EAST ALTON, IL - While the retail market is as tight as can be, Schnuck Markets is finding its biggest competition may actually be itself. The grocer recently announced the impending closure of its Wilshire Village store in East Alton, Illinois, citing competition from neighboring stores.
"We open stores only when we believe they will be both a preferred choice for shoppers and success for our company, but in this instance, our customers are increasingly bypassing this store in favor of one of our three nearby stores instead,” Schnucks' Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said in a statement, reported by Republic Monitor.
As we previously reported, Schnucks had acquired 19 SuperValu-owned Shop ‘n Save grocery stores in the area in October 2018—the East Alton location being one of them. All 27 employees of the East Alton store will have the option to transfer to nearby Schnuck Markets.
Is the grocery retail market getting too crowded? Will Schnucks have to shutter more of its locations? AndNowUKnow will bring you the updates.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - As the never-not-great Rob Spinelli told me, trying to stay ahead of the curve is what Anthony Vineyards' mantra is, after I inquired about the company's organic table grape program and upcoming appearance at the 2019 Organic Produce Summit (OPS). The company is gearing up for the fourth-annual OPS, bringing the very best it has to offer as it prepares to wow the crowds with its exceptional organic offerings. With the grapes and dates Anthony Vineyards plans to showcase, you can bet that attendees will be clamoring for some extra face time at the company’s booth.
“This year, we'll be featuring organic grapes as well as an organic dates from our sister company—Sun Date, which is based in Coachella,” Rob said. “They'll be showing off some of their organic Medjools and different pack styles that they'll be pushing. With the organic dates we do different types of packs—traditional, 11 pound bulk, five pound bulk, one pound clam, eight ounce clam, and other different things that we can do for retail. On the grape front, we have our program that Anthony is known for—organics.”
According to Rob, the Bianco Family has been on the forefront of the organic grape movement since 2003, developing a full program that the company has since continued to expand upon with newer varieties. The company is transitioning away from traditional varieties like Thompsons and have been developing newer varieties like Valley Pearl, Ivory, Sweet Globes, and other high-flavor varieties. Though these newer varieties in the industry have been developing on the conventional side, Anthony Vineyards has been developing organic versions, to strengthen its organic program, giving the consumer a better product overall.
Demand for organics is still going strong, Rob tells me, and the category has become much more mainstream in recent years. However, the organic grape market still has some hiccups. Although there is some product coming in from Peru to augment the U.S. harvest, it’s still not a big program, so there is no year-round supply of organic grapes.
When I transition to the topic of OPS, Rob had a lot to say and all of it is good. Anthony Vineyards has been a supporter of the show since its very inception, and Rob tells me that a show dedicated to the organic sector is invaluable.
“We've been with OPS since it started four years ago,” he told me. “When OPS first asked if we would we be interested in doing a strictly organic show, we told them right off the bat—yes, because Anthony Vineyards believes there was a need for a strictly organic produce show, so it doesn't get lost among the masses.”
Monterey in the summer, Rob commented, is the perfect location and season for the show, as the entire region is a hotbed of growers, so attendees have the chance to visit suppliers during peak season. OPS also offers the opportunity to bridge the supply- and buy-side sectors in a way that benefits everyone.
“It's always been great, they give us a lot of retail support which makes a great show—you get retail support from all areas of the country,” Rob said. “There's a good turn out of retailers and wholesalers, and this year even the international arena people are coming.”
Anthony Vineyards is eager to share its evolution over the past three years, as it changes out older, traditional varieties, and starts in on newer, popular varieties of red, green, and black grapes. The grower plans to showcase its willingness to take the next big leap, and whether it’s new varieties, or newer, more sustainable packaging, Anthony Vineyards has what it takes to keep up with the competition.
Want to see Anthony Vineyards’ latest and greatest for yourself? Hop on over to booth #303. ANUK will continue to keep you posted on all things OPS as we ramp up for the show.
BROOKFIELD, WI - Trader Joe’s is one of those names in grocery that gets the entire industry talking. Whether it be expansion plans or two of its execs answering burning consumer questions, the grocer has the sort of retail clout that keeps tongues wagging. And those tongues are going to keep on wagging, as the retailer announced it will be bolstering its presence in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
According to local news source Milwaukee Business News, this latest store will mark the third location for Trader Joe’s in the Badger State. The others are located in Glendale and Madison.
Although a significant portion of the retailer’s expansion has taken place along the East Coast—with stores opening up in New York and New Jersey—it is also looking to expand down South—several stores recently opened in Nashville, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Will Trader Joe’s now swing its expansion plans in a Northern trajectory? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
SEATTLE, WA; AUSTIN, TX - The biggest online shopping day this side of Cyber Monday is fast approaching, and Amazon and Whole Foods are pushing fresh produce as an added promotion for Amazon Prime Day. The annual event is happening on July 15 and 16 this year, and in the days leading up, till July 16, Prime members who spend at least $10 at Whole Foods Market in store or on Prime Now will receive a $10 credit to use on Amazon for Prime Day.
“To celebrate our Prime members in an even bigger way this year, we will add an additional week of amazing exclusive deals on peak-of-season produce and high-quality grocery favorites, on top of our hugely popular spend $10, get $10 offer,” said John Mackey, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Whole Foods Market, in a press release. “Prime members can save more than ever before on summertime favorites they love and the Whole Foods Market quality they trust.”
The retailer will also be featuring promotional prices on fresh produce and other grocery items to coincide with Prime Day, including sales on summer staples like berries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and other items.
“Prime members have already saved over $250 million in exclusive deals shopping at Whole Foods Market, and now we’re offering even more savings in celebration of Prime Day this year, adding three times the number of Prime Member deals to this year’s celebration,” Stephenie Landry, Vice President of Amazon Retail, said. “Prime Day is designed to offer something for every member, so whether you’re shopping on Amazon, in-store at Whole Foods Market, or on Prime Now, our goal is to delight customers and offer the best deals on the season’s most popular items.”
Will the Prime Day team-up prove profitable for the retailer? And will the promotion lead to further inclusion of fresh products in Amazon’s retail plan? ANdNowUKnow will keep you posted.
CASTROVILLE, CA - This year, Ocean Mist® Farms is showcasing a plethora of things at the Organic Produce Summit. Its Ocean Mist Organic® line—artichokes, Brussels sprouts, romaine hearts, and iceberg lettuce—will be presented by Ocean Mist Farms’ new Organic Product Manager, Katie Tossie.
“We are thrilled to promote Katie as our new Organic Product Manager,” said Joe Angelo, Sales Manager. “Katie has a proven track record of success with both the wholesale and retail customer base, so we look forward to her bringing additional value to our organic program.”
Bringing over 15 years of experience as a sales representative to her new role, Tossie will now be managing daily harvests, setting market pricing, managing budgeted volumes for each growing season, and growing organic business with key wholesale and retail accounts, according to the press release. Tossie will also be there to promote the new Ocean Mist Organic one-pound Brussels sprouts at the New Product Showcase.
“Retailers can expect to see the same gold standard growing practices with our organic products as they would trust to see with any Ocean Mist Farms products,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing. “We’re pleased to showcase products that directly meet the need of organic shoppers, based on what they have told us they want from our brand.”
Stop by booth #204 to see what Ocean Mist has available for the season and to take advantage of the Ocean Mist Farms’ field tour on July 10 to learn more about the brand’s commitment to growing excellence. Congratulations to Katie Tossie for her new position! We hope to see you at the Organic Produce Summit this Wednesday and Thursday in Monterey.
DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Organic Produce Summit is the go-to organic destination for the produce industry and one such company bringing the organic goods is Oppy. The produce marketer will be showcasing its branded organic produce line, OriginO, which offers tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. These premium vegetables are grown by Origin Organic Farms.
“The OriginO team has a huge amount of passion about growing organics ‘the right way,’” said Darren Bonnell, Greenhouse Category Manager, Oppy. “They only pack produce they feel very proud of into their brand, and that says a lot about the quality our customers and their shoppers ultimately experience. They really do set the gold standard on quality and especially flavor.”
Those who visit Oppy’s booth 407 will meet with Raymond Wong, President of Origin Organic Farms, and sample new cocktail tomato varieties currently being trialed at Origin Organic Farms’ home in Delta, British Columbia.
“OPS brings together thought leaders in the organic industry,” Raymond Wong, President, Origin Organic Farms, said. “We always come away with good insights and ideas. And, of course it’s great to catch up with customers about how the season is unfolding in their stores and in our greenhouses.”
According to a press release, Wong adjusted his growing mix slightly this year, adding more orange and yellow sweet bell peppers to meet the strong demand for colored bell peppers in the summer months. He also noted that greenhouse production is inherently flexible, meaning it can produce as often the the market needs. All OriginO branded organic items are produced exclusively in soil, which Wong advocates as the true growing method for greenhouse organics. OriginO branded organic greenhouse cucumbers are available from Oppy through October and its tomatoes-on-the-vine and peppers are available through December.
See you guys in Monterey, California! Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in OPS coverage.
PORTLAND, OR - In addition to strikes in Southern California, Albertsons and Kroger are now facing the possibility of labor strikes in the Pacific Northwest, too. According to the Willamette Week, 10,000 Portland-based workers as well as workers across Oregon and Southwest Washington, with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, are in various stages of voting to authorize a strike against Albertsons, Safeway, and Kroger-owned QFC and Fred Meyer.
“Our goals, always, are to reach an agreement that provides a solid package of wages, benefits, and a stable pension plan for our valued associates that allows our company to remain competitive despite disruption from the grocery industry,” Dennis Gibson, President of Fred Meyer, said in a statement.
While the Portland-based employees have already voted to authorize a strike, employees across Oregon and Washington will vote in July and August. All workers are striking to call attention to low wages.
“The employees seem to be under the impression that our members will be thrilled with increases of nickels and dimes,” Dan Clay, President of UFCW Local 555, said in a statement. “I, along with our member-comprised bargaining team, believe our hard-working members deserve much, much more. A strike vote identifies where our membership stands on this issue.”
“Based on the next round of bargaining, we’ll see what happens,” Kelley McAllister, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 555, added.
Albertsons has not provided a comment at this time. Negotiations have been in effect for the last year.
Will Kroger and Albertsons face strikes all along the West Coast? Or will a deal be reached between workers and the grocers? AndNowUKnow will continue to follow all leads.
REEDLEY, CA - The world of fresh produce is a labor of love in which everyone works to put out a product they are proud of. Expanding its organic Thomcord grape supply for the 2019 season, Fruit World Co. confirmed consumers love these grapes as much as the team did last year, and anticipates the return of high demand.
"I love the flavor and aroma of our Thomcord grapes, and I wanted to really connect with the consumers’ eating experience. So, we placed cards in over 160,000 one-pound clamshells, inviting consumers to connect via text message," Co-Founder CJ Buxman said of a 2018 consumer outreach idea.
1,800 text messages were received and responded to, reinforcing a beloved reception of the organic grape variety and inspiring the team to bring this texting campaign back in 2019 by inviting customers to ‘text-me’ via cards in each organic Thomcord grape package.
"It’s a lot of work responding, but the messages are heart-warming, and our retailers tell us it really drove repeat sales," said Co-Founder Bianca Kaprielian. "We were blown away by the response last year. We expected people to love the flavor, but were surprised and humbled by the large number of people that took the time to thank us for growing them."
A hybrid of the heirloom "grape jelly" Concord Grape and popular Thompson Seedless grape, Thomcords are known for being exceptionally flavorful and aromatic, according to a press release. Among the largest growers in California of organic Thomcord grapes, Fruit World said it expects to begin shipping its 2019 crop of Thomcord grapes in 20x1 lb clamshells and 10x2 lb brown paper totes the first week in August and will continue packing and shipping from its Reedley vineyard through early October.
"The Thomcord yield per acre is less than other varieties of table grapes, but its taste and aroma can’t be beat," Buxman said. "They also are a perfect example of our obsession with growing the most flavorful fruit possible."
In addition to premium Thomcords, Fruit World will be shipping an additional ten organic grape varieties for the 2019 season. These will be grown on the heritage vines of one of the first organic growers in California. A grower partner of Fruit World, the company proudly sells his fruit, touting it as some of the most flavorful, crunchiest grapes around. If you are looking to stock your stores, you can connect with Fruit World via its website.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA - LIV Organic is continuing on its strong growth trajectory, and this time with the expansion of its team as the company welcomes industry vet, Wes Yamamoto. Just in time for this week’s Organic Produce Summit (OPS) in Monterey, California, Wes joins LIV Organic's Grower Relations and Sales Team with more than 38 years of experience in order to elevate the already stellar squad at the company.
“I am thrilled and excited to have joined the outstanding team at LIV Organic. I have been involved in the produce industry my entire life. My father was a strawberry grower in Watsonville, California, and my first experience was picking strawberries during the summers and after school,” Wes shares with me. “I loved being on the farm and I found myself wanting to learn more about the industry that was so deeply embedded in my roots. As a teenager, the education I received while working with my father inspired me to continue into the world of produce.”
Wes graduated from UCSB with a degree in Biological Sciences and started his produce career in 1981 working at Vista Sales/Vista Avocado, in Vista, California. After gleaning the knowledge he needed to take the next step on his path, Wes moved to different produce companies and finally landed at Sunrise Farms in San Marcos, California. His main focus was sales but Wes was also very involved in all aspects of the company.
“I have now worked in produce for over 38 years, accumulating knowledge and experience in all aspects of the industry including sales, marketing, grower relations, and field management. I am now eager to share my insights and contribute to the vision of LIV Organic. LIV Organic is a great company and I look forward to being a part of the team,” Wes tells me.
The LIV Organic portfolio includes premium organic citrus, watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, onions, potatoes, squash, peppers, and cauliflower. The company has a 52-week program for the citrus, onions, potatoes, and squash categories and additionally provides seasonal programs for its melons, peppers, cauliflower, and heirloom tomatoes.
Congratulations, Wes and the LIV Organic team, on the exciting road ahead. Swing by booth #113 at OPS to meet Wes and the great portfolio the company will be showcasing this week!
CALIFORNIA – Home to the San Andreas Fault, our state is no stranger to earthquakes or movies about the potential catastrophe that awaits along the temperamental fault line. This past week has had us all on high alert as a 3.4 magnitude earthquake concentrated in the growing region of Bakersfield, California, was followed by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Ridgecrest on the 4th of July and then a 7.1-magnitude earthquake on the 5th.
The Ridgecrest earthquakes shook an area from Sacramento to Mexico and prompted the evacuation of the Navy's largest single landholding, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in the Mojave Desert, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake was the largest earthquake the region has seen in nearly 20 years.
As we previously reported, the Bakersfield earthquake came as a surprise to many as they prepared for the days harvest and the holiday week ahead.
Nick Martinez, Director of Operations for Country Sweet Produce, who talked to us after the Bakersfield earthquake jolted the region, shared these words after the Ridgecrest event on Friday.
“The earthquake hit Friday night around 8:30 pm,” Nick said. “We did a facility check Friday night and Saturday morning and so far everything has checked out and nothing was damaged. It's definitely going to be a 4th and 5th of July we will never forget.”
In addition, Cherie France, Marketing Manager, Homegrown Organic Farms, based in Porterville, California, felt blessed and relieved after checking in with the company’s operations.
“We were rattled here in the valley but thankfully have not sustained any damage. Our hearts go out to anyone affected!” she said.
According to a report by CNN the United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that another earthquake of a similar magnitude could potentially surface this week and aftershocks have occurred an average of once a minute since Friday night. In addition, USGS researchers are predicting that there's a 70 percent chance an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 or higher will strike the San Francisco Bay area along the San Andreas fault zone before 2030.
The U.S. News and World Report added that California Governor Gavin Newsom estimated more than $100 million in economic damages and said President Donald Trump called him to offer federal support in the rebuilding effort.
"He's committed in the long haul, the long run, to help support the rebuilding efforts," Newsom was reported as saying of Trump.
While $100 million in damage is not light, the impact on the quake did not take a grueling toll largely due to the remoteness of the area. The Ridgecrest lies between the more population-dense areas of Southern California and Las Vegas' Clark County and seismologists warn that the area could see up to 30,000 aftershocks over the next six months. No fatalities or major injuries were reported after Friday night's 7.1-magnitude earthquake.
AndNowUKnow will keep you informed as the week in California shakes out.