NEW KENSINGTON, PA – Yerecic Label has announced the addition of multiple produce Great on the Grill labels to their product offerings. Yerecic’s new line provides consumers information on how to prepare appetizing and flavorful produce on the grill, according to a press release.
“Grilling continues to be a favorite cooking style of consumers both for its flavor and its easy cleanup,” said Yerecic Label's Vice President of Sales and Marketing Rich Thoma. “It’s important to show consumers that many produce items are great for grilling, and help them experiment with products they may have never grilled before."
The Great on the Grill line features a fun grill-shaped design and eye-catching LabelBling™ effects. The instructions on the inside of the label give valuable information on how to prepare grilled produce dishes, according to a press release.
The five new Great on the Grill designs include options for every type of produce:
- Great on the Grill PLU-sized single layer label for loose produce with sparkle inks
- Fruit is Great on the Grill peelable label with sparkle inks
- Veggies are Great on the Grill peelable label with sparkle inks
- Produce is Great on the Grill peelable label with sparkle inks
- Great on the Grill 2” Circle single layer with holographics
The Great on the Grill produce line encourages consumers to think of new ways to prepare fruits and vegetables.
BOISE, ID – WinCo Foods LLC will open its third discount supermarket in Texas on Thursday, June 26th.
The store will be located in Duncanville, TX and will be approximately 89,500 square feet. It will initially employ about 170 individuals, 160 of which have been hired locally, according to a press release.
Duncanville Store Manager, Chenille Oggs, transfers to the store from Lancaster, California, and has been with the company for nearly eight years. The stores Assistant Mangers are Emmanuel Augustine, Sean Hall and Jessica Starke.
Chenille is excited about the new store. She says, “as employee owners, all of us here at WinCo look forward to giving Duncanville an exciting new shopping alternative that provides great pricing and a terrific customer experience for all of our new friends.”
This will be WinCo’s third store in Texas. It previously opened two others earlier this year.
Giumarra Reedley’s new “Easy as Pie” promotion features the best of the company’s summer plum program.
The packaging and retail display campaign presents plums packed in Nature’s Partner branded 2-lb. zip lock pouch bags with a peel-off recipe label and QR code linked to a YouTube cooking video. The video, “How to Make a Fresh Plum Pie,” features Mrs. Helen Krause of Reedley, California, who shares her time-tested plum pie recipe and step-by-step easy baking techniques.
Retail merchandising tools also include a versatile and reversible high-color vinyl display wrap which can be used with Nature’s Partner Euro shipper boxes or RPCs. One side of the wrap features the plum promotion and cooking video QR code. The other side depicts a multi-stone fruit design that can be used throughout the California season.
If you’d like to see your product in this video segment, please send samples to 2020 L Street, Suite 320, Sacramento, CA 95811.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Avocados from Peru is kicking off 2 co-marketing campaigns to promote the summer’s grilling season. I talked with Xavier Equihua, CEO of the Peruvian Avocado Commission, who shared with me the details behind the exciting weeks ahead.
The commission has partnered with the Gwaltney Company to promote the wonders of the Avo Dog in 386 Wal-Mart stores on the East Coast. This demo campaign runs from the end of June through the 4th of July weekend to promote the “Monumental Flavor” of avocados from Peru.
“The idea behind the Avo Dog was to create something that wasn’t typical, but took two great grilling and summer favorites and married them together into a delicious dish. Avocado is a great accompaniment to the classic hot dog,” Xavier tells me. “In addition, the Peruvian Avocado Commission is the first and only avocado organization under the Federal promotion program for Hass avocados to receive permission from the USDA to use the term “Superfood Nutrition” in its marketing materials. This is a big deal in terms of promoting Avocados from Peru.”
Another participant in the commission’s large scale demo campaign is Costco. During the 4th of July weekend, Costco’s along the U.S. Northeast will host demos with Avocados from Peru and Kirkland Signature Torta Bread to promote the versatility of both delicious items.
The marketing efforts are part of the Peruvian Avocado Commission’s creation of an international brand platform for all of its markets starting with the launch in the U.S. The commission’s first integrated, national marketing campaign is also designed to create a new type of media experience for the avocado category.
Xavier also serves as the managing director of Federal Strategies Group - an international trade consulting in Washington, D.C. He is a former international trade and economic advisor to the chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The demos are being complimented with unique radio commercials that allow each individual station to record the message with their own individual nuances.
“While branding and communicating our specific message is important, we also realize that to reach the wider audience base, we need to let different demographics translate our message with their own sense of who they are,” Xavier notes.
Avocados from Peru’s overall marketing campaign will establish the first international uniform brand image and messaging platform for avocados in the category that will first be introduced in the U.S. and then rolled out in Europe and Asia. Peru is the largest supplier of Hass avocados in Europe and is now the third largest supplier of avocados in the U.S. (after Mexico and California) during the peak avocado consumption summer months.
Xavier, thank you for joining me to share the exciting news with the Peruvian Avocado Commission.
Stay tuned as the campaign rolls out!
MCLEAN, VA – Gladstone Land Corporation has acquired two farms in Dover, FL totaling 94 acres for $2.7 million dollars.
“We are pleased to add two more farms to our portfolio in Florida and partner with the existing farmers on a long-term basis. Our objective is to be a strategic real estate partner for farmers so they can secure their land for the long haul,” said Bill Frisbie, Director (Real Estate) for the Company.
The properties have water on site and have been farmed for row crop vegetables and fruits for decades, according to a press release. The company has assumed two leases on the properties, each with three years left, with a mid-sized farming operation as the tenant.
“We now own 26 farms across the U.S. that produce a variety of high-value fruits and vegetables,” said Frisbie. The company currently owns 6,439 acres on those 26 farms in 5 different states across the U.S., according to the company's website.
This acquisition comes after Gladstone’s recent acquisition of a 145-acre farm in Watsonville, CA earlier this month. For more on that acquisition, click here.
WENATCHEE, WA – Columbia Marketing International (CMI) declared July the month of jumbo cherries and is setting up retail programs to make sure that its retail customers have adequate supplies in stores to cover demand.
CMI is giving its customers a high-graphic instant cherry display, which ships with two boxes of red or Rainier cherries, according to a press release. The display can be assembled in less than 30 seconds. Check out the video below to see how easy it is to setup the display.
CMI also announced that the Pacific Northwest’s cherries are sizing larger than past years and have sugar levels at the top of the charts.
“We have an incredible opportunity with this year’s Northwest cherry crop. After a low cherry production out of California this season, consumers are hungry for cherries. With our estimated 22 million box crop out of the Northwest this year, consumers can expect great eating cherries, with larger than normal sizing,” said Steve Lutz, Vice President of Marketing at CMI.
The warm sunny days and cool nights have created optimal growing conditions for the crop this season, leading to high sugar development and great flavor.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The Delhaize Group has announced the appointment of Kevin Holt as the new CEO for Delhaize America and member of the Delhaize Group Executive Committee. The former President of Retail Operations at Supervalu will take over Delhaize U.S. operations effective July 7, 2014.
"I am very pleased to have Kevin join our team," said Frans Muller, President and CEO of Delhaize Group. "Kevin brings both deep industry experience as well as a comprehensive customer orientation that will help our U.S. operations to continue to implement our existing strategy and build on the strong momentum of recent quarters. I am looking forward to working with him."
"I am excited about the opportunity to lead Delhaize America and work with Frans, the Delhaize America team and my colleagues in the Group Executive Committee," said Mr. Holt. He added, "I look forward to reinforcing and executing the strategy and continuing to focus on our customers as I see tremendous opportunity in the business."
Kevin Holt is an industry veteran with over 20 years of retail leadership experience in operations, strategy, and information technology. He began his career working for NCR where he spent nine years before being hired by Meijer. At Meijer he worked in a variety of positions ranging from Executive Vice President of Retail Operations to Senior Vice President of Information Technology/Services and Strategic Planning. He then moved on to work for the Sears Holding Company before being hired by Supervalu 3 years later.
Mr. Holt received his B.S. in Business Economics from Ferris State University, according to a press release.
Congratulations on the new position Mr. Holt!
WASHINGTON - The Organic Trade Association's findings in its US Families' Organic Attitudes & Beliefs 2014 Tracking Study suggest that health and organic food is becoming increasingly synonymous for American consumers with young children.
The 2014 Tracking Study which surveyed more than 1,200 households in the United States with at least one child under the age of 18, found that eight out of ten American families have purchased organic products at least once in the past two years. Almost half of those families who purchased organic products, cited their children's health as the major impetus behind the decision.
“My children influence my purchase of organic food, because I want them to be as healthy as they can be,” commented one of the parents who participated in the survey. “I am responsible for providing my children with all their food since they cannot buy it. I choose healthy and organic foods and they enjoy whatever I give to them. Win-win!” said another parent.
Furthermore in a recent press release, the OTA reveals that 90% of surveyed parents reported that they at least “sometimes” chose organic products for their young children, with almost 25% testifying that they “always” chose organic. Similarly the OTA study found that 74% of daycares across America now feature organic options for the children in their care. Of those surveyed only 19% reported never buying organic, an 11% decline from 5 years ago.
An even deeper commitment to buying organic was found among parents shopping for baby food. Over 33% of these parents said they “always” shopped organic.
“Choosing organic foods is increasingly a large part of how families are trying to take better care of themselves and the planet,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of OTA. “The proportion of families who say they never buy organic food has been on a steady decline for the past five years, and those who are choosing organic are buying more.”
These findings are further proof of the increasing importance of the organic food industry to the modern consumer. An earlier study by the OTA showed that sales of organic products reached a record high of 35.1 billion in sales in 2013. The OTA doesn't expect growth to stop there however, predicting a 12% or higher increase in sales during 2014.
TEWKSBURY, MA - The Market Basket Board of Directors has recently retaliated against Arthur T. Demoulas and two other executives, firing all three from the company. Lowell Sun reports that Bill Marsden, Market Basket’s Operations Director, and Joseph Rockwell, Vice President of Grocery Sales and Merchandising were the two other executives that have been let go.
A statement released by the Board indicates that Arthur T. was not re-elected president and will not retain any management responsibilities moving forward. He will, however, remain a shareholder of the company.
News of the firing comes just a couple months after Arthur T. strongly criticized the Board and potential changes to the company’s profit-sharing plan. In the fiery four-page letter, Arthur T. called the Board “naïve” for thinking that the company’s associates and plan participants believe that the Board is acting in their best interests. For more on this story, click here.
Gallagher & Cavanaugh, the Lowell law firm that represents Arthur T., said that the Board’s action was “driven by greed” and that board members “threatened his job and litigation” after he had implemented a 4% across-the-board price cut in 2014.
Marsden also released the following statement in response to his firing: “Along with Arthur T. Demoulas, I was also fired as was Joe Rockwell, Vice President of Grocery. Combined we have more than 110 years of service to the company. Our crime was our commitment to Arthur T. Demoulas, the employees, and the promise to customers to always honor the Market Basket commitment to high quality and value.”
The Board consists of seven members, including three independents, two that support Arthur T., and two that support his rival cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas. Last summer, the Board had considered firing Arthur T., arguing that he was spending money recklessly and refusing to accept the authority of the board, according to Boston Globe. Arthur T. subsequently alleged that Market Basket had grown and prospered during his tenure as boss, opening 12 stores and renovating another 11. He further stated that the company recorded net income of $217 million on $4 billion in revenue in 2013.
Boston Globe also reports that Arthur T. has gone on record to say that his cousin would push for price increases and cuts in employee compensation if he was in control of the company. Last June, Arthur T.’s shareholders lost their majority stake in the company, while shareholders affiliated with Arthur S. gained majority stake. A number of lawsuits and countersuits followed thereafter, further complicating the family rivalry.
These disagreements have led Arthur S. and his sister to push for a plan to cash in all or a portion of their shares in the company. Together, their collective ownership stake in the family business equates to around 26 percent of the entire enterprise, according to Boston Business Journal.
The Demoulas Board also elected Felicia Thornton and James Gooch as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, respectively, and as Co-Chief Executive Officers of the company, effective immediately. The Board states that both candidates are “experienced retail and grocery executives who recently have been serving as consultants to the company.”
“The board believes this new management team will enable Market Basket to maximize its potential and pave the way for continued success in the future,” the statement added.
With Arthur T. now removed from the company, we can only speculate as to the future of Market Basket. It doesn’t appear like there will be an amicable resolution anytime soon to this prolonged debate.
What do you think about this latest move against Arthur T.? Let us know by taking the survey below!
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – TOMRA Sorting Solutions US Food division opened a new state-of-the-art facility in West Sacramento, CA on Wednesday.
“With extra space and better facilities, including test, demonstration and development areas, the new West Sacramento site will enable our US team to concentrate on developing solutions for the food industry in the region. The new premises will enable them to better serve their growing customer base in terms of sales and service,” said Ashley Hunter, Sr. Vice-President and Head of TOMRA Sorting Food.
The new site is 60,000 square feet and has state-of-the-art sorting solutions centers, where customers can see live demonstrations of TOMRA’s sorting, peeling and process analytics systems, according to a press release.
“TOMRA’s sorting solutions centers provide the ultimate experience and peace-of-mind for customers, who can stage trials using their own produce, and reflect the fact that their needs are becoming ever-more complex. The centers will also enable us to capitalize fully on our significant investment in research and development,” Hunter added.
The new location also features a cold room in its test and demonstration area to test individually quick frozen (IQF) products with TOMRA’s new Blizzard sorter.
The opening of the new facility follows the successful relocation of TOMRA’s facility in Dublin, Ireland.