DELANO, CA - Columbine Vineyards has launched a new integrated website to enhance interaction as a part of the company’s recent effort to rebrand with users. This modern, clean layout offers intuitive navigation that will allow users more efficient access to product resources, including recipes, videos and photo galleries, along with social media, according to a press release.
Lauren Olcott, Marketing Representative, states, “With the launch of the new website Columbine Vineyards will be in a better position to provide information on the company’s full breadth of product mix and share with the public the vast health benefits of grapes.”
As part of Columbine’s recent efforts over the past year, the company unveiled a G.P.S. or “Grape Positioning System,” application for iPhones and Android phones that makes it easier for customers to locate their Columbine grapes at the nearest grocery store. The application debuted in August of 2013.
“Our website is now more interactive, user-friendly and feature-rich. It’s a one-stop resource for customers and consumers to connect to Columbine Vineyards,” added Olcott.
Columbine Vineyards has a tradition of growing high quality grapes and has expanded this level of excellence to their website and users.
PACOIMA, CA - Sunkist Blends are getting a new look this summer as Trifecta Foods launches its fresh, redesigned packaging and social media campaign. Along with new packaging features that include high impact graphics and a revamped window for snack viewing, the line will also be welcoming two new flavors: Island Lime and Orange Cream.
CEO Nick Desai tells AndNowUKnow, “After our initial launch of the Sunkist Blends, we decided to gather data from our trade buyers and consumers to help bring our packaging to the next level. The new design distinctively focuses on their flavor profiles and product versatility, while bringing more color differentiation to our skus. So far the reception has been fantastic.”
The Blends are created with premium dried fruits, nuts and delightful unique morsels, and work as a versatile dessert alternative. The line is also crafted with the company’s proprietary seasoning process and includes items like sweet dried cherries & strawberries, blueberries, dark chocolate covered bananas & hazelnuts.
In addition, the Sunkist Blends can also be showcased at the retail level in a new display ready, 6-count case. The line also offers a 64-count shipper.
To support the new items and redesigned packaging, the company is “Snacking it Forward” with a social media campaign through Facebook as well as a new website that is currently in the works. Click here to check out the new Facebook page…
“We are promoting the message that to eat good is to feel good. This campaign will feature a host of promotions and contests that ask our consumers to 'Snack it Forward' and help others eat better as well,” Nick tells me.
The company has already begun converting to the new bags in retailers that include Kroger and Publix.
Keep an eye out for the new look from Sunkist Blends.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Lori Taylor, the woman behind the much lauded The Produce Mom blog, has named Nature Fresh Farms as the 2014 Produce Mom Partner of the Year at the 27th Annual Indianapolis Fruit Company Trade Show.
“All of my partners are valued. The Partner of the Year recognition is like a team’s MVP award," Lori Taylor explained. “Nature Fresh Farms committed to a remarkable level of education & exploration with The Produce Mom over the last year. Together we taught so many consumers about greenhouse farming & demonstrated Nature Fresh Farms’ dedication to ‘Growing Perfection.’”
Nature Fresh Farms Marketing Manager Andrea Quiring accepted the award with thanks, speaking at some length about how much Nature Fresh has benefited from its ongoing partnership with The Produce Mom.
“She helped Nature Fresh socialize our brand. As a family farm & a progressive leader in greenhouse construction & practices, we want to share our story with consumers,” she said.
According to a press release, The Produce Mom and Nature Fresh have collaborated on three previous Twitter events, drawing a Twitter impression of almost 8 million each time. Nature Fresh produce has also been featured by the Produce Mom Picks program in the past.
“The growth of Produce Mom Picks® is very exciting; we are proud to have our products and recipes featured,” said Mike Glass, Sales Manager Nature Fresh Farms.
For more about the partnership between Nature Fresh and The Produce Mom check out our previous article on there Pepper Pinathon Pinterest Contest here.
WEST VIRGINIA and U.S. - Aldi Inc. has made recent plans to open a new prototype store in Hurricane’s Liberty Square, West Virginia, as the company continues with its strategy to potentially double the number of locations in the state in the coming years.
In addition, Russ White, Regional Director of Real Estate for Aldi, said the company hopes to open between 600 to 650 new stores nationwide over the next five years as part of its aggressive nationwide expansion plans.
The Hurricane location will cover 18,000 square feet and will be somewhat larger than existing Aldi stores in West Virginia. White noted it will be Aldi’s latest prototype format, offering expanded selections that are not available in other locations.
“The store is a little bigger, a little more modern and just gives us the opportunity to best serve the customer as our product line has expanded and the store has kind of grown with it,” White said.
Founded in Germany, Aldi began opening U.S. stores in the 1970s, and currently has more than 1,300 stores in 32 states. Most locations are nestled between Kansas and the East Coast, according to the Charleston Daily Mail.
“As a company, we’re growing at about 120 stores a year, give or take, over the next five years,” White said.
White noted that the chain could open six to eight new stores in West Virginia, not counting the Hurricane location — as part of the five-year expansion.
“We’re excited,” White said. “We’ve got the product line, we feel like we’ve got a good niche and loyal customers and we feel like we’re primed to grow.”
Aldi locations have features that differentiate them from normal grocery stores. These features are designed to boost efficiency and cut costs for shoppers. Aldi stores also have a smaller footprint and are designed in a way to boost efficiency and cut costs.
“We keep our operating costs and overhead as low as possible so we can pass those savings on to customers,” White said.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we keep our finger on the pulse of this expanding grocery retailer.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Longo’s recently took its entire produce team to California for a 5 ½ day tour covering more than 1,000 miles while visiting 10 of the retailer’s vendor partners. The crew landed in Los Angeles and made its way to San Francisco; setting off on a endeavor that further demonstrates Longo’s commitment to its team, partners and the industry.
Mimmo Franzone, Longo’s Director of Produce and Floral, tells me, “Our goal is to create as many opportunities as we can to enhance our work environment and improve the consumers’ shopping experience. Our passion for family and food inspires us to continually grow Longo’s current vendor relationships while allowing for more occasions to establish new vendor partnerships.”
Growers visited during the California promotion were Fresh Express, Sun World, D’Arrigo of CA, Country Sweet Produce/Valpredo Farms, Ocean Mist, Growers Express, Calavo, Nunes Co., Paramount Farms and Brandt Farms.
Matt Seeley, VP of Marketing for Foxy Produce/Nunes Co. tells us, “Longo’s is one of the most progressive retailers in North America and their banner is synonymous with premium quality products. For them to make the investment to see our facility - and others in the Salinas Valley - is a testament to the commitment they have to their consumers in bringing the freshest products to market.”
Initiatives for the California promotion included an introduction to the day-to-day operations of Longo’s grower partners in California as well as an in-depth excursion into all categories. The trip provided Longo’s produce team with a great opportunity for personal and professional education, along with a taste of the communities and culture in which the growers call home.
Sun World’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Gordon Robertson, tells us, "We appreciated the opportunity to tour the Longo’s team in the field so they could see and taste proprietary varieties fresh from the vine. They were able to witness all the work Sun World puts into maintaining quality from the field to the store shelves.”
“Now, the Longo’s team can communicate that quality experience with their shoppers – which is one of the things Longo’s does best, and one of the many reasons we value our partnership with them,” Gordon continues.
The 44 attendees included 27 Produce Managers, the Produce Buying and Operations Team and 10 Longo’s family members, as well as a film and photo crew to capture the journey.
“We always find it highly valuable when retail, wholesale and foodservice customers come to our facility to see firsthand how we grow, harvest and cool our products. It’s a tremendous opportunity for them to see the steps and measures we take to produce premium quality fresh vegetables. Understanding the procedures and protocols we follow throughout the entire production process is very eye-opening for those on the other end,” Matt Seeley, reflects.
In addition, the D’Arrigo Family has had a rich history dating back to 1920 of exceptional quality, freshness, service and value and these key attributes align the company with Longo’s fresh tradition.
Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, Sales Specialist, D’Arrigo Bros, tells us, “The Longo’s California Tour availed the opportunity for a large group of their team to walk through our fields and state-of-the-art cooler to see firsthand what exactly goes on ‘behind the scenes’. Many of the Longo team members left with a great understanding and appreciation of the vertical integration that encompasses our growing, harvesting, packing and shipping practices.”
Longo’s ongoing relationships with vendors have helped the company to consistently deliver a level of quality that has helped to build and expand a loyal consumer base and also continues to attract new ones. Longo’s is constantly seeking to inspire genuine engaging food experiences, while also connecting team members, and creating better lives for the Longo’s staff, customers, vendors & communities.
VENTURA, CA - We're in the middle of peak mango season, which is exciting news for both retailers and consumers who have grown increasingly drawn to this delicious tropical treat. In order to make your summer even sweeter however, Freska Produce shared with us some of its top merchandising tips for mangos. If you're looking to boost mango sales and please hungry shoppers, these tips are a must read.
Take Advantage of Point-of-Sale Materials
While mangos might be a staple to experienced produce buyers, many less adventurous shoppers may have never tried a mango before, much less know how to cut or prepare one. Luckily, foundations like the National Mango Board (NMB) have a variety of point-of-sale materials available for retailers to help educate customers all about mangos. Take advantage of them.
Avoid Bruising
Retailers are of course encouraged to keep their displays well stocked, but stacking a display too high or stacking heavier fruit like pineapples, papayas, or coconuts above mangos can lead to bruising. One of the great advantages mangos have on the sales floor is their bright, inviting color, and bruising more than anything can really detract from this appearance.
Maintain Visibility
Since mangos make up 40% of tropical fruit sales, it's essential for retailers to maintain a year round mango display that customers can easily find each time they shop.
Displays, Displays, Displays
Take a page out of Whole Foods' book and make mangos an event at your store. Whole Foods drives mango sales with larger than life displays, characterized by vibrant colors and catchy slogans, all anchored by mango themed promotions. You want to make customers feel excited to shop for mangos at your store, and a brightly colored display is one of the easiest ways to do this.
The NMB also suggests having a secondary display elsewhere in the produce department, or in front of the store to draw customers towards your main attraction.
For more about Whole Foods' mango marketing techniques check out our previous article here.
Give Customers Options
American consumers like to have choices and so the NMB advises having multiple varieties and sizes of mangos in stock in your produce aisles. You want to make sure that no matter what the customer is looking for, you have a mango just for them.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more great merchandising tips for your produce aisles.
Washington D.C. - The USDA has restricted two companies from operating within the produce industry for failing to pay reparation awards issued under PACA law.
Based out of Yeadon, PA, Killian’s Green Inc., operating as Killian’s Harvest Green, failed to pay a $9,142 award in favor of a Pennsylvania seller. Edward W. Dever was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business at the time of the issuance of the reparation order.
Based out of Greeley, CO, Sunset Trading LLC failed to pay a $29,584 award in favor of a California seller. Tammera A. Anderson and Darin D. Anderson were listed as members of the business at the time of the issuance of the reparation order.
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.
SEATTLE, WA - The California Walnut Board and the California Walnut Commission have annouced the appointment of the public relations firm Edelman as their new public relations and social agency of record. The new hiring will go into effect as of September 1st, 2014 and all parties are excited about the possibilities this partnership offers.
“The strength of the Edelman network coupled with the team’s creativity and ability to understand our industry showed they could help us expand our presence across the country,” said Dennis A. Balint, Executive Director of the California Walnut Board and CEO of the California Walnut Commission. “We’re excited about what we can do together to raise awareness of California walnuts.”
Richard Edelman, President and CEO of Edelman, seconded this sentiment. “We are ecstatic to add California Walnuts to our growing portfolio of food and beverage clients,” he said. “We couldn’t be more excited to deliver our spirit of public engagement at a time when the market demands healthier, tastier options for everyone.”
Together Edelman, the California Walnut Board, and the California Walnut Commission will be launching an integrated communications campaign over the coming months centered around the great taste, nutritional profile, and culinary versatility of walnuts. According to a press release, the campaign will encompass a variety of topics, ranging from consumer PR, to health professional engagement, to social media counsel, community management, and management counsel and support issues.
Congratulations on the new partnership Edelman!
Douglas Kling, Chief Marketing Officer for Village Farms, sits down with AndNowUKnow to discuss all things tomato. For consumers looking for variety and high flavor, grab and go snacking or family packs with value-added, Village Farms offers exciting tomato options.
The company also holds a strong commitment to the environment. Village Farms is water conservation friendly and has close to a zero percent carbon footprint. The company also just bought part of a power operation in Vancouver to take methane from a landfill and turn it into food-grade CO2 to go back into the greenhouse and come out as oxygen.
For the past five years, Village Farms has worked on developing a customized hierarchy that breaks down consumer pull that represents 82% of the retail fresh market in the U.S., which allows the company to track the insights and best plant and grow to meet consumer needs. To share this information with its retail partners, the company will be releasing three-minute YouTube videos featuring its insights each quarter of 2015.
Check out the video above for this exclusive look.
SANTA PAULA, CA – Limoneira is hoping to connect with a younger audience and promote clean energy with a new video that mixes fun with science. The video features a Limoneira sheep rapping about solar power and the company’s commitment to clean energy.
"Sustainability is an important topic, but we wanted something a bit more light hearted that could connect with a younger audience as well," said John Chamberlain, Limoniera’s Director of Marketing. "We felt that this video allowed us to bridge that gap and cover a serious topic, but in a fun way that everyone could enjoy."
In addition to this latest marketing innovation, Limoneira regularily strives to teach children about the produce industry and what goes into growing the food that they all enjoy every day. John shared with AndNowUKnow that Limoneira regularily partners with local schools to give school kids the opportunity to tour Limoneira's facilities in order to teach them a bit more about its day-to-day operations.
“Every year hundreds of kids tour our ranch, learning where their food comes from, getting a close up look of our solar orchard, and even meeting Limoniera's sheep first hand," he shared. "They love the tours and it really helps us as a business connect with the kids on a personal level."
In 2008, Limoneira completed two state-of-the-art solar projects, according to the company’s website. The first is located at the company headquarters in Santa Paula, CA. It is a 5.5-acre photovoltaic orchard that generates a full megawatt of electricity. Representing one-third of the company’s total use, this clean and sustainable energy powers the lemon-packing house and storage facility.
In the Tulare County town of Ducor, about 150 miles north of Santa Paula, Limoneira installed four smaller solar arrays that together generate another full megawatt of electricity to power 250-horsepower motors that pump deep well water into reservoirs for the reservoirs for the irrigation of 1,000 agricultural acres.
Make sure the check out the video above!