CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO - Scott Schnuck, Chairman of Schnuck Markets Inc. addressed the challenges and opportunities the retailer has faced in its 75 year history at United Way of Southeast Missouri's CEO Luncheon, sharing important insights into the operations of the family owned grocery chain.
According to the Southeast Missourian, when asked about the challenges of managing a family owned grocery store in the modern retail market, Schnuck was direct in his response.
“There are three things: Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart,” he replied. “They've changed our landscape, the way we have to do business. We're just running as fast as we can to stay ahead of them.”
In the face of stiff competition, Schnuck's marketing department has had to innovate, working multiple different media avenues to get the most bang from its advertising buck.
“We have an online ad; we have a Facebook page,” he explained. “I tell you where we really have worked hard to do better marketing is in store: providing better information in our signing, some in our print ad, but really at the point of sale to really help people understand that it's local produce.”
So what's ahead for Schnuck Markets?
The Chairman's statement reveals the retailer has expansion on the brain. “We just opened ... a replacement store in St. Charles County in St. Louis. We have a store under construction in Farmington...We're going to open up another store or two in Springfield, Illinois. We're going to build two more stores in Evansville, Illinois. One's a replacement store; the other is a new store. We have five there. Within St. Louis, there's going to be an extensive amount of remodeling of existing stores because it's important we keep our core and our base modern and up to date.”
Especially with a company like Wal-Mart on its heels, sometimes the best strategy is growth. Schnuck Markets seems to agree with this kind of a strategy and I know that I for one will be certainly looking forward to reading about its operations in the future.
YOUNG HARRIS, GA - Southern Roots, the Southeast Produce Council’s new leadership program for women in produce, is bringing industry individuals together for a unique opportunity in fresh produce. The program, designed to make meaningful connections among our industry’s women, hopes to draw up-and-comers, industry veterans and pioneers alike. I spoke with Teri Miller, Category Manager at Food Lion, Treasurer for SPC and Chairwoman of Southern Roots, to learn the unique opportunities of the program.
“As a board member, we are always looking to provide the best services for our members. I have attended several sessions presented about Women Managers. Many of them fell short for me in really addressing the unique issues for women in the produce industry,” Teri tells me.
The intent of Southern Roots is to address the challenges that women experience, from stereotyping and access to mentors, to self development in a time crunched industry. “The opportunity to meet other women that have similar stories can offer invaluable lessons and learning opportunities,” Teri notes.
“We are here to provide the SPC female members various paths to helping them in their growth as a female leader in the produce industry. Self development is extremely important to me in this process. The quality of that self development is meaningful as well, and is something that will always be at the forefront of our initiatives. All too often I’ve seen these events be a ‘check the box’ occasion. SPC has launched this program with the goal of really differentiating the experience for our industry women," Teri continues.
Teri hopes to bring her own unique experiences as a woman in the produce industry, and looks to lead the program with the key responsibility of creating experiences that cultivate and enrich leadership among women.
Southern Roots, as a program name, was chosen because the Council felt it was reflective of its membership and because of the deep roots in the produce industry that many of the SPC members have or have developed.
“I want to give back what has been given to me and ensure that others have the same chances that I have had,” Teri tells me.
SPC will officially launch Southern Roots at its fall conference, scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, Georgia, with plans for a comprehensive program at its Southern Exposure conference and trade show, Feb. 26-28, 2015, at the Caribe Royale Conference Center & Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - With United Fresh's Washington Conference starting on Monday, AndNowUKnow has you covered for the best things to do in Washington D.C. From delicious food and amazing art, to history on nearly every corner, this destination city has a lot to offer. I was lucky enough to spend some time living in D.C., so get ready for the inside scoop on the top 10 Washington D.C. must-sees.
Museums/Attractions:
1) Monument Tour
The monument tour is the ultimate must-do in Washington D.C. From walking to segways to kayaks, there are many ways to tour these incredible monuments. I’ve tried several different ones and my favorite is the Monuments by Moonlight night tour. You can get tickets for the night tour by clicking here. However you choose to do the tour, this is one that can’t be missed.
2) Nationals Park
1500 South Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003
While you’re in D.C., you can catch a baseball game at Nationals Park. The Nationals have two of the most exciting young players in the sport in Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, and with playoff season right around the corner, you'll have a front seat for a team playing its heart out for a shot at postseason baseball. Next week, the Nationals are playing the Braves at home.
3) The Smithsonian Institution
For a full list of locations, click here.
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. It includes 19 museums and galleries and the National Zoological Park. The amount of art housed in these museums is hard to even imagine. No matter what your taste in art, there will be a museum for you. Most Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are free and open every day except Christmas.
4) United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, DC 20024
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is one of those places that you have to see. It is amazing how it conveys the heartbreaking reality of such a terrible page in human history. To make sure you don't miss this museum, you should swing by early in the morning to pick up a timed pass to be guaranteed admission.
5) M Street in Georgetown
M St, Washington, DC 20007
If you want a bit of scenery and shopping, M Street in Georgetown is the spot for you. The shopping on this picturesque street ranges from high-end boutiques to familiar popular chains with great restaurants and cafés mixed in. It's a great place to spend as much or as little time as you want.
6) Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
The National Cathedral was completed in 1990 and is the culmination of a two century long plan for a majestic Gothic style cathedral. It is the 6th largest cathedral of this style in the world. From the amazing architecture to the cinematic view, this one is well worth a visit. While there, keep your eyes peeled for Darth Vader nestled among the gargoyles.
Food and Drinks:
7) Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café & Grill
1517 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Right on Dupont Circle, Kramerbooks is one of my favorite places in D.C. This bookstore has a great bar and a café with delicious food at good prices. It has a fun atmosphere and a good group of patrons. Plus, it’s open until at least 1am every day.
8) Round Robin Bar
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
This must visit bar is located off the lobby of The Willard InterContinental, just a quick walk from the White House. The drinks are as delicious as the bar is beautiful. Make sure to dress up for this one. It has been long considered one of D.C.’s best and has been frequented from the political and social elite since the days of Abraham Lincoln.
9) Fox and Hounds Lounge
1537 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Fox and Hounds is more commonly called “The Fox” and is about one block from Dupont Circle. This is a great neighborhood bar that houses a good mix of people. This bar offers indoor and outdoor seating and a menu that features delicious bar food and beyond at a reasonable price.
10) Ben’s Chili Bowl
1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
This is a must visit eatery. This historic restaurant serves what many locals call the world’s best chili. You might have to wait in a line, but it is well worth it. This fun and slightly rowdy restaurant really delivers when it comes to the food. Just make sure to have cash on you, because this local standout doesn’t take credit cards.
SHERMAN OAKS, CA - As fruit takes on new and exciting forms, Sunkist and Snack it Forward LLC are launching a line of freeze dried fruit offerings under the new Sunkist Fruit 2.0 brand. This "new way to fruit" is a line of crunchy and crispy 100% real fruit items in a category that is growing double digits annually. They will be offered in 4 different fruit items and present another way to supplement the consumer’s fruit intake throughout the day.
“We are launching this campaign on a national level and bringing a line of new items that work for big retailers, convenience stores, natural food stores and independent food channels alike. Sunkist Fruit 2.0 is a focused product line with the goal in mind of offering a high velocity, low SKU intensive program to enhance retailer produce offerings in a time when consumers are seeking convenient and new better-for-you snack options,” Nick Desai, CEO of Snack it Forward LLC, tells us.
The matte finished, stand-up pouch bag with hole punch packaging presents 4 delicious options from apple (1.2 o.z.) to grape (1.2 oz.) as well as banana (1.4 oz.) and strawberry (1 oz.) The line is available in a display ready caddy with additional POS, along with the option to be showcased on the shelf or hung in produce departments or snack aisles. The Sunkist Fruit 2.0 line uses a clever and unique marketing approach to drive awareness of this amazing and convenient new way to consume 100% real fruit and educate the consumer. The SRP ranges from $3.99-$4.99, but will be managed on an account-by-account basis.
“Up until this point there hasn’t been a strong presence of freeze dried fruit at mainstream retail and there is no strong branded offering,” Nick notes. “More recently though, freeze dried fruit has made a resurgence as the technology has improved, allowing us to offer great quality, flavor and an over 12 month shelf life in an amazing shelf stable 100% real fruit snack. It’s a pretty exciting arena to tap into.”
This new line adds to the clean ingredient deck diet, and has something for the on-the-go fruit lover, and for moms looking for a very fun and convenient way to increase their kids’ fruit intake (kids happen to love the stuff).
With the category picking up momentum, Snack it Forward LLC and Sunkist are planning their official Sunkist Fruit 2.0 launch at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, California in October.
REDWOOD CITY, CA - YottaMark, provider of HarvestMark, is partnering with Fox Packaging to bring its innovative packaging technology to the company’s mesh bags.
HarvestMark Connect codes provide growers with information on product performance and helps improve supply chain efficiencies, while also giving shoppers rich, relevant, and timely content through their mobile phones. This content includes grower profiles, recipes, selection tips, storage and preparation ideas, nutrition information, food safety notifications, and more, according to a press release.
“We looked at several technologies and found that the HarvestMark solution was the most capable, trusted, and suitable for our customers’ needs,” said Keith Fox, President of Fox Packaging. “Growers don’t want to hire a Web team and build software. Our partnership with HarvestMark means our customers can focus on what they do best: bringing great quality, fresh produce to shoppers.”
“The HarvestMark platform is becoming a powerful tool that helps our customers sell more and drive shopper loyalty,” said Elliot Grant, HarvestMark Founder and CTO. “Companies are also taking advantage of the HarvestMark decision-support tools’ ability to capture shopper activity and turn it into actionable insights.”
Technology like HarvestMark’s Connect codes are making it easier for companies in the industry to better engage with consumers. We congratulate Fox Packaging and HarvestMark on this successful partnership.
WATSONVILLE, CA – California Giant Berry Farms is encouraging parents and kids to make its fresh berries a key part of their back-to-school lunches and activities with a variety of new fall initiatives. These initiatives key in on healthy, fitness focused options that bring out the best traits in California Giant produce.
First of all, California Giant has released its “Back To School Survival Guide” giving parents an invaluable resource for making lunches for their kids or meals-on-the-go for the whole family on days where the morning rush means breakfast in the car is a necessity. The Guide also includes a plethora of inspirational notes and ideas for parents to tuck into lunchboxes to give their kids that added boost over the long school day. According to a press release, the Guide will be offered on California Giant's social media pages as well as its website for instant download.
The company has also launched a Kids Corner section on its website, so as to reach out directly to children of all ages. A feature part of this section is the Junior Chefs page which includes six great new videos featuring chefs working side-by-side with kids in the kitchen, creating delicious, kid-friendly recipes. The full recipes can also be downloaded from the Junior Chefs page, meaning kids and their parents can come back to them whenever and wherever a hunger for a great meal strikes.
According to a press release, the Kids Corner will also include a page which California Giant is calling "Fueled by Berries." There, families can learn more about how California Giant produce can help fuel youth sports competition and backyard play. The grower will be using the #poweredbyberries to bring this knowledge to social media. Originally, this hashtag had been designing for the California Giant Cycling Team to be used for documenting their success on the road while enjoying California Giant berries.
California Giant believes that these two fall programs will help set the foundation for a generation of young people who eat healthier and exercise smarter; healthy habits which are key to the grower's vision for the future.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - The sale of a crate of 20 mangos at the annual Sydney Markets' charity auction raised a whopping $26,000 for charities such as The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Save Our Sons thanks to the more than generous bid of Aussie Roma Fresh owner Moustapha Obeid.
Even if it meant spending $1,300 a mango, Obeid told reporters at the Daily Telegraph that the bid was money well spent.
“I wasn’t going to let it go. I had my sights set on it,” Obeid said. “It was all for a good cause so it’s all right. Whatever you can give to help the child and the needy people.”
Nick Martelli, Chairman of the Mango Committee, said that he was incredibly grateful and humbled by the generosity shown at Sydney Markets.
“It’s a great event every year,” Martelli said. “It’s the industry coming together to gather funds for the needy...[while] letting people know the season is beginning.”
According to the Daily Telegraph, other items auctioned off during the event included a hot air balloon ride and dinner for 10 people at The Ivy on Melbourne Cup.
It's great to see members of the produce industry giving back to great causes like this. It really shows you that the industry has its heart, and its wallet, in the right place.
DETROIT, MI – After opening its first store in Detroit a year ago, Meijer has announced that it is building a second location in that city.
With Meijer’s current store located at 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, the retailer was the first national grocery store chain to open in Detroit in 20 years, according to Click On Detroit. One year in, the store is experiencing a boom in sales and a steady customer base.
Across the city, work has begun at the site of Meijer’s planned second store after last month’s official groundbreaking. The new store is being built on the site of the old Redford High School on Grand River.
Detroit is often dismissed as a “food desert” that lacks affordable and quality fresh food, but The Detroit News reports that the city’s residents and grocers like Meijer beg to differ.
Auday Arabo, President and CEO of Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers, which represents more than 4,000 stores in Michigan, Ohio and surrounding states, says, “I like to call it ‘the food desert myth.’”
Arabo elaborates, telling the Detroit News that there are approximately 75 full-service grocery stores in Detroit with at least 65 of them being independently owned. These stores bring a wide range of grocery options to the city.
The new Meijer store is currently scheduled to open in 2015 and will bring even more fresh options to the residents of Detroit.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Four PACA violators in Colorado, Texas, Connecticut, and Georgia have been restricted from operating in the produce industry, according to a press release.
Premier Trading, a Greenwood Village, Colorado-based company, has failed to pay a $112,710 award in favor of a Texas seller. Anthony J. Filpi and William F. Vogel were listed as members of the business.
Fresh Produce Inc., a Dallas, Texas-based company, was barred for failing to pay a $15,396 award in favor of a Texas seller. Julio C. Nolasco was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
International Distribution Co. Inc., a Hamden, Connecticut-based company, failed to pay a $6,696 award in favor of a New York seller. Charles E. Leroux and Chongdee Leroux were listed as the Officers, Directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
Beam Produce Co. Inc., a Rome, Georgia-based company was restricted for failing to pay a $1,972 award in favor of a Georgia seller. John D. Beam and Todd D. Beam were listed as the Officers, Directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims under the PACA involving more than $87 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
DUBLIN, IRELAND - Total Produce’s strategic acquisitions and steady performance results in the first half of 2014 in a less than favorable market is leading to a positive outlook for the rest of the year.
“The Group’s growth will continue to be driven by successful acquisitions. Total Produce has recently agreed to acquire the final 50% of All Seasons Fruit in The Netherlands and continues its expansion in North America with the acquisition of a 45% interest in Eco Farms in California,” said Carl McCann, Total Produce Chairman.
The Group has invested over €9 million including contingent consideration payable on the achievement of future profit targets. It acquired a 45% interest in Eco Farms Investments Holdings LLC, the California-based avocado grower, marketer and distributor. Total Produce still has the option to acquire further shares in Eco Farms which could give it a majority stake.
“Total Produce has recorded a robust performance in the first half of 2014 when measured against a particularly strong comparative period in 2013. The group continued to record volume growth in 2014 although average prices decreased in the period. We are pleased to report a marginal increase in adjusted earnings to 4.86 cent per share,” said McCann.
Greater production and excess supply in some key produce lines led to downward pressure on prices in the period in the six month period. The like-for-like basis, excluding the effect of divestments, acquisitions and currently translation, total revenue of €1.59 billion was 1.7% lower with some volume growth offset by average price decreases.
The Group saw an exceptional gain in the period of €2.5m due to a fair value uplift in an equity interest and a 5% increase in the interim dividend to 0.64 cent per share.
Other notable highlights from the Group’s financial report include:
- Revenue (1) of €1.59 billion
- Profit before tax up 5.7% to €24.2m
- Adjusted earnings per share (1) up 0.4% to 4.86 cent
- Adjusted EBITDA (1) down 2.7% to €38.1m
- Adjusted EBITA (1) down 3.7% to €30.2m
- Adjusted profit before tax (1) down 4.6% to €27.2m
- Interim dividend increased by 5.0% to 0.64 cent per share
Good job of the first half of the year, Total Produce!