UNITED STATES - In the minds of consumers, Trader Joe’s seems to reign supreme, for the retail chain just announced another series of store openings.

The latest store to pop up on the map will be in East Lansing, Michigan. This will be the retailer’s ninth location in the state, according to its website.

The second store pinned is a little closer to AndNowUKnow’s hometown of Sacramento, California. Already a fixture in California, Trader Joe’s is adding another store in Murrieta, California, further expanding its SoCal presence.

As we continue to plumb the depths of the retail sector for the latest news, keep checking back with ANUK.

CANADA - A new C-suite hire is being welcomed to the Flashfood team. The industry partner has named Megan Martinelli as its Chief People Officer, returning from a year of maternity leave. Flashfood also promoted current Director of Partnerships Calli Brannan to the role of Head of Customer Success.

“My personal mission is to ensure that Flashfood teammates feel a sense of belonging, particularly as we grow and our team gets bigger,” said Martinelli on the appointment. “It is my responsibility to ensure they are given the tools and leadership they need to succeed in their roles at Flashfood.”

Martinelli will lead the people function at Flashfood with an expanded role covering legal, compliance, and sustainability. She plans to accelerate Flashfood’s tech deployment and community impact by leveraging people analytics, talent development, and a secure development platform that enables the company to continue innovating, a press release stated.

Three years ago, Martinelli started as the first hire in the People & Culture department and witnessed and contributed to the various stages of the company’s evolution. Prior to Flashfood, she held key People and Culture roles at Points International. She also served in a variety of human resource roles at Toronto General.

In her new role, Brannan will own the customer experience for Flashfood’s two-sided marketplace. Brannan was a critical member of the early team that built Flashfood’s retail presence, and has worked in the food insecurity and food waste reduction space for a decade.

As the Founder of Detroit-based One More Meal, Brannan’s passion for creating a better future was developed early in her career. She was a Community Nutrition Program Instructor at Michigan State University Extension and served as a Board Member at the Detroit Food Policy Council.

“Megan and Calli will have a tremendous impact on our culture and performance, and will help shape our strategy for growth,” said Nicholas Bertram, Chief Executive Officer. “Our company is advantaged by their leadership, and these new responsibilities will accelerate our growing momentum as an organization.”

Congratulations to these two leaders!

MAITLAND, FL - How do you get shoppers excited about corn? You build towering displays, of course! Sunshine Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida put this to the test with its most recent 2024 Merchandising Display Contest, designed to highlight Florida sweet corn's vibrant flavor.

“We are incredibly proud of and thankful for the creativity and dedication shown by all participants in this year’s contest,” said Tori Rumenik, Executive Director. “The impressive displays brought excitement and innovation to produce departments across the country.”

According to a press release, retailers nationwide took on the Comin' in Hot campaign, which ran in April and May. The contest challenged produce departments to create attractive displays and make sweet corn the centerpiece.

The winners are as follows:

• Grand Prize Winner - Sprouts Farmers Market in Cumming, Georgia
• Gold Winner - Food City in Knoxville, Tennessee
• Silver Winner - ShopRite in Eddystone, Pennsylvania
• Bronze Winners - Five bronze winners were also awarded $100 each

The displays were judged on several criteria: effective use of the provided display materials, the salability and prominence of the sweet corn, visual appeal, and overall merchandising creativity.

With the success of this campaign, Sunshine Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida look forward to next year!

CHARLOTTE, NC - In honor of the many anniversaries to come, Dole Food Company is using its 125^th year to spread the love of bananas to newlyweds. The supplier has launched an exclusive wedding reception menu for couples who are particularly fond of the yellow fruit.

“I’d say Dole’s banana quasquicentennial gave us the license to go a little crazy—or should I say bananas?—to prove how far the world’s most-purchased fruit has come from a culinary standpoint,” said Melanie Marcus, Manager of Nutrition, Wellness, and Communications. “Now, for banana lovers in love, the fruit you peeled and ate as a kid for breakfast and lunch has been reimagined and served elegantly baked, grilled, and pureed on your wedding day.”

Just in time for the traditional June start of wedding season, Dole’s “Ultimate Banana Wedding Reception Menu” is the first in a series of five banana-themed special event spreads. According to a press release, it was developed in honor of Dole’s 125^th Banana-Versary. Dole even created its own elegant, banana-themed wedding reception menu cards for the occasion.

Dole’s “Ultimate Banana Wedding Reception Menu” consists of the following six recipes created by Marcus and her recipe-development team:

• Banana Blini and Beet Canapes (Vegetarian and Gluten-Free)
• Banana Coconut Soup (Vegetarian)
• Plantain Gnocchi with Citrus Banana & Sage Butter
• White Fish with Banana Salsa
• Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Low-Sodium)
• Bananas Foster Trifles with Date Caramel (Vegetarian)

A series of new event-specific Dole Ultimate Banana Celebration Menus will be issued monthly through October. Future menus will be themed to outdoor grilling parties, kids’ birthdays, tailgates, and cocktail parties.

Throughout 2024, the commemoration rolls on with contests, charity engagements, city proclamations, social activations, Bobby Banana appearances, recipes, employee events, and free digital downloads and giveaways across the county. Shoppers can also find collectible Dole 125^th Banana-Versary stickers on millions of DOLE® bananas across the United States and Canada.

For more category-specific news, you know where to find us.

SANTA PAULA, CA - Since 2015, Calavo Growers and The Viru Group have been bringing Peruvian avocados to market. As both companies enter another promising season, they look back on the standards of quality, sustainability, and social responsibility that connect them.

“Reaching 100 years as a trusted avocado supplier is a testament to the contributions of many people and industry partners. Our tremendous alliance with Viru is a shining example,” remarked Mike Browne, Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations, Calavo. “Their commitment to quality standards, sustainability practices, vertical integration, and passion for avocados aligns perfectly with Calavo's values, paving the way for continued growth in our Peruvian avocado program."

According to a press release, the collaboration is highlighted by updated co-branded cartons featuring both Calavo and Viru logos.

The partnership with Viru also guarantees a steady supply of high-quality Peruvian avocados during the transition period in Mexico’s avocado seasons, which occurs from May—September.

"Calavo has been instrumental in the growth of our avocado program. The mutual trust and confidence between our teams are invaluable as we plan for further expansion. Calavo shares our passion for the avocado business and has the expertise to support our ambitious goals,” added Viru’s Chief Executive Officer Yoselyn Malamud.

To learn more about this milestone, click here.

As always, ANUK will be on the lookout for the latest in the fresh biz.