MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Roundy’s is officially exiting the Twin Cities market with the closure of its 9 remaining Rainbow stores.
Until this point, Roundy’s was still looking for buyers for these last remaining stores. However, James Hyland, a spokesman for Milwaukee-based Roundy's, confirmed Monday that "the last public shopping day for the nine stores not in the sales agreement will be tomorrow, July 22, 2014," according to the TwinCities.com Pioneer Press. Hyland added, "There were no buyers, so the stores are being closed."
This news comes after Roundy’s sold 18 Rainbow stores to a group of local grocery retailers, including Supervalu, in a $65 million deal in attempts to fully exit the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. To read more on this story, click here for our previous article.
Though no buyers have shown interest yet, supermarket analyst David Livingston believes that the closure could possibly lead to nonunion grocers looking into the properties, according to the Pioneer Press.
“They have union contracts, and if a nonunion operator wants to take time over, they need to be closed for a certain period of time to break the union contract,” said Livingston. “So maybe a nonunion operator is going to buy them, but they just can’t do it yet.”
Supervalu has already started its conversion of the 18 Rainbow stores that it acquired from Roundy's last May. 10 of the 18 locations are converting to Cub Food stores and two others into Byerly's. The final 6 locations will remain Rainbow stores. For more information on the conversion, check out our previous article by clicking here.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see if any buyers show interest in the properties. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for further updates.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Target is getting set to make company history on Sunday with the opening of its first ever TargetExpress.
The scaled-down store is in the University of Minnesota’s Dinkytown neighborhood. The Minnesota Daily reports that the new store is only 20,000 square-feet and will carry roughly one-fifth of what a normal Target stores does, including school supplies, groceries, household items, home décor, cosmetics, health and pharmacy items and a small electronics section.
“This is our backyard; it’s very close to headquarters,” said Karl Anderson, the Dinkytown store’s team leader.
Prices will be similar to local Target stores but comparatively priced to competitors in the campus area. Anderson adds that this TargetExpress store aims to relieve University students from a scarcity of grocery near campus by offering fresh produce, meat, deli, bakery, frozen foods and dry food items.
“The biggest thing we learned … is that students were telling us there’s nowhere to get fresh produce,” Anderson said. “Dinkytown is sort of a desert for that.”
About 85% of the store staff is made up of college students.
For a look back at the conception of this new TargetExpress, check out our previous article by clicking here.
With Target joining other retailers in small format stores, which retailer might be next? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue following this trend.
ALMA, GA – Naturipe Farms LLC, a partnership between MBG Marketing, Hortifrut SA, Naturipe Berry Growers and Munger Farms, has opened the largest berry processing facility in the Southeastern United States in Alma, Georgia.
“The Alma Facility will enhance our ability to quickly process berries for our growers in Georgia and Florida and will serve as a back-up facility to our growers in our other regions,” said Larry Ensfield, COO of MBG Marketing.
“This new facility is over 73,000 square feet, with a capacity of 18,000 pounds per hour, making it the largest blueberry IQF facility in the Southeast USA. We are using the latest technologies to sort, wash and then freeze the berries in a state-of-the-art IQF tunnel. Here, the berries are individually frozen to -10°F in less than 6 minutes to preserve the flavor, nutrients, color and integrity of the blueberries. Additional inspections and sorting takes place before they are packed into bulk containers for foodservice and ingredient buyers or poly bags for retail consumers packs.”
This new facility also contains a large fresh blueberry distribution center to service the Naturipe Farms customer base across North America, according to a press release. The current capacity of the facility is for more than 10 million pounds of fresh berries with room to expand.
MBG Marketing held a grand opening ceremony for the new facility. Over 250 people attended with grower-members, business and community leaders, and local and state dignitaries including Peggy Murphy, Mayor of Alma and Georgia State House Representative Chad Nimmer, according to a press release. Bob Hawk, MBG President and CEO, proudly said at the event, "From the start of MBG on November 2, 1936 to today ... We have come a long way!"
Don Wade, a retired grower-member who was one of a small number of growers in the initial co-op meeting in 1983, spoke at the grand opening as well and said, “we started with just a couple of acres and now there are over 22,000 acres of blueberries planted in the state.”
The expansion of MBG’s fresh and value-added processing capabilities will continue to enable Naturipe Farms to help satisfy the needs of a growing market, demanding buyers, and improve returns for their growers.
Congratulations on the new facility!
UNITED STATES - Despite recent reports of a world-wide kale shortage caused by skyrocketing demand, growers aren't so sure that there is need for alarm. While suppliers who spoke with AndNowUKnow reporters did acknowledge that demand was up considerably compared to last year, all seemed confident that they would not have trouble keeping up.
One grower who spoke with ANUK noted that “kale has definitely been on tear the last two years, but we have never had a problem keeping pace with demand due to increased acreage and the multiple harvests for the plant.”
These statements stand in stark contrast to reports published on ABC News this previous Saturday. ABC quoted Tony Hubbard, an executive from Netherlands based grower Bejo Seeds as saying “You could describe it as embarrassing to us, but it's just one of those things that's happened on a global basis...[the shortage] caught us out well and truly, we put our hands up to that.”
ABC discussed at some length how much demand for this leafy superfood has grown over the years. Brad Gorman, the Director of Cole's Fresh Produce Division, explained that "Kale's growth has been off the charts. It is by far our fastest growing product. Kale's been around for three years and for a product to be growing at this rate after that amount of time I think is almost unprecedented."
On this matter, AndNowUKnow found broad agreement within the industry. But when it came to speculation over shortages in supply, growers expressed skepticism.
“We foresee no issue keeping up with demand in the coming months,” was the almost universal response.
Especially for a crop experiencing as much growth as kale, that kind of confidence is reassuring.
BAKERSFIELD, CA – Sun World is partnering together this summer with Farm Star Living to launch their “Make It a Sun World Summer!” sweepstakes. The sweepstakes offers Sun World an excellent opportunity to increase awareness about the importance of incorporating fresh produce like their grape varieties into the healthy lifestyle Farm Star Living champions.
“Farm Star Living’s focus on fresh healthy foods from the farm makes it a natural fit for our brand, and with its rapid audience growth since launching, we believe the site and Mary Blackmon are fast becoming influential amongst consumers,” said Sun World's Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Gordon Robertson.
Farm Star Living echoed Robertson's enthusiasm over the announced partnership, raving about how the quality of Sun World's grapes would fit in perfectly with their farm fresh foods and farm-to-table food movement.
“We are thrilled to have Sun World onboard as Farm Star Living’s exclusive grape sponsor. You truly can taste the difference in their grape varieties and we’re excited to help educate consumers about that difference,” Farm Star Living Founder Mary Blackmon said.
Five lucky winners of the “Make It a Sun World Summer!”contest will take home a three month supply of sun world grapes. The grand prize winner will receive a Villy's Custom Beach Cruiser.
“The sweepstakes and our partnership with Farm Star Living are part of our broader efforts to engage with consumers digitally in order to promote grapes as a sweet, yet healthy snack option, to educate consumers on other exciting and delicious ways they can incorporate grapes into their meals, and ultimately elevate awareness and affinity for Sun World and our grape varietal brands,” explained Robertson.
Those wanting to learn more can visit Farm Star Living's website for more information and instructions on how to enter. According to a press release, entries are welcomed any time between today and August 31st, 2014. Sun World and Farm Star Living plan on aggressively promoting this sweepstakes through their websites and social media throughout the summer.
KINGSVILLE, ON – Mastronardi Produce’s SUNSET® has been chosen as the new official sponsor of the Leamington Tomato Festival.
The festival, which started as the Heinz company picnic, has evolved over the past 31 years into the iconic community festival it is today. The new partnership begins August 15th with the inaugural Leamington SUNSET® Tomato Fest.
“The Mastronardi family has called Leamington home for 5 generations,” commented Mike Ciacelli, Director of the Leamington Tomato Fest. “They’re now leading the tomato industry in North America and we couldn’t be more proud to have them as our sponsor. With the recent closure of Heinz, this is definitely positive news.”
SUNSET® CEO Paul Mastronardi, a Leamington native, knows how the Heinz closure is affecting the community. “My grandfather worked for Heinz for a number of years and many of our employees have close ties to the company. Leamington is a small but strong community and we want to show our support in any way we can.”
Every summer, Leamington residents and members of the surrounding communities get together to celebrate the local tomato harvest with live entertainment, a tomato stomp and many family friendly activities, according to a press release.
Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET® has been celebrating its small town roots this year in honor of its 60th anniversary as a greenhouse company. The company has grown from one small greenhouse to one of the leading greenhouse companies supplying fresh produce around the globe.
“My great grandfather emigrated from Italy back in the 1920s looking for a better life,” continued Mastronardi. “Leamington has been my family’s home since then and has provided us with a world of opportunity. It’s a great place to live and this is just a small way we can continue giving back to our community and our family.”
This year’s Leamington SUNSET® Tomato Festival will be held August 15-17 at Seacliff Park. For more information, click here.
INDIA – Indian scientists have successfully created a seedless mango with a rich, sweet and distinctive flavor.
“We have developed a seedless mango variety from hybrids of mango varieties Ratna and Alphonso,” V.B. Patel, Chairman of the Horticulture Department at the Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) at Sabour in Bhagalpur district, told IANS.
The fruit weighs 200 grams and its pulp has less fiber than other mango varieties.
“We are happy and enthusiastic as well as confident and hopeful of improving the seedless mango variety,” Patel added.
India Today reports that the new variety is called Sindhu, and trials are underway at different locations throughout the country. Early trials were developed at the regional fruit research station of the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth at Dapoli in Maharashtra’s Konkan region and showed good fruiting on a three-year-old plant this year with fruit maturing in the middle of July.
BAU Vice Chancellor M.L. Choudhary said that the university has, on an experimental basis, agreed to recreate plants of this variety to make them available to Bihar’s mango growers during the next season, according to India Today.
“The seedless variety also has good export potential. The university would provide quality plants to mango growers in 2015 to exploit the export market,” he added.
According to India’s National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Bihar is third in mango cultivation and covers about half of the total fruit area in the state and produced 1.5 million tons of fruit last year.
For now, we will have to wait and see what impact this new variety might have on the export markets.
TEWKSBURY, MA - The weeks following the firing of Market Basket's former CEO and President Arthur T. Demoulas have been ones filled with controversy. What the public debate has lacked however was any input from the very man it was being waged over, as Demoulas himself has remained largely silent since his release. That changed this week when Arthur T. Demoulas made his first public statement on the matter, prompted by the firing of 8 senior Market Basket employees who had been closely involved in organizing the protests and boycotts aimed at having him reinstated.
“This is the first time I have commented publicly on the recent events at Market Basket,” his statement read. “The success of Market Basket is the result of two things: a business model that works and the execution of it by a dedicated and impassioned team of associates. Their fierce loyalty to the company and its customers has always been deeply valued...I urge that they be reinstated in the best interest of the company and our customers.”
Steve Paulenka, a facilities and operations supervisor with 40 years of experience with Market Basket, was among those fired. Despite the loss of his job however, he remained resolute that he had done the right thing.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to do something because you know it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Tom Trainor, another casualty of the recent firings, told reporters at Business Insider that this kind of loyalty is a natural result of Arthur T. Demoulas' character as a CEO and person.
"He takes care of people, he cares more about people than money, he walks among associates and customers," Trainor said. "He knows your name, your wife's name, your husband's name, what school your kids go to."
Some however just want life to return to how it used to be. Kara Wittens, a 51 year old resident of Boston and loyal Market Basket shopper, talked to the Boston Globe about how she didn't think she'd continue to make her weekly trip if the company couldn't keep its store stocked.
“Now I have to call up and ask, ‘Do you have produce?’ before I get in the car,” she said. “Ultimately, people are going to say, ‘There’s no food, so I’m not going to shop there.’ And they might not come back at all.”
“One side is waiting for the other to blink,” she went on. “Who’s going to blink?
Indeed, that's a question that more than a few would like to know the answer to.
For some context on this recent news story, check out our previous article on the Market Basket affair here.
CUTLER, CA - Amid concerns of the recent stonefruit recall, Wawona Packing spokesperson Amy Philpott is here to share laboratory results following the listeria discovery, and the company’s efforts to mitigate the situation.
Wawona Packing, a Cutler, California-based company, has voluntarily recalled certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums, and pluots packed between June 1, 2014 through July 12, 2014 due to the potential of the products being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to a press release.
Currently, no illnesses have been reported and none are expected.
Wawona is taking every measure to maintain the highest standard of quality and food safety. The company is currently working with its retail and wholesale customers to remove affected fruit and ensure that it is disposed of correctly.
HAMMOND, IN - Wade Pruter is back on the buyside. Strack & Van Til is welcoming this industry veteran as the company’s new Director of Produce Operations. Wade brings 26 years of retail experience to his role, working his way from grocery bagger to his current position with the mid-west retailer. Wade has a strong background in merchandising, marketing, and building strong relationships, while also bringing a passion for organic produce to each of his roles.
“Strack & Van Til offers an authentic and unique shopping experience. I hope that in joining the company, I can help the team take organics to the next level while contributing my own spin and personal touch to procurement and merchandising,” Wade tells AndNowUKnow.
Wade comes to Strack & Van Til from Albert's Organics where he was the Business Manager for nearly 3 years in the greater Denver, Colorado area. Wade’s previous endeavors include Produce Director of Earth Fare, Produce Merchandiser and Category Manager for The Fresh Market. His wealth of experience is backed by a number of years spent at store level in the trenches learning the business.
“I have always felt at home in retail. With the great opportunities I’ve had so far in my career, I can now bring the perspectives and insight from both the supplyside and the buyside of the industry to my new role,” Wade notes.
Currently, Strack & Van Til has 38 stores in Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area. The company has three banners, Strack & Van Til Food Markets, Ultra Foods, and Town & Country Markets. All three banners are distinctly different but all bring a great shopping experience with the finest quality fresh departments and a vast variety in center store. The associates still wear ties and the Strack & Van Til stores have utility clerks that carry out your groceries, elements that speak to the neighborhood grocer atmosphere you feel when you shop in the stores. The company also prides itself on community involvement, where every member of the Executive team is involved in community outreach. Keep an eye out for one of the Midwest’s best kept secrets.
Please join me in congratulating Wade Pruter and the Strack & Van Til team!