SALINAS, CA - Taylor Fresh Foods is growing thanks to its recent purchase of substantially all assets of Club Chef in Covington, Kentucky. As part of the acquisition, Taylor Farms is adding a distribution partnership with the Castellini Company to its operations.
“Club Chef has a long history of leadership in the foodservice fresh-cut vegetable industry,” said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Taylor Farms. “We are honored to complete this transaction and establish a distribution partnership with the Castellini Company.”
Brian Kocher, CEO of the Castellini Group of Companies, added: “Castellini Group of Companies looks forward to the expanded relationship with Taylor Farms and overwhelming our current and prospective customers with the value that we can provide.”
According to a press release, as part of the transaction, Taylor Farms is welcoming Club Chef employees to its team and is looking forward to earning the trust of Club Chef’s customers.
“This transaction provides a wonderful opportunity for our employees and customers who are joining Taylor Fresh Foods and allows us to be singularly focused on growing in areas of the produce supply chain where Castellini has, for over 120 years, provided great value to its customers,” continued Kocher.
The Covington facility will continue full operations under the leadership of the Taylor Farms Tennessee operating company.
Congratulations to all companies involved on this great opportunity for growth! For more breaking produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SUNBURY, PA - The retailer Weis Markets has been quiet on the newswire these past couple months, but today announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with T.C.D. Realty to purchase two supermarket locations. The locations are the Thomas’ Foodtown in Dallas, Pennsylvania, and the Thomas’ Food Basics in Shavertown, Pennsylvania.
“We have great respect for the operators and associates of Thomas’ Foodtown and Food Basics in Dallas and Shavertown and look forward to continuing to serve the Dallas area,” said Jonathan Weis, Chairman, President, and CEO. “We look forward to interviewing their associates for possible employment with our company.”
The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to the press release. After the purchase is complete, Weis Markets will convert and reopen the Dallas location, but will not reopen the Shavertown location. Once the store reopens, Weis Markets will operate seven stores in Luzerne County.
Congratulations to Weis Markets on this exciting purchase agreement! Stick with us at ANUK for more news in the retail sector.
CENTRAL CITY, PA -The California-based grocer has been expanding across the nation a lot more fervently lately. Recently, Trader Joe’s has reached into North Carolina, with talks of a new store opening up in Kansas as well. Now, Trader Joe’s is opening a new location in Center City, Philadelphia. With this recent development, it will be Trader Joe’s second venue in the City of Brotherly Love.
Local news site The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported Trader Joe's had an interest in the 1324 Arch Street location back in January. Seeing as how busy the first location in downtown is, the welcomed second location, a mere mile away, will be a sigh of relief and a welcome addition for the residents of Philly.
According to The Inquirer, the new 16,000-square-foot location will have an October opening date and join a continuing supermarket boom in Philadelphia. With competitors like Sprouts, MOM’s Organic Market, Giant’s Heirloom Market, and Aldi in the surrounding area, how will Trader Joe’s fare? Keep reading ANUK as we uncover more retail news.
BELLEVUE, WA - In an industry that never stops moving, the number of faces that represent it never stops growing. Today, Arable Capital Partners announced the addition of Thomas Flies as an Associate and Scarlett Caldwell as an Office Manager in the Bellevue, Washington, office.
“Scarlett and Thomas bring a broad range of skills and strengths. They will complement the existing Arable investment team as well as enhance our ability to effectively invest across the food and agriculture sector, while managing the business of Arable Capital Partners,” said Greg Richards, Managing Director in the Bellevue office.
Before joining Arable, Thomas was an Investment Banking Associate for Robert W. Baird in the Global Industrials Group in Chicago, Illinois. While at Baird, Thomas provided analytical support on mergers and acquisitions, equity offerings, and other financial advisory services. Prior to Baird, Thomas was an Investment Banking Associate with Cascadia Capital in Seattle, Washington, where he focused on executing capital raises and mergers and acquisitions for middle-market companies. Thomas began his investment banking career with Wedbush Securities where he executed mergers and acquisitions for Pacific Northwest community banks. In his new position, Thomas will be responsible for providing support on transactional work and due diligence on acquisitions, financial analysis, and portfolio reporting.
“The professionalism and experiences they both bring to Arable Capital Partners will provide immediate value to our current investment opportunities and portfolios, as well as strengthen our capabilities for the future,” said Derek Yurosek, Managing Director in the Bakersfield office.
Scarlett will be responsible for operations, human resources, project management, and administration. Prior to Arable, Scarlett ran the co-sell research team at Microsoft and had multiple operations management positions throughout the Pacific Northwest. She specializes in efficiency and effectiveness protocol, talent acquisition, re-organizations, and project management. Scarlett holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco and comes from a customer service and operations background, working to assist companies with process management for over 10 years by organizing and streamlining business processes.
Congratulations to Thomas Flies and Scarlett Caldwell on their exciting new roles, and congratulations to Arable on snatching them up! Keep reading AndNowUKnow for all the news in the industry.
REEDLEY, CA - The bright flavors of citrus are essential to chasing away wintertime blues, and Fruit World Co., a family-owned grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit, knows that consumers are out looking for that bright bite. The company recently announced the start of its 2019 citrus season, which will include a full lineup of citrus fruits, all in promotable volumes. This includes organic and conventional mandarins, both of which have full-season longevity and availability.
"We’re excited to be entering citrus season with a robust organic and conventional mandarin program, which this year includes five varieties of organic mandarins and the earliest availability of conventional California mandarins," said CJ Buxman, Co-Founder and organic mandarin grower. "Our team takes great pride in our ‘Boots on the ground. Hands in the soil’ approach to producing high-quality fruit. We know consumers will be thrilled with the look, aroma, and taste of our citrus all season long."
According to a press release, many of the company’s organic mandarins are produced by Buxman in California’s San Joaquin Valley. He grows mandarin varieties such as Satsuma, Clementine, Page, Tango, and Gold Nugget, all with a November to June producing season. For its 2019 season, Fruit World expects to ship more organic mandarins than it ever has before, with a 20 percent volume increase over 2018’s season.
The company noted that it has an uninterrupted season-long organic mandarin program. It also offers Stem & Leaf mandarins, a premium fruit offering that offers eye-catching appeal on the retail shelf as well as a fresh flavor and vivid color. Fruit World prides itself on selecting the best varieties of fruit so it can both meet demand and delivery quality products.
"Complementing our focus on flavor is our commitment to service," said Bianca Kaprielian, Fruit World Co-Founder. "From efficient and accurate order fulfillment to harvests hand-matched to customer preferences, we know that the extra effort we put into relationships with our customers, and tailoring programs to their needs, helps them achieve their business goals and delight consumers."
Alongside its mandarin program, Fruit World has a year-long California-grown organic lemon program with promotable volumes November through March. Organic grapefruit will be available in early October, followed by organic Navel oranges starting late October, with peak quantities December through February. In addition, Fruit World offers a variety of specialty citrus starting in late December, including Blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Meyer lemons, and Minneola tangelos.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in what’s happening in the world of wintertime produce.
WENATCHEE, WA - With how the season is already shaping up for Stemilt Growers’ Rushing Rivers® pears, I’d say that shoppers across the country will be rushing to stock up their carts with the autumnal treat, and soon! Senior Marketing Manager Brianna Shales pulled back the curtain on the winter pears currently coming off the trees—and in high grades and dessert-quality flavors I might add—and what opportunities lie ahead for retailers this fall. Here's what she had to say...
“Pear harvest is progressing nicely, and we will be wrapping up in the next 7-10 days,” said Shales. “Right now, winter varieties like d’Anjou, Red d’Anjou, and Bosc are coming off the trees in good availability with a lot of opportunity for retailers to move high volumes due to the great quality.”
Stemilt’s green and red d’Anjou pears go through the company’s Operation Flavor program, which, according to a press release, is a 360-degree commitment to setting a new standard for the flavor of pears. As part of this process, both d’Anjou and red d’Anjou will move through a 30-day cold treatment phase before being packed into a two-layer cross-ventilated box that undergoes a warming process. This gets the pears back up to shipping temperatures in Stemilt’s RipeRite™ TarpLess® ripening rooms. Following this process, the pears are then ready to be shipped.
“Stemilt no longer uses anti-ripening products on pears,” continued Shales. “In response to that move, we are finding other ways to ensure pears are of dessert-eating quality with a goal of ready-to-eat d’Anjou and red d’Anjou pears just 1-3 days after consumer purchase. One of those ways is using a vented euro box that is designed specifically for uniform ripening.”
This season, Stemilt is particularly excited to offer retailers beautifully ripened and sized green and red d’Anjou—with the latter boasting dessert-eating quality thanks to its slightly higher brix content. Shales noted that this variety’s coloring can help retailers create eye-catching displays in high-traffic areas with Rushing Rivers-branded boxes.
“Stemilt is committed to ensuring the retailer’s pear season is a success, and we have the fruit, packaging, and resources they need to make it happen,” said Shales. “We have plenty of signage options along with various packages, including our new Family Farm Bin that features Stemilt’s founding family, the Mathison’s.”
In addition to d’Anjou pears, Stemilt is also pushing the Bosc variety, which features a bronze coloring, a larger size, and a higher sugar content than past crops. The press release noted that while Bosc does not partake in the ripening process like d’Anjou pears do, the variety is packed in the same two-layer ventilated euro that will allow for natural ripening.
All three varieties are exactly what retailers are looking for this season, especially when running ads with line pricing and seizing opportunities to boost in-store messaging around and on displays. In the press release, Shales again highlighted the Family Farm bin, a high-graphic bin that can be easily paired with package options like Stemilt’s pear display bin or easy pallet display. Toolkits featuring videos, images, story ideas, and more can also be used by retailers to capitalize on in-store messaging via digital channels in big big ways.
“Building big eye-catching displays with lots of in-store messaging will first get the customer to check out the fruit,” concluded Shales. “What gets them coming back for more is that dessert-eating quality, and that’s what we aim for every day with our Rushing Rivers pears.”
For more of the freshest produce news, AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you covered.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - Coming together for a worthy cause is one of the greatest opportunities our industry has to give back. Pair that with culinary innovation, dynamic energy, some of the best and brightest in our industry, and good food and you have Prostate Cancer Canada's inaugural Celebrity Battle of the BBQ presented by Hill Street Beverage Company.
The event, which took place on September 20th and 21st, 2019, hosted celebrities as they battled it out while being judged by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chefs—Chef Massimo Capra, Chef Roger Mooking, Chef Nicole Gomes, Chef Rob Feenie, and Chef Corbin Tomaszeski.
When I asked Chef Roger Mooking what inspired him to join this event and cause, he told me that, first of all, he liked that it was a BBQ-focused event and that the way it was executed was unique and creative.
"I've also been the beneficiary of proactive early screening for cancer that could have turned into something not good, so to be a part of this event struck a chord with me personally," Roger shared.
The event gave participants a chance to grill alongside celebrity Grill Masters and BBQ enthusiasts including Maddie & Kiki, Billy Baldwin, Chef Ted Reader, Damon Allen, Christian Pritchard, Chef Ivana Raca, and Leo Stakos as they competed for the coveted Celebrity Battle of the BBQ presented by Hill Street Beverage Company Trophy. The group fundraised in support of Prostate Cancer Canada for a chance to grill alongside celebrity chefs in a "Chopped-style" competition.
For Roger, his passion for what he does in partnership with causes like this, truly align with his own values.
"We all have our life and passions to share with those around us. I feel particularly fortunate to be able to indulge all of my passions as my life's work and have blurred the lines of personal and professional balance in a way that few people are able to indulge," Roger told me. "Its my duty to play a small part to draw attention to something I feel personally invested in, in exchange for all of these blessing that are my life."
The highlights of the event were many and just about as joy-filled as you would expect them.
"There are some pretty legendary moments captured on social media posts that are now inside jokes with folks I met that night I will never forget, pretty funny stuff that were a moment in time, captured for the world to see," Roger expressed.
Who took the trophy, you ask? The 1st place was a tie between Team Prostate Canada Survivors and Friends and Team Deloitte. In third place was Tomato King.
Congrats and thank you to all those who generated excitement and support for this amazing event!
CINCINNATI, OH - Finally, the time has come for Kroger’s next Kitchen 1883, the retailer’s standalone restaurant. The first debuted in 2017 to great success, as consumers were treated to a made-from-scratch menu and a community-centered atmosphere. This third location will open across from Kroger’s retail store in Anderson Township, Ohio.
According to a report from Cincinnati Business Courier, the retailer planned on opening this location in October of 2018 but experienced construction delays. The second Kitchen 1883 is in Kroger’s first-ever food hall, Kroger on the Rhine.
Kitchen 1883 is currently hiring for bartenders, hosts, and cooks—because who wouldn’t want to take center stage in a trendy restaurant like this?
As this concept continues to grow in popularity, will Kroger expand the concept across the country? Will we see Kroger taking a seat fully at the foodservice table? AndNowUKnow will continue to report the latest in all things related to retail.
TAMPA, FL - IFCO is bolstering its supply chain ranks with the appointment of a new senior supply chain executive: Jonathan W. Brooks has been named Vice President, Retail Sales. Brooks boasts an experienced and successful supply chain track record in process improvement and change management, people development, strategic sales, supply chain optimization and design, transportation procurement, and logistics execution.
“I am excited to join IFCO,” said Brooks. “The company has a unique business model with a wide range of sustainable solutions for fresh foods, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance the company’s mission of helping to feed the world affordably, efficiently, and sustainably.”
According to a press release, Brooks formerly worked for CHEP, where he served in several roles after first joining the company in 2002. These roles included the likes of Senior Director, National Sales, for CHEP Recycled Pallet Solutions; Senior Director, Retail Business Development, CHEP North America; and Director, Strategic Planning, CHEP North America. Most recently, he served as Senior Director, Global Network Optimization & Design at CHEP, a position in which he created and managed multi-disciplined project teams and collaborated with supply chain executives across the globe to minimize supply chain costs and optimize capital investments.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jon to the IFCO family,” said Dan Martin, President of IFCO North America. “His strong track record of leadership and proven ability to develop innovative supply chain solutions for the fast-moving consumer goods sector make him the ideal candidate to work with our retail customers on packaging and supply chain solutions for fresh food.”
Over the course of his career, he earned numerous CHEP company awards and completed several advanced management programs, including the prestigious Brambles/INSEAD 18-month FastTrack Executive Development program in France.
Congratulations to Jonathan Brooks on his new position! For more new produce hires, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC & NEWARK, DE - As food safety remains top of our industry's mind, leaders like Tom Stenzel, President and CEO for United Fresh Produce Association, and Cathy Burns, CEO for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), are delving deeper into implementable solutions. In this op-ed, the two urge the industry to continue to take action as well as explore a few solutions that the elite Romaine Task Force has uncovered.
After the immediate crisis of last November’s outbreak related to romaine lettuce, our associations moved quickly to bring together a diverse, progressive group of stakeholders to help tackle the myriad of complex issues. More than 100 individuals joined our Romaine Task Force, including industry leaders across the supply chain, expert consultants, state and federal government officials, partner associations, academic scientists, and consumer groups.
For nine months, these volunteers have worked to analyze risks and recommend prevention steps, examine weak points in supply chain traceability and offer solutions, and determine ways for industry and government to work together more effectively when outbreaks do occur.
With this week’s release of the Task Force Report, we share with the industry and all concerned powerful recommendations that we believe can help protect public health and reduce the impact of outbreaks on our industry if and when they do occur. You can read the full Task Force Report on either of our websites—www.pma.com and www.unitedfresh.org.
Preventing outbreaks must remain our top priority. We’ve supported the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement when its Board took the monumental step of determining that surface water should be assumed to be contaminated and in need of treatment if overhead application occurs within 21 days of harvesting leafy greens. And while ag water was our initial focus related to this outbreak, we are now convening a deeper subset of experts to evaluate the risks of concentrated animal feeding operations and recommend preventive strategies for potential environmental contamination from beyond our farms.
Number two, following prevention has got to be achieving full-chain traceability for our products. We know this is hard, and takes the cooperation and investment of every sector of our industry from grower to retailer and restaurant. But we simply have to get there—if not, we put additional consumers at risk with long and drawn out investigations and cost our industry hundreds of millions of dollars in ancillary damages when a targeted recall is all that’s needed.
Last, there are so many ways collaboration and communication between industry and government can be improved. We’re pleased to say that collaboration is getting better already, but we need to address the systemic barriers between regulatory agencies and industry in order to narrow outbreaks as quickly as possible and prevent overly broad “do not eat” advisories. Industry and government also have the responsibility to conduct investigations when an issue occurs and determine the root cause of how a product became contaminated. Moving from one outbreak to the next without deeply understanding what went wrong is a failing strategy, and one our industry can no longer afford.
There is one issue we’re able to put behind us—that’s consumer labeling on romaine packaging. In order to quickly return romaine to the market after last fall’s outbreak, industry and government agreed to label all romaine with its harvest date and location. The task force did a great job in developing consistent regional names that FDA will now use. And, FDA has indicated that we no longer need harvest date labeling if that can be discerned through use by dates or other information. Yet, we still know that package labeling is no answer for real traceability. We have to know what product was sold at what location, long after the packaging has been discarded.
So, on to implementation of these powerful recommendations! Our associations are convening a new Joint Committee on Leafy Greens comprised of industry leaders at each point in the supply chain who have the motivation and will to lead by example, enacting change in their own operation and serving as role models to others.
PMA and United Fresh will be co-hosting a webinar in November to further present and discuss these recommendations. You could say that this is the “end of the beginning,” and PMA and United Fresh are committed to seeing this effort through to completion.
For more breaking news straight from our industry's leaders, keep reading along with AndNowUKnow.