ST. LOUIS, MO - Schnucks Market will be welcoming Steve Mayer as its new Vice President of Produce and Floral after the retirement of former Schnucks executive, Mike O'Brien. O'Brien is set to retire at the end of October. With his experience as President of Flavor 1st, Senior Vice President for Fresh at AUSA Retail, and Group Vice President for Fresh at BI-LO LLC, Steve brings a considerable skillset to his new position.
Steve began his career with Meijer as Vice President of Deli and Bakery. He worked there for over 7 years, learning the ins-and-outs of the business and honing the skills he would bring to his later positions. Altogether, he brings over 18 years of invaluable experience in fresh produce, deli, and retail with him to Schnucks.
Before signing on with Meijer, Steve received his Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. He would go on to receive a Doctorate in Business Administration from California Coast University and attend a valuable certificate program at the Harvard Business School.
Congratulations on the new position, Steve!
HOUSTON, TX - Sysco has announced the sale of $5 billion in bonds in order to fund its proposed merger with US Foods. According to Bloomberg, the money raised from this deal would also go towards refinancing the debt of US Foods.
Bloomberg is reporting that the $5 billion sale, the largest in the company's history, is actually made up of 6 smaller transactions, the largest of which is a $1.25 billion sale of 3.5%, 10-year notes which yielded 102 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasury notes.
This sale showcases Sysco's confidence that its merger will be approved by regulatory officials, something which came into question after the FTC announced that it would be considering filing an antitrust lawsuit in order to block the transaction. As AndNowUKnow previously reported, the FTC will make a decision on whether or not to file this lawsuit within the next few weeks.
Moody's Investor Service reduced Sysco’s senior unsecured debt grade to A2 from A1 in the wake of the sale. Moody's cited an expected rise in leverage as a result of the US Foods merger as the reason for this move.
As of the time of writing this piece, Sysco’s Vice President for Corporate Communications Charley Wilson has so far declined to issue any comment on the transaction.
As of 1:20pm ET on Wednesday, September 24th, Sysco's stock is up $1.24/share, a 3.37% increase since the market's open.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for any future updates on Sysco and its impending merger with US Foods.
FIREBAUGH, CA – Ruby Fresh's new JEWELS Grab-N-Go Pomegranate Aril cups have been named among the 20 finalists for the 2014 PMA Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging.
“Not only are we honored to be one of 20 finalists in the Excellence in Packaging program, but this makes us that much more excited to show off our new JEWELS product line at this year’s PMA,” says David Anthony, Domestic Sales for Ruby Fresh. “Convenience was such an important factor when we began designing our newest product line.”
The new Ruby Fresh JEWELS Pomegranate Aril come in convenient 4 and 5.3 oz. Grab-N-Go snack cups and are now available in 2-packs and 4-packs. Display-ready, these snack cups were designed in stand-up packaging to be displayed in refrigeration units. The eye-catching sleeve allows for product information to be readily available while still letting the consumer view the pomegranate arils in the snack cups.
Processed pomegranate arils have been gaining popularity with consumers everywhere, not only as an ingredient for exciting recipes, but also as a healthy snack rich in antioxidants. Ruby Fresh has taken this trend one step further by offering its quality pomegranate arils in a convenient Grab-N-Go snack cup perfect for on-the-go-moms, kids and health-oriented consumers. Its unique re-sealable lid adds to its versatility, while maintaining its freshness. Additional improvements to sleeve design, including its snap-lock enclosure and finger-grabs, further add to the packaging’s uniqueness.
Ruby Fresh will be at Fresh Summit in Booth #602.
Congratulations on the nomination, Ruby Fresh!
SALINAS, CA – Mann Packing has announced that it will be sponsoring a three-man team in the first Tour de Fresh next month. According to a press release, proceeds from the event will go towards the Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools campaign, bringing salad bars to 40 schools across the United States.
“This is a cause that’s near and dear to our hearts at Mann Packing,” said Craig Grantham, rider and team captain for Team Mann. “In the spirit of Mann’s history of philanthropy, what better an opportunity to help influence the health and well-being of children than providing them with an opportunity to have a healthful and nutritious lunch each day at school.”
“Myself, and fellow Mann team members, Rodman Bittner and Danny Goforth, are excited for this opportunity to represent Mann’s—and to represent the produce industry in this worthy cause,” he continued.
The 4-day event will take riders 275 miles along the California coast, from Carmel all the way to the PMA Fresh Summit show in Anaheim. Riders will leave on Monday, October 13th and race until Thursday, October 16th.
In order to further support the team Mann will be holding a fundraising luncheon on Friday, Sept. 26 at Mann’s cooler facility and offices located at 1250 Hansen Street in Salinas from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There, a $10 donation will buy attendees a delicious barbecue lunch complete with Swiss sausage sandwich, fresh vegetables, chips, cookie and water.
Interested individuals can also donate to the riders directly through the Tour de Fresh's website. The minimum donation is set at $5.
It's great to see Mann Packing get behind this very worthy cause. Helping to raise the next generation of fresh produce consumers is something we can all get behind!
WENATCHEE, WA - Stemilt has promoted Tate Mathison to Director of Sales and Dennis Howell to Director of Planning. These two new positions were created to further the company’s strategic goals centered on sales planning and process development, according to a press release.
“Tate has shown an ability to excel and lead. His incredible people skills and passion for this business will serve him well in this new role, where he will guide strategic alignment between our fruit manifest and customers,” said Mike Taylor, Stemilt’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Dennis has a mind for planning and process development and exceptional knowledge of information technology systems, which are imperative as he guides our planning department.”
Since joining his family’s company in 2007, Tate has spent the past 7 years working in domestic sales at Stemilt. Most recently, he worked as a sales team leader for national accounts. Prior to Stemilt, he worked as a technical service representative at Dole Food Company in Los Angeles before later being promoted to Tropical Sales Manager.
Meanwhile, Dennis joined Stemilt in 1997 as a technician in the company’s R&D department. His latest accomplishment was as a Sales and Business Planning Team Leader where he oversaw the launch of the new era of supply and demand forecast modeling and process development. He has served in a number of roles during his time at the company, namely as a Quality Control Manager, Director of Quality Control, and Sales Analyst.
Congratulations on your appointment to these newly created positions, Tate and Dennis!
LEAMINGTON, ON - Pure Flavor® is providing greenhouse grown bell peppers for the crew members of the International Space Station (ISS).
The peppers are part of the fresh food supply that will be delivered on the Space X-4 cargo flight, which began its journey from Cape Canaveral, FL on September 21, according to a press release.
“We are honored to be part of this adventure to bring fresh vegetables to space,” stated Matthew Mastronardi, Chief Marketing Officer at Pure Flavor®. “All of us at Pure Flavor® are very excited to be working with NASA in their journey to explore the universe in a healthy way.”
Technology has evolved since the early days of the space program where prepared meals for astronauts in space were only available in semi-liquid form stored in specially designed packages, according to a press release. Today, astronauts have the ability to have more variety that includes fresh fruits and vegetables.
For more information regarding NASA or this mission, please go to http://www.nasa.gov/.
LANDOVER, MD – Ahold's Giant Food Division will be launching a new low-pricing initiative in order to drive sales throughout its stores this Fall.
“We are pleased to offer our customers reduced prices on thousands of fresh food and grocery items,” said Gordon Reid, President of Giant Food. “We value our customers and recognize that they have numerous options to choose from when shopping for groceries. That is why at Giant we are committed to providing our customers great quality and great prices so they see their savings stack up.”
According to a press release, in order to promote the initiative, new Bonus Buy Savings signs throughout Giant Food stores will showcase limited-time promotional savings offers. At the same time, new Low Everyday Price signs will highlight long-term price reductions on shopper's favorite products. The retailer hopes that this will make it even easier for its customers to find the best deal during their shopping trips.
In addition to its new low pricing rollout, Giant Foods is also striving to improve the shopping experience of its customers with enhanced fresh, upscale, local, and ethnic product lines, as well as new items.
To learn more about Giant Food's new price cutting campaign, check out their website for further details.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The Allen Lund Company has revealed that it will be promoting Beau Thompson to Business Development Specialist at its Madison office.
"I am very excited for my opportunity to learn and continue to grow with the Allen Lund Company,” Thompson shared. “I am surrounded by great employees, and the leadership of Rick Barker will prove successful.”
"Beau's ability to connect with customers and his drive to learn and grow make him a great fit for the Madison office," stated Rick Barker, Manager. "With Beau's marketing background and natural instincts we feel he is positioned for success in Transportation Brokerage."
"Rick recognized the need for additional sales efforts to meet office goals,” agreed Eddie Lund, VP of Sales and Branch Operations for Allen Lund. “With Beau in place, we are now well positioned to not only hit those goals, but to surpass them."
According to a press release, before joining the Allen Lund team, Beau Thompson received his education at Western Illinois University. After graduating with a Bachelors of Businesses-Marketing degree he was hired by the Allen Lund Company as a Transportation Broker. His success in that position facilitated his rise to his current position.
Congratulations on the promotion, Beau!
IRVINE, CA – The California Avocado Commission has welcomed back produce veteran Connie Stukenberg as a full-time Retail Marketing Director. Connie previously worked on CAC’s merchandising staff from 2000 to 2009.
“CAC Vice President Jan DeLyser and I are thrilled to have Connie’s merchandising and marketing expertise on staff, as well as all that she brings to the table with her retail relationships and passion for California avocados,” said Tom Bellamore, CAC President.
In this new position, Connie’s responsibilities include calling on corporate accounts for Albertsons, Costco and Safeway, as well as retail marketing in Arizona and California, including the Los Angeles wholesale market, according to a press release.
“Connie is an expert in avocado merchandising and marketing,” said DeLyser. “The relationships that she has built with retailers and others in the produce industry are invaluable.”
Starting in 1979, Connie has been affiliated with the produce industry for more than 30 years. She co-founded Citrus Connection in 1987 and built the fresh juice business until California Day Fresh Foods, a Chiquita subsidiary that was later renamed Naked Juice, purchased it, according to a release. She stayed with Naked Juice until 2000 when she joined CAC.
Connie is a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for recognition of more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service to community and country. She has also been honored with the Fresh Produce and Floral Council’s “Buz” Bolstad Produce Achievement Award for service and contributions in 2012.
Congratulations in your return to CAC, Connie!
CANADA - Canadian growers have long enjoyed a preferential status in their export trade with the United States, receiving protection under the same U.S. PACA laws as domestic suppliers. According to a press release, this preferential status could soon be revoked if Canada fails to enact reciprocal protections for U.S. growers exporting produce into Canada, as the Canadian government agreed to do during the 2011 Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council.
“According to data collected by the Fresh Produce Alliance, American suppliers are losing at minimum $10 million annually through Canadian buyer insolvency,” said Anne Fowlie, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Horticultural Council. “This is, coincidentally, about the same amount that Canadian suppliers are recovering each year through the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Trust. Hundreds more Canadian suppliers depend on the security PACA offers for ease of mind in their trade relationships.”
Losing PACA protections, which the FPA warns could happen any day, could deal a serious blow to the Canadian export market, which sends $1.6 billion in fresh produce the United States, supports 147,900 jobs and created $11.4 billion in real GDP in 2013.
“Canadian industry can ill afford to take on added costs, given that three quarters of Canada’s 10,000 fruit and vegetable producers are small businesses with average sales of less than $85,000 per year,” said Jim Di Menna, President and CEO of Red Sun Farms. "Canadian exporters will be hit extremely hard because they will have to meet costly bonding requirements to achieve the same level of U.S. PACA trust protection they have enjoyed in the past."
What can industry members do to prevent this needless economic fallout? The Canadian produce industry has advocated the formation of a limited statutory deemed trust, modeled on the U.S. System. In order to unite your company behind this important cause, one which has profound implications for U.S. and Canadian growers alike, contact the Fresh Produce Alliance to learn what you can do to make a difference.
Canadian Horticultural Council