STELLARTON, NOVA SCOTIA - The latest performance update has come in from Sobeys parent company Empire Company Limited. The company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Medline discussed the details of the retailer’s quarter four 2024 performance, sharing some insights into its overall strategy.

"I am pleased with the way our team is executing our strategy despite the currently inhospitable economic backdrop," said Medline. "Our results this quarter clearly demonstrate that we have become a disciplined, efficient grocer with strong gross margin control as well as capital and SG&A discipline, propelled by our productivity initiatives and restructuring. When you remove our real estate-related income, quarterly results were consistent with the prior year. We are committed to driving profits, including taking proactive steps to improve the bottom-line results of Voilà. At the same time, we remain committed to returning capital to our investors.”

For its fourth quarter of 2024, Empire reported net earnings of $148.9 million, along with a 0.2 percent increase in same-store sales, excluding fuel.

Sharing insights into its strategy, the company plans to focus on accelerated investments in renovations, conversions, new stores, processes, communications, training, technology, and tools. Empire is currently on track with its plan to renovate approximately 20 percent to 25 percent of the network between fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2026.

The retailer is also placing an enhanced focus on digital and data, announcing plans for continued e-commerce growth with Voilà, personalization, loyalty, through Scene+, improved space productivity, and the continued improvement of promotional optimization. As a press release stated, the company is pursuing cost savings in the Voilà business by pausing the opening of its fourth Customer Fulfillment Center and ending its mutual exclusivity with Ocado, among other initiatives.

"We remain very optimistic about our Voilà business today as reflected in its strong Q4 same-store sales growth of 17.3 percent and are confident and committed in its future success," Medline added. "We continue to look at every opportunity to improve our overall profitability and each Voilà CFC takes time to become profitable; as a result, we will pause the opening of our fourth customer fulfillment center in Vancouver, allowing us to focus on driving performance and volume in our three active CFCs. We are also working with our partner, Ocado, to decrease costs and provide increased flexibility to serve our customers more broadly, which includes ending our mutual exclusivity agreement."

Read the results in full here, and keep clicking on ANUK for more retail updates.

CHICAGO, IL - I am fascinated by the critical role food plays in human culture, from the various unique techniques employed around the world to grow, harvest, and cook food to the endless benefits we seek from it. This curiosity has also led me to explore the ways in which produce can become an even more important part of modern culture, as our species makes a return to harnessing fruits and vegetables for their health benefits and ability to prevent or cure a variety of illnesses or diseases.

A recent conversation with Crunch Pak’s Executive Vice President, Tony Freytag, opened my eyes to immense opportunity in the industry following the 2024 Food as Medicine Summit held in Chicago, Illinois, this past May.

“There are a lot of new developments on how to connect people to what’s available out there in terms of fruits and vegetables,” Tony shares as we recap the recent event. “Whether it be diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, all of these things can be either reduced or eliminated completely based on what we eat. The produce family is exploring how we can make the next generation better. How do we teach them to eat better, and how do we incentivize them to explore healthy alternatives to what they already eat?”

The Food as Medicine Summit brings stakeholders from the food and beverage and healthcare industries together to discuss key challenges they can overcome. This year’s discussions focused on how Food as Medicine can be scaled through partnerships, programs, and other new approaches.

Attendees included supply-side players like Crunch Pak, as well as distinguished retail names like Ahold Delhaize, Whole Foods Market, Amazon, and Giant Food. Other key organizations in attendance included NielsenIQ, the American Diabetes Association, and health insurance providers like Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

With studies showing that the adoption of a primarily plant-based diet can prevent chronic disease, treat health conditions, and even reverse chronic illness, Food as Medicine explores how our industry can collaborate with healthcare providers to increase produce consumption through the lens of health and nutrition.

Produce prescriptions and retail dietitian programs are a few ways both healthcare providers and retailers can contribute to this momentum for fresh produce, directing more consumers to the produce department with prescriptions that offer discounts on certain produce items or dietary recommendations focused on certain health problems.

“We all know the perimeter of the grocery store is extremely important for retailers,” Tony continues. “In areas where food insecurity is prominent, fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive. Anything retailers can do to partner with insurance companies, or even create incentives through their own dietitians, is another way to get produce into the hands of more people.”

ANUK will continue to explore the Food as Medicine concept’s industry impact, so be on the lookout for our next exclusive.

EXETER, CA - Our industry has come up with some creative ways to stay connected in recent years, and sharing podcasts is one of them. Showcasing the insight of an industry veteran, The Produce Industry Podcast recently hosted Marco Bini, Chief Executive Officer of Nexxt Solutions, during the West Coast Produce Expo’s Sustainable Produce Summit (SPS).

“I was given a great opportunity to talk about Earthpack as a reliable option for sustainable packaging and some of the successes we and our customers are experiencing with the biodegradable paper bag,” Bini stated in a press release.

Bini sat down with podcast host Patrick Kelly to speak on the sustainable packaging industry, realistic alternatives coming to the market, and new innovations in the packaging world. As the CEO of Nexxt Solutions for the last 11 years, his commitment to excellence and long-term value applies to both individuals and organizations. He prioritizes establishing a market presence for companies to add real value to customers, offer premium solutions, and implement a constant search for quality, execution, and innovation.

SPS—which was sponsored by Nexxt Solutions—is the ideal platform to showcase the company’s excellence in sustainable marketing in presenting and rewarding inspiring and actionable ideas. Bini believes it is extremely important to support this industry and keep its momentum driving forward.

Keep up to date with the industry’s latest as ANUK continues to report.

DELANO, CA - Sunview Marketing International has shared the first look at its 2024 Central Valley harvest, and if we have any advice for retailers, it’s to buckle up for an advantageous California table grape season!

“The table grape season outlook for this year is robust, and we are fully prepared to supply our fresh, high-quality grapes to our retail partners and consumers worldwide. Their role as our valued stakeholders is crucial in this process,” Mitch Wetzel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, confidently stated.

Sunview’s table grape program is scheduled to commence in early July, bringing a wide range of traditional varieties like Sugraone, Flame, and Summer Royal, complemented by new early varieties of green, red, and black grapes. By the end of July, the provider will begin shipping its exclusive Sparkle® and Stella Bella® brands. Sunview’s mid-season grapes include its proprietary Gem®, Sweet Bella®, Sorella Bella®, Sweet Carnival®, and Carnival Fruit Punch® varieties, all of which are exclusively available from the company.

As a press release assured, Sunview will also have a variety of green, red, and black organic grapes available from July through the end of the organic season in December, ensuring exceptional quality and consistent availability.

“We've been receiving a steady stream of messages from consumers eagerly anticipating the arrival of Sunview grapes in their local grocery stores. The wait is almost over,” Wetzel continued, highlighting the strong consumer demand and trust that consumers have in the Sunview brand.

The grower reported with confidence that it is starting the season on a strong note and expects to maintain this momentum throughout the year.

“All grape growers are eagerly awaiting the start of this year’s crop. Last season, California growers met the challenge of unusual weather events and a hurricane and could still exceed customers’ grape quality expectations,” Wetzel added. “This year, we confidently expect to provide the highest quality and best-tasting fruit in the produce department. We anticipate that this season, grapes from California will continue to deliver exceptional quality that buyers and consumers can count on. We look forward to an excellent harvest as we move toward the summer months.”

Gear up for these exciting category opportunities as you await more insights straight from ANUK.