NEWARK, DE - South by Southwest (SXSW) is valued as the focal point for culture, branding, technology, entertainment, and food. The 10-day experience will include networking opportunities, engaging activities, entertainment, and educational sessions; the Produce Marketing Association wants in on that. PMA announced that it is bidding to join the education lineup at the next SXSW for the second year in a row and is seeking support from the industry.
“SXSW is one of the best places to learn what global cultural influencers and business leaders are thinking and saying,” says PMA Chief Marketing Officer, Lauren M. Scott. “They are there talking about us, and so it is important to break into those conversations and share what we as an industry give to the world. I’m excited that we have a chance to come back and tell more true stories about where our food comes from.”
Over the past two years, PMA has been present at SXSW, with its first official education session taking place last year. The press release states that the session PMA wants to present, The Farmers Behind Your Fresh Food, is a discussion that will feature Casey Cox, Vice President at Longleaf Fridge Farms; Henry Gordon-Smith, Founder and Managing Director at Agritecture Consulting; Brian Talley, Owner and Winegrower at Talley Vineyards; and PMA Vice President of Technology, Vonnie Estes, as the moderator.
“The audience at SXSW is unique to any other event throughout the year,” stated Estes. “It’s one of the only places where thought leaders in all aspects of technology, food, health, culture, and event entertainment are all mingling with our consumers. The conversations that happen here can change the way our industry is seen, and that’s what we hope to do with our session: start a conversation between farmers and consumers. We want our consumers to learn about the innovative, healthy, and sustainable ways we’re feeding the world.”
According to the session video, Estes and the panelists know that consumers want to know more about their food than ever before, including how their food is grown, where its grown, and who is growing it. The session will give the farmers a chance to share that not only do they want the same thing as consumers, but they will also share the ways the industry is using technology and ingenuity to grow healthy and delicious food in a safe and sustainable way.
If you’re keen on attending this particular session, vote here to ensure PMA secures a spot for SXSW 2020 by this Friday, August 23. Keep reading AndNowUKnow for more news.
SACRAMENTO, CA - I always love when I can welcome a friend into the Northern California fold, and I believe that General Produce Company is feeling that sentiment as well. The leading-edge, family-owned wholesale distributor of fresh produce and specialty foods has named Jeff Sacchini as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.
“I’m honored to be joining a company that has such a rich history and an outstanding reputation throughout Northern California and beyond,” Sacchini shared. “I plan to use my 30-plus years of experience in our marketplace to build upon the strong foundation that multiple generations of the Chan family have created."
The new position, continued customer satisfaction, and facility improvements will allow Jeff to utilize his many talents and seize new opportunities for General Produce.
“We are fortunate to have an individual of Jeff’s caliber to take over the leadership of our third-generation family business and guide it successfully into the future,” Tom Chan, current CEO, stated. “As we consider the future longevity and viability of our 86-plus year family business, a necessary next step was in order.”
Jeff will take the leadership reins from business partners and cousins Dan Chan and Tom Chan, who will remain as Owners/Partners and serve in advisory roles throughout the transition.
The wealth of industry experience with this fresh produce leader runs deep as does his passion and energy for the business. From his roles as Co-Founder of Piranha Produce and leading Sysco/FreshPoint as its President of the U.S. Western Region to his stature as Co-Founder of Hawaii-based Living Foods Gourmet Market & Café, Jeff brings with him an eye on the future and exciting plans for strategic growth at General Produce.
“As our new CEO, Jeff’s vast industry experience and proven track record are a great addition to lead our company into the future,” President Dan Chan reflected.
Vital to moving the company forward and elevating its value, Jeff’s vision for growth and positive momentum includes new technologies, warehouse management systems, and strengthening a diverse workforce, according to a press release.
Being a Sacramento native, I love a good story about a company like General Produce, which has a unique and compelling history steeped in strong values and integrity. Long-standing customer, employee, and vendor relationships have strengthened loyalties in the communities the company serves and with Jeff’s leadership the team will raise the bar in its industry presence as well.
Congratulations, Jeff, on joining the General Produce family—and to the company, on all the exciting plans ahead!
KINGSVILLE, ON - There is a lot going on in terms of growth for Mucci Farms, not the least of which is that the company just acquired controlling interest of fellow Ontario-based greenhouse operator Orangeline Farms.
“It’s an exciting time for the company as we continue our aggressive expansion plans to increase our local and regional production,” Bert Mucci, CEO of Mucci Farms, said. “The Orangeline acquisition comes with a 32-acre greenhouse and a warehouse with additional land totalling 100 acres. Consumers are demanding more local production, and we’re listening. We also have plans in place to build on the additional land that was received as part of the agreement.”
Orangeline was founded by the Kniaziew family in 2000. The brand is an award-winning grower well known for its unique pepper offerings grown under the Zing!™ Healthy Foods brand, according to a press release.
“In searching for growth opportunities for both Orangeline’s staff and our ever loyal customers, the chance to partner with a world class organization like Mucci Farms was an easy decision to make,” said Orangeline Founder Duffy Kniaziew.
Mucci Farms is known to have an eye for branding excellence, with plenty of awards of its own to show for it, and the company said in a press release that it will continue to use the Zing! brand for the foreseeable future as it has quietly established itself among retailers and consumers.
“Duffy and his team have done a great job with the brand and it’s familiar in our region, so we’re not looking to make any dramatic changes at the moment,” said Emily Murracas, Mucci’s Director of Marketing.
In addition to Orangeline’s existing greenhouse and warehouse facilities, the company also announced expansion plans in Canada and the United States.
Mucci purchased a spread of acreage adjacent to its 60-acre project, boosting it now to 75 acres, in Huron, Ohio.
“The first 24-acre phase is in its second season of harvesting, and we’ll be building two more identical ranges. Phase two construction is already underway,” remarked Bert Mucci. “The Ohio program has gotten off to a great start and we’re looking forward to growing our presence in the community and the regional market.”
An exciting time seems almost an understatement for all the Mucci team seems to have in the works. A vertically-integrated fruit and vegetable grower that owns and operates 250 acres of tomato, pepper, cucumber, lettuce, and strawberry greenhouses in Canada and the United States, with a partner-grower network of 1,500 acres across North America, it looks as though the company is poised to close out 2019 with a bang.
WASHINGTON, DC - We are weeks away from the event that brings industry voices to decision makers on Capitol Hill, and with everything from trade questions and potential tariffs to the 2020 political craze sure to ensue, it’s bound to be a key time to attend.
In the new Produce Industry Engagement Beyond Capitol Hill outing on September 18, the United Fresh Association said that Washington Conference attendees will be immersed in policy issues with key regulatory offices throughout Washington, DC.
“These visits are a great complement to our Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill,” Senior Vice President of Public Policy Robert Guenther commented. “We’re thrilled to further engage our attendees with government officials and stakeholders who are shaping both the legislative and business climate.”
The event requires a United Fresh Washington Conference registration, which is available at no additional cost. According to a press release, attendees can choose from one of four limited-availability opportunities:
- Attendees have the opportunity to meet with White House and Administration officials for a top-level briefing on national policy and agricultural issues at the Old Executive Office Building in the White House complex.
- FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas and other top FDA officials will visit with attendees at the Grand Hyatt, the Washington Conference headquarters hotel, for a session focused on how industry and government can work together to enhance food safety.
- At the Embassy of Peru, bilateral trade and agriculture will be at the center of the discussion, as attendees explore ways the U.S. and Peru can work together to serve consumers and the industry alike.
- Attendees can hear from leading federal research officials, including the Agricultural Research Service and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, on how the government and private sector are driving innovation that can enhance the fresh produce industry.
The above options will take place from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, September 18.
Additionally, the association announced that Krysta Harden, Executive VP Global Environmental Strategy for Dairy Management and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will kick off its Venture Beyond the Produce Aisle session Monday afternoon.
“We’re honored to have Krysta join us as she sets the stage for this innovative afternoon,” said President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “I’m really looking forward to talking with all of these allied food industry leaders, and I’m confident our members will gain new insights from exploring how other foods sectors are tackling challenges in their business.”
Harden brings her unique perspective, transitioning from inside the USDA to the private sector, which is ideal for this session that is described as bringing “food industry leaders from allied industries” to share experiences in dealing with challenging legislative and regulatory issues.
Harden’s luncheon presentation will be followed by food association CEOs, government affairs specialists, and leaders of the recent food and agricultural lobbying coalition, which successfully passed GMO labeling legislation in 2017.
Finally, a panel of produce industry leaders will then share their perspectives on lessons learned from “beyond the produce aisle.”
Hundreds of members and leaders from our industry will soon meet for the United Fresh Washington Conference, September 16-18. For more information and to register, click here.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart is losing one of its top marketing mavens, Barbara Messing. According to news source AdAge, Messing is departing the Chief Marketing Officer position, effective August 30. In the interim, Walmart is tapping the marketing prowess of former Target and DreamWorks Chief Marketer Michael Francis.
“It's been an incredible experience leading U.S. marketing at Walmart, but I'm happy to announce that we are moving back to the Bay Area!” Messing announced in a LinkedIn post. “I'm really proud of everything we've accomplished—we've had an amazing year, and it's truly been a pleasure working with so many wonderful associates and business partners. Thank you and all the best to my team, the leadership, our agencies, and the entire Walmart family.”
Messing first joined Walmart’s team in August of 2018. Prior to working for the retailer, she served as Chief Marketing Officer for TripAdvisor. According to AdAge, Janey Whiteside, the Chief Customer Officer that Messing reported to, attributed “memorable and effective creative campaigns that reached our customers in new and unexpected ways” to Messing, as noted in an internal memo.
Currently, Walmart has no one slated to fill the CMO post. With Messing leaving, the retail giant is also shaking up its marketing team even further. According to that internal memo, in addition to a new CMO, Walmart is also looking for a Senior Vice President of Retail Marketing to lead a newly created team under the CMO. To support this move during the search for a new Chief, Michael Francis, who has consulted for Walmart since 2015, will join Walmart’s roster to “guide” the Retail Marketing team.
In the last year or so, Walmart has made a series of moves to strengthen its leadership and optimize its operations. The latest marketing team reshuffle furthers this endeavor—but what exactly is the retail behemoth aiming for? As soon as it hits the newswires, ANUK will let you know.
MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation recently added another plot of land to its impressive farmland portfolio. The real estate titan acquired roughly 1,000 acres in Coalinga, California, for $33 million (roughly $33,000 per acre), which mainly consists of pistachio trees.
“We are excited to be adding another large pistachio orchard in the San Joaquin Valley,” said Bill Reiman, Managing Director of Gladstone Land. “More than just adding another property to our farmland holdings, we are also adding another high-quality grower-tenant. This transaction has been very smooth, and it has been a pleasure to work with Rod Stiefvater, Paul Nugent, and their broker, Cameron Kay. Rod and Paul farmed this property prior to its development as a pistachio orchard, and they are excited to continue their operations on the property into the foreseeable future. This is a large holding with its own solar facilities to help reduce energy costs, and the farm has added value due to the water infrastructure that allows the grower to deliver surface water to the orchard.”
According to a press release, Gladstone also entered into an eight-year, triple-net lease with RTS Agri Business and Canoas Creek Pistachios. The company noted that this is the first closing of a two-part acquisition; the second closing will occur during the fourth quarter of 2019 and is expected to be slightly larger than the current closing.
“This is our second large acquisition of the quarter,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO of Gladstone Land. “We continue to build our diverse portfolio of farmland focused primarily on healthy foods, such as fresh produce and nuts, and we are very encouraged by the number of large, high-quality farms we have been able to acquire recently. This orchard has just reached peak production and is a great representation of our ability to partner with esteemed operators and purchase farms that we expect will produce steady rental income and allow us to continue growing the dividends we pay to our shareholders.”
For the latest in acquisitions, sales, and more as they pertain to the produce industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
ELGIN, MN - The newest member of Honeybear Brands’ Operation Management Team is being welcomed into the fold with the hiring of a new Business Development Director, Craig Arneson. Honeybear is hoping for continued growth as it welcomes Arneson, which will follow a year of building this new team to tackle the apple category. With over two decades of produce industry experience, the new Director is sure to be a dynamic addition.
“I have always had a passion for the food industry,” said Arneson. “As the population grows and the farmland shrinks, it’s important to add value to the equation. This position allows me to join a fast-moving production agriculture company and work closely with all members of the food chain to add that value.”
In the two decades before forming this new relationship with Honeybear, Arneson served as General Manager for the Northern region of the supply chain logistics company, C.H. Robinson. Before that, he spent four years as Senior Group Manager of Produce Sourcing at the retail giant Target. A press release reported that his background extends from early experience earning a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University and Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Food Management from University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
“Craig is an important addition to our evolving leadership team,” said Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We’ve seen exponential growth over the past few years thanks to premium produce introductions, such as Pazazz, from our varietal development program, but also as part of year-over-year growth from our retail partnerships. Craig will help strengthen those relationships and grow our business offerings and opportunities across North America.”
Congratulations, Craig Arneson! We, at ANUK, look forward to reporting on Honeybear Brands’ continued success.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Beloved produce industry pro, Howard Nager has recently found himself a new home where he can flex his considerable skills, landing a new position at Progressive Produce, where he will fill the role of Vice President of Business Development and Marketing.
"I am extremely excited to join the team at Progressive Produce and feel that it is a great fit with my qualifications and personality," Nager commented. "Progressive is well known for their innovative quality products, top-tier customer service, and a dedicated workforce focused on pursuing excellence. There is a tremendous feeling of ownership within the organization and even a greater focus on the Core Values that are shared throughout the company. I look forward to being a part of this dynamic growth."
In his new role, Nager will build industry relationships to develop new business opportunities, and will work to strengthen Progressive Produce’s existing relationships with customers across the U.S. and Canada. Nager will help mentor the company’s sales team and work in the development and execution of strategic marketing strategies, putting his extensive expertise to good use.
"We are excited to have someone of Howard Nager’s caliber and experience joining the company. Howard is an excellent fit with Progressive’s core values. He is an excellent collaborator and has remained customer-focused throughout his career in fresh produce," said President Marty Kamer, in a press release. "His leadership will play a significant role in executing our strategy and achieving our vision."
Nager has over 36 years of business development and marketing experience within the produce industry, most recently serving at Sun Pacific as the citrus company’s Vice President of Business Development. His talent and know-how will be most welcome in his new role.
Congratulations to Howard on his new position! ANUK wishes him all the best in this new phase of his career.
BOISE, ID - One of the nation’s leading retailers has announced a valuable member will be stepping down at the end of the second fiscal quarter. Shane Sampson, Albertson Companies’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer, has decided to leave the company on September 7, 2019. The company has launched a search for a successor.
“Shane has been instrumental in building the Albertsons Companies we know today—both at a division level and nationally,” said Vivek Sankaran, President and CEO of Albertsons Companies. “Since 2013, he has helped our team turnaround operations in addition to building a robust merchandising and marketing function to help support our 2,200+ locations.”
The news follows the appointment of two recent executives earlier this month, but Sampson’s contributions will certainly not be forgotten.
“He launched our e-commerce business in key markets and strengthened it in areas where it had operated since 2002, and accelerated the growth of our Own Brands business by envisioning a faster, smarter way to connect with customer needs. He has been a champion for omnichannel growth both internally and with our supplier community,” continued Sankaran in a press release. “Throughout his years with Albertsons and in the industry, he has mentored countless thousands in running great stores. I know that he will do great work in whatever he chooses to take on next.”
We at ANUK wish Sampson all the best. Stay with us as we cover the latest in all retail news.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - TransKool Solutions, a joint-venture between Allen Lund Company and Santos International, was formed to better serve retailers with their produce shipment needs by consolidating the products in its warehouse, reducing transportation cost and time. This endeavor did not go unnoticed; Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, has named TransKool Solutions to its 2019 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list.
“At TransKool we have found that having close working relationships with our customers, their customs brokers, as well as their transportation partners, enable us to offer better communication and services for our clients. We have direct access to where their inbound product is in the border crossing process, and in turn we are able to coordinate with customer’s trucks in an effort to streamline the process,” Scott Fletcher, Transportation Manager with TransKool, commented.
According to a press release, the Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list serves as a resource guide of third-party logistics and cold storage providers whose products and services are critical for companies in the global food and beverage supply chain.
“The complexities of the global food supply chain are forging a more collaborative relationship between leading 3PLs, cold storage providers, and their customers. Improved customer care, tighter integration between systems, and more value-added services are among the results,” remarked Lara L. Sowinski, Editorial Director, Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “Companies that earned a spot on Food Logistics’ 2019 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list exemplify how collaboration combined with the latest technologies can create a winning formula for profitability and supporting food/beverage customers’ goals.”
The full list can be accessed here. For more retail-related news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.