears™ pouch bag became the #2 selling item in the pear category,” continued Grove. “Our retail partner not only continued with the program but expanded it to include other pear varieties.”
Retail data shows that only 10% of pear sales occur in bags compared to nearly 50% in the apple category. Steve Lutz, Vice President of Marketing for CMI, says, “With the use of premium packaging trending upward in the produce department, our team was confident that the same consumer buying apples and other fruits in these bags would be equally interested in pears. That’s exactly what we experienced when we tested the bags last winter.”
To see where Sweet Gourmet Pears™ are grown, check out the video below:
This season, CMI is launching the Sweet Gourmet Pears™ three pound pouch bag, in Bartlett and D’Anjou varieties, in select stores across the U.S. These new pouch bags have been designed to complement the existing Sweet Gourmet Pears™ program that is currently available in two-pound packages of Bartlett, D’Anjou, Red, and Bosc pear varieties.
AUSTIN, TX - Whole Foods has annouced this week that it will be adopting a customer loyalty rewards program by the end of 2015. This decision has come as a suprise to many, considering the fact that the company had resisted adopting just such a program for much of the previous three decades. In light of this shift in policy, industry insiders are understandably asking: what caused this change?
Bloomberg suggests that the explanation may lay with the increasing competition Whole Foods is facing from other retailers, like Wal-Mart and Kroger. These retailers are expanding their selections into the natural foods category, one which Whole Foods formerly enjoyed a near monopoly over.
This increased competition has taken its toll on the retailer. Whole Foods' stock has fallen 35% so far this year, in comparison to a 7.3% gain for the S&P 500, according to Bloomberg.
Executives at Whole Foods however remain confident that this slump will prove to be just a blip on the radar as the company evolves in order to facilitate future growth in this changing consumer market. The announcement of this loyalty program, which is currently undergoing tests in Princeton and, later this month, Philadelphia, is just one aspect of this initiative.
AndNowUKnow covered Whole Foods' announcement of its first national marketing campaign this past July. More recently, the retailer revealed that it will be one of the first companies to jump onboard Apple's innovative Apple Pay system.
“Our customers are going to love the convenience of Apple Pay, which will bring a faster, easier, more secure and private way to make purchases at Whole Foods Market,” shared Co-CEO Walter Robb, in a press release. “We’re committed to providing innovative new choices and conveniences for our customers, and the ability to buy groceries with just a simple touch of a finger elevates convenience to a whole new level.”
Whether it's taking a tried and true concept like a loyalty program or embracing innovation with new technologies like Apple Pay, Whole Foods has recognized that if it wants to retain its lofty position at the forefront of the incredibly competitive retail industry, its approach will have to be multifaceted. Only time will tell how successful the program will be, but I for one certainly wouldn't be one to bet against this retailer.
As of 1:04pm EST, Whole Foods' stock was trading at $38.20/share, a 1.68% increase during the day's trading.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for future updates on Whole Foods and the retail industry as a whole.
NEWARK, DE - PMA has released the final list of companies nominated for this year’s Impact Awards. Of 67 entries from 55 companies, 20 finalists have been selected. The winners will be announced at Fresh Summit on October 17th in Anaheim, CA.
“We’re always thrilled and in awe with the submissions we receive each summer,” says Meg Miller, PMA’s PR Director. “Our industry relies on innovative packaging, and based on this year’s pool of finalists - we know we’re all headed in a strong direction.”
- Apio, Inc.
- A-ROO Company
- Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.
- CMI Columbia Marketing Intl.
- Del Monte Fresh Produce
- Earthbound Farm (2 products nominated)
- Fresh Solutions Network
- Mann Packing Co., Inc.
- Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET®
- Mucci Farms (3 products nominated)
- NatureSweet, LTD (2 products nominated)
- Naturipe Farms, LLC (2 products nominated)
- Ruby Fresh
- Sage Fruit Company
- Snap Fresh Foods
- Wholly Guacamole
AndNowUKnow will be featuring a selection of the nominated products leading up to the event. Check out our first entry on CMI’s GoGo Fresh, single serve cherry packages by clicking here.
Congratulations to all of the companies for the nominations!
CHADBOURN, NC - Sweet potatoes have been on a wild ride this year, but with growers currently making the transition from last year's crop to 2014's, producers like Wayne E. Bailey and Ham Farms are very happy with the way the season in shaping up, both in terms of quality and yield.
“Last season's concerns about weather and growing conditions left many growers and packers short on supply,” Will Kornegay from Ham Farms' sales team told ANUK. “Fortunately, we have been able to maintain a steady year round supply for our customers. This year’s harvest is currently ramping up to full scale, and as we prepare to transition into new crop shipments, we are very happy with the quality and yields being reported from the field at this time. Acreage is reported to be up in North Carolina.”
Regarding prices, Will told us that “the market should remain steady through the holidays as the industry attempts to catch up with the demand and get a good grasp of the supply outlook for the remainder of the year.”
George Wooten, President and Owner of Wayne E. Bailey, echoed much of what Will had to say.
“We began our harvest about 3 weeks ago and have been very pleased with the yield and quality of our crop,” George told me. “Because of last year's shortage, we were forced to begin our harvest a little early, which has led to a 5-10% decrease in jumbo sized sweet potatoes, but because of this year's excellent growing condition, the overall crop is still very strong despite that.”
“Right now we're expecting a very healthy market with prices right around the $25 range,” he elaborated. “As more competition enters the market and supply expands, this number will likely come down, but we're anticipating being able to sell at this price at least through mid-September.”
These growers are also working on new technologies and innovations in order to build for the future. For example, Will tells us about how Ham Farms has dedicated itself to documenting and recording the progress of its crop from the field to the store. Videos like the one shown below are the result of this investment in exciting new drone and other media technologies:
Especially after the challenges of last season, it's great to see how these growers have responded and rebounded with an excellent 2014-2015 crop. As a sweet potato lover myself, good news from this sector of the produce industry is always a welcome sight.
HENDERSON, CO - Borton Fruit has partnered with food safety solutions provider Birko to significantly improve facility sanitation and control pathogens.
“Birko has gone out of its way to teach our staff why food safety is important and why sanitation is vital to the functionality of our food safety program,” said Miles Murphy, Food Safety Manager for Borton Fruit. “Their chemicals work great, but what really makes Birko stand out as a company is the extra value and service provided by their technical representatives.”
These improvements include a number of specialized chemistry, technology, and training to boost the company’s cleaning and sanitation procedures, namely:
- Algae Guard™ Quat Blocks, which help control microbial growth in cooling unit condensate drain pans
- Pow-R-Scrub™, a phosphate-free, mildly alkaline mix of detergents and non-toxic solvents
- Neutra Foam™, a safe, chemically-neutral formula used as a general-purpose cleaner or as a foam generator
Borton Fruit also installed a Birko portable rolling foamer to apply sanitation cleaners. The portable rolling foamer is air-powered and applies shaving cream-like foam for improved efficiency, according to a press release.
“While Borton has transitioned to several Birko chemicals, we’ve also provided a lot of training to the Borton sanitation crew in proper cleaning techniques,” said Kellie Bauman, Birko’s Technical Sales Representative for the Northwest region. “This has been a successful partnership in combining chemistry, equipment, technology, and training to deliver operating efficiency to Borton.”
With these new improvements and partnership with Birko, Borton Fruit is continuing its commitment to food safety.
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - Jerry’s Enterprises will be closing two Rainbow Foods stores just months after buying them from Roundy’s Inc. as that retailer exited the Twin Cities market.
Roundy’s sold 18 of its 27 stores to a group of retailers led by Supervalu in a $65 million deal. The Star Tribune reports that Jerry’s, which operates stores under its own name and as a franchisee of Supervalu’s Cub Foods grocery line, was a member of that group.
In May, Roundy’s Chairman, President, and CEO, Robert A. Mariano, said that the economic downturn and increased competition in the Twin Cities has made it difficult to keep the Rainbow banner competitive. “We believe the sale of these Rainbow stores to this group of local operators will provide those stores better stewardship in serving their communities in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market going forward,” said Mariano. “The transaction will also allow us to better focus strategically on growing our Mariano’s banner in the Chicago market and strengthening our business in our core Wisconsin markets.”
Roundy’s made its official exit from the Twin Cities market with the closure of its 9 remaining Rainbow stores in July.
These two stores which were thought to be saved from closing are located in West St. Paul and on Minneapolis’ Lake Street, and each store employs about 25 full-time and about 60 part-time workers.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that Jerry's Enterprises said in a letter to West St. Paul that it "developed plans based on business considerations" to shut the store.
Luckily, West St. Paul Mayor John Zanmiller said there were other parties interested in redeveloping the site.
YANGTZE RIVERY VALLEY, CHINA - As any archaeologist will tell you, the modern peach is the end result of generations upon generations of extensive selective breeding. The sweetness, size, and texture of the fruit we enjoy today is a far cry from the peach our ancient ancestors might have picked - a small, acidic, greenish-colored fruit.
But where did the peach originate from? On this question, there is still no consensus among archaeologists, but according to NPR, new evidence may point to the lower Yangtze River Valley in southern China.
In a study recently published in PLOS ONE, Gary Crawford, paleoethnobotanist at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, reported that farmers in the Yangtze River Valley long ago began farming an early form of the peach, although much smaller and whiter in color than its modern counterpart. Interestingly, radiocarbon dating analysis revealed that these farmers were already using relatively sophisticated grafting and fruit reproduction techniques.
That the fruit could be traced back to Yangtze River Valley came as a surprise to historians. Prior to the release of this study, the peach was commonly traced to the northern or western regions of China, according to NPR.
"It's kind of a monkey wrench in the works," Crawford shared. "Everybody's been saying western China or northern China, but now we're saying the data are coming from the lower Yangtze Valley."
Through the examination of the length, width and suture diameter, in addition to radiocarbon dating, Crawford's findings further reveal that the peach was domesticated much earlier than researches had previously hypothesized. According to NPR, the results suggest that the domestication process of the peach took roughly 3,000 years, with evidence of something very similar to modern peach stones only appearing in the the Liangzhu culture about 5,000 years ago.
NPR also explains how the peach spread from its initial home in China, to Japan and India, and then throughout the known world through the trade networks of the Roman Empire. It would later make its way to the Americas during the period of European exploration.
China still has the greatest genetic diversity of peaches of any country in the modern world, with 495 cultivars, according to NPR.
"Basically they collected and started crossing it with other varieties, and they started producing seedlings out of that," says Dario Chavez, a Peach Research Specialist at the University of Georgia.
Even with their exciting findings, Crawford and his team are still searching for definitive evidence of the first peach, one predating even domestication.
"We're still trying to figure out what the wild peach actually is, what the ancestor of this peach is," he shared.
So, just remember the next time you pluck a fresh peach from a tree or out of a bin in the produce aisle, that humble fruit had a long way to go to make it to where it is today.
ORLANDO, FL – Starboard Value has continued its criticism of Darden Restaurants, a topic that has not been alleviated by the release of its Q1 financial report.
The Wall Street Journal reports that activist investor Starboard Value LP launched a 300 page presentation last week hosting a variety of criticisms of Darden’s handling of the Olive Garden chain. The key complaint was that Darden could save as much as $5 million annually by cutting back on free breadsticks.
Darden responded to Starboard with a 24-page presentation of its own defending its plan to turn around Olive Garden, saying that many of Starboard's suggestions are currently taking place.
"We remain open minded toward all ideas that support long-term value creation for our shareholders and improve the dining experience for our guests," said Gene Lee, President and Chief Operating Officer of Darden. "While we will carefully and thoughtfully review Starboard's plan, which has been promised by Starboard for some time, upon initial review, we believe many of the brand and cost optimization strategies are already being implemented across our company and are showing results."
For the past year, Darden has been working on reigniting traffic growth and support margin expansion with its Olive Garden Brand Renaissance. The key initiatives of the program have included simplifying culinary operations and enhancing service, introducing a core menu innovation, pursuing a new approach to advertising and promotions, and launching a re-imaging program.
"We are pleased with the progress we are achieving across our brands, particularly at Olive Garden," said Lee. "The Olive Garden Brand Renaissance is well underway, and the improvements we are seeing in guest satisfaction and traffic trends reinforce our confidence in Olive Garden's potential. At LongHorn and the Specialty Restaurants, our actions to enhance the guest experience are also delivering positive results as demonstrated by the increases in same-restaurant sales.”
In Q1, the company saw U.S. same-restaurant sales of +2.8% for LongHorn Steakhouse, -1.3% for Olive Garden and +2.1% for its Specialty Restaurant Group.
- Olive Garden sales totaled $913.5 million, which represented a 0.5% decline over the previous year. The company said that higher food and beverage expenses and restaurant labor expenses were offset by lower selling and general and administrative expenses.
- LongHorn sales were up at $356.9 million, representing a 9.7% increase. This increase has been driven by the revenue from 27 net new restaurants and the U.S. same-restaurant sales increases.
- The Specialty Restaurants saw Q1 sales of $322.3 million, representing a 14.5% increase. These numbers come from four new restaurants at The Capital Grille, one at Bahama Breeze, nine at Seasons 52, three at Eddie V’s and seven at Yard House.
Darden also reported a diluted net loss per share of $0.14 from continuing operations for its Q1 with diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, on an adjusted basis, of $0.32.
Looking forward, Darden expects diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.74 to $1.84 for fiscal 2015. As for diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations on an adjusted basis, the company anticipated $2.22 to $2.30 for the year. Darden projects that U.S. same-restaurant sales growth for fiscal 2015 for Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and the Specialty Restaurant Group will be flat to +1%, +1% to +2% and approximately +2%, respectively.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as Darden and Starboard continue to battle it out over the future of Olive Garden.