MONTEREY, CA - At the fourth annual Organic Produce Summit (OPS), new consumer data and analysis related to increased organic fresh produce sales will be featured as part of an educational session from the industry’s leading trade organizations on July 10-11.
“Consumers of all ages, all income levels, and of all demographics are buying organic, and they’re hearing and learning about organic from a wide variety of sources,” said Laura Batcha, President of the Organic Trade Association. “The Organic Trade Association has collaborated on a six-phase research project with the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) to better understand what messages penetrate deeper than others and what attributes of organic are the most valued by today’s diverse organic customers. We are excited to unveil the comprehensive suite of produce insights at OPS this July in Monterey.”
According to a press release, Batcha will discuss a new research project done with NMI on messaging to organic customers and the development of a toolkit for organic industry members to use based on the findings of the research. Steve Lutz, PMA Regional Vice President, US West and Canada, will update OPS attendees on the latest organic performance trends and provide an initial look into focus group findings from a research partnership between the Organic Produce Network and PMA.
Moderated by MorningNewsBeat.com's Kevin Coupe, Lutz said his presentation will focus on organic fresh produce performance at retail and consumer alignment as the category continues to grow.
“How are consumers aligning their increased demand for organic fresh produce into actual purchases at the store?” Lutz asked. “What are the key purchase barriers and ways to convert potential customers into consistent buyers? We will explore the trends and opportunities that lie ahead for all OPS attendees.”
The 2019 OPS educational sessions rounds out the announcement of the educational session featuring new consumer sales data and analysis. Fresh produce leaders from three of the nations’ most progressive retail and on-line grocery operations have been confirmed as panelists for the Retailer Roundtable as well. One of the most anticipated events at OPS 2019, the Retailer Roundtable will feature panelists Don Barnett, Chief Operating Officer for Sun Basket; Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral for Raley’s; and Vic Savanello, Vice President of Produce for The Fresh Market. Tonya Antle, Co-Founder of the Organic Produce Network (OPN) will serve as moderator.
Further, two important presentations featuring organic consumer activist Robyn O’Brien and award-winning chef and author Dan Barber, as well as a series of five other educational sessions focusing on a variety of topics and subject matter related to the multi-billion-dollar organic fresh produce industry are on tap for OPS attendees.
Other educational sessions at OPS 2019 will include:
- What Lies Ahead for Wholesalers of Organic Produce?
- Tackling Food Waste—Good for the Planet and the Bottom Line
- The Future of Organic Meals at Retail
- International Insights and Trends on Organic Produce
- International Organic Produce Supply
Also, OPS 2019 includes a selection of field tours for retailers and buyers, a gala opening night reception, and a trade show featuring 148 producers and processors of organic fresh produce from across North America and the world.
For more news on the upcoming live event, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Retail and foodservice titan SpartanNash has just wrapped up a rebranding effort—reopening 18 stores in its West Michigan backyard terminal. The effort consisted of an $18.3-million overhaul and is expected to create more than 120 jobs in newly redesigned Family Fare stores.
According to the Grand Rapids Business Journal, SpartanNash has adopted the new slogan “keeping it real” for its Family Fare supermarkets (a shot over the bow of Amazon and other virtual competition?) and has promised to deliver on five points, with a format that promises “Real local” food and products; “Value beyond price” with weekly deals, curbside pickup, and at-home delivery; “Affordable wellness” with products that follow a “live better, healthier, and happier” ethos; “Socially smart” products and services that evince a commitment to social, environmental, and corporate consciousness; and a “Fun and indulgent” format featuring new products every day, as well as prepared food offerings from BBQ grocerant Betty Kaye’s, freshly butchered produce from Fresh Divide, gourmet popcorn, and in-store taquerias.
Newly remodeled stores are located at the following locations:
- 6370 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale
- 2245 84th St. SW, Byron Center
- 1181 W. Randall St., Coopersville
- 6480 28th Ave., Georgetown Township
- 1415 Fulton St. E., Grand Rapids
- 5241 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids
- 2755 Lake Michigan Dr., Grand Rapids
- 1225 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids
- 4325 Breton Rd. SE, Grand Rapids
- 3960 44th St. SW, Grandville
- 1185 S. Washington Ave., Holland
- 993 Butternut Dr., Holland
- 5221 Cherry Ave., Hudsonville
- 1965 Baldwin St., Jenison
- 6127 Kalamazoo Dr. SE, Kentwood
- 2275 Health Dr. SW, Wyoming
- 2900 Burlingame Ave. SW, Wyoming
- 9479 Riley St., Zeeland
This week, SpartanNash also reported its first quarter 2019 financial results after adjusting its fiscal guidance two weeks ago. The company reported a “challenging operating environment” though it reported solid progress on key strategic business objectives.
"We are pleased with our team's efforts to grow net sales across all three business segments, particularly in light of the challenging operating environment," said David Staples, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we are not satisfied with our bottom-line results for the quarter, our team remains committed to our fiscal 2019 objectives and long-term strategy, which we believe will support both future growth and profitability long-term."
SpartanNash reported the following highlights:
- Consolidated net sales for the first quarter increased $157.3 million, or 6.6%, to $2.54 billion from $2.39 billion in the prior year quarter. The increase in net sales was bolstered by the acquisition of Martin's, as well as sales growth in the Food Distribution and Military Distribution segments
- Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 was $377.7 million, or 14.9% of net sales, compared to $343.2 million, or 14.4% of net sales, in the prior year quarter
- SpartanNash also realized its goal of acheiving at least $15 Million of Annual Run Rate Savings Over the Next 24 Months from Project One Team, exceeding its objective by identifying over $20 million in savings opportunities, which it expects to achieve in annual run rate over the next 24 months
To read more about the company’s Q1 2019 financial results, click here.
For more on all things fresh produce, stick with AndNowUKnow.
CARLISLE, PA - After opening six new stores in four different states, GIANT Food Stores is continuing its expansion along the East Coast. The Ahold Delhaize-owned banner recently announced that it acquired a Ferguson & Hassler store in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
“We were thrilled when the Hassler family contacted us about their beautiful store,” said Nicholas Bertram, President, in a recent press release. “We recognize the important role this store plays in the Quarryville community and we can’t wait to begin serving the loyal customers of Ferguson & Hassler’s and introduce them to the very best of the GIANT brand, which many customers throughout Lancaster County have enjoyed for more than 20 years.”
The press release noted that once the sale is complete, GIANT will temporarily close the store for about one week in order to remodel it. It will then be reopened later in June of this year.
GIANT continues to recognize that not every shopper has the exact needs as the other, so it will enhance this Quarryville location with curbside pick-up options and grocery delivery options, delivered with GIANT DIRECT, Powered by Peapod.
For the latest in retail happenings, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
EDINBURG, TX - How do you revitalize a category? For the Frontera/Crescent Fruit and Sostena teams, it’s a matter of consistent, premium flavor. I had the pleasure to speak with Amy Gates, President of Frontera Produce, and Timothy Collins, President of Sostena, to learn more about the creation of Golden Crush and the first-of-its-kind tech seen in ProducePlan.com.
“With Golden Crush, I was looking for a melon that I felt was going to be commercially viable, first of all,” Tim shared with me, as we dial into the beginnings of this gorgeous melon. “In order for it to be commercially viable, it has to work for the grower, as well as the retailer and consumers.”
The development of Golden Crush was a cooperative effort by Sostena and Origene Seeds, in direct response to declining consumer consumption and sales of cantaloupes at retail. Golden Crush is the first melon in a family of Crush melons to be introduced soon.
“Golden Crush has a great flavor, but if it isn't also a high-yielding variety that growers can work with, eventually the supply chain will break down and growers will discontinue growing it because it is not profitable,” Tim continued. “So, we look for flavor, and then we look for a balance in the supply chain. And in order to have flavor, we have to be able to tell when the melon is ready.”
With its clear harvest indicator—turning a lovely golden color just as it’s ready to be picked—cutters and harvesters have been trained to know exactly when to cut the melons from the vines. And since Golden Crush is essentially the first melon grown on a digital platform—ProducePlan.com—harvest need only happen once a week. ProducePlan.com helps to ensure all key stakeholders have a coordinated supply chain by building supply plans based on demand plans, no more “plan and pray.” And with the precision irrigation technology of GroundSight, the companies have been able to help growers get increased yields and better quality, all leading to a better, more consistent consumer eating experience.
“A big part of what ProducePlan talks to is the sustainability side of our supply chain. This creates the opportunity for top-down planning, and the top can be as high a retailer or Frontera. It’s a fully-integrated digital supply chain tool that enables growers to effectively plan for an indefinite period of times,” he stated.
Amy added, “The waste management and crop utilization is awesome. I’m able to communicate to my growers that they’re going to be growing just the right amount to go to the right locations. It’s all pre-programmed, so I’m not dumping cantaloupes and I’m not short. It makes my growers happy, it makes the shipper happy, and it makes me happy! Like all new cutting-edge technologies, Sostena continues to adjust and refine ProducePlan. However, it is changing the produce supply chain and we are thrilled with what we are seeing.”
With the promise of putting close to a million cartons of cantaloupes into the market that have been digitally planned—and grown—from start to finish, I can’t wait to see what other innovative solutions Frontera/Crescent Fruit and Sostena may bring.
WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant is gearing up for an expanded berry program! The company has been building its year-round berry program over the last several years to increase promotable volume of all four berry types. This year, the company is thrilled to report it has met a milestone with fresh blueberries!
“We have worked together at California Giant to develop long-term partnerships with our blueberry farming partners and are excited to see these relationships come together to benefit both of us,” said Markus Duran, North American Blueberry Operations Manager. “We look forward to sharing details with our trading partners about our expanded blueberry program and the volume we will bring to the table with both conventional and organic fruit just in time for summer.”
According to the company’s press release, over the past five years, fresh California Giant blueberry volume has increased each year by anywhere from 15 percent to 30 percent due to increased customer and consumer demand. In addition, summer volume from the Pacific Northwest in 2019 is expected to increase by 45 percent over last year. The conventional program will increase by 25 percent over last year, and the organic blueberry volume is expected to increase by 90 percent over 2018.
The major increase in California Giant brand blueberries is due to efforts in building grower partnerships, specifically in Oregon, allowing the company to ship most of its summer blueberries domestically, which reduces food miles.
As the company will provide promotable volume of both conventional and organic blueberries now on a year-round basis, California Giant is looking forward to this new program addition.
For holiday promotions both in retail and foodservice, the company expects the summer blueberry crop to begin in July. Availability of fresh California Giant organic and conventional blueberries will continue throughout the summer and into the fall when the season moves to Mexico and South America. The company developed long-term relationships with farming partners in those regions as well, enabling a smooth transition and allowing promotions to continue.
California Giant will feature more detailed crop and promotion plans at the United Fresh Convention and Expo in Chicago in June (booth #7015).
For updates on California Giant’s fresh blueberry program, keep checking back to AndNowUKnow.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Consumers are setting the tone for sustainability in the fresh produce industry, and Fyffes is one brand that’s ready to take on the call. To reduce its packaging imprint, the banana importer has introduced new, sustainable packaging, in the form of a fully recyclable paper banding to wrap its Organic Fairtrade bananas in selected markets.
“We are very excited to introduce our new recyclable and compostable banana banding,” said Emma Hunt-Duffy, Ireland Sales and Marketing Manager. “This is a significant step in realizing one of our sustainability strategic pillars—stewardship for the planet—and has created an opportunity for us to promote the sustainability message amongst our consumers.”
The new band is a more sustainable alternative to the plastic bags widely used within the sector, and are fully compostable and sourced from certified Forestry Stewardship Council approved sources, according to a press release. A product of an 18-months of research and development, the 100-percent Kraft pulp-made bands have been successfully trialed in real-life market conditions through leading retail outlets in Ireland. Estimates say the initiative will result in a reduction of over 12,500 pounds of plastic.
In choosing the materials required, Fyffes placed emphasis on a number of key necessities when working with supply partners. The most important factors were, recyclability, compostability, and sustainability, and to ensure the finished item would be of a high enough quality to provide a good surface for branding and consumer information.
It was also essential that the packaging maintains the fruit in quality condition while being able to withstand climatic changes and other features present within the supply chain—including tropical temperatures, transportation by ship, and the ripening process. Adhesives on the bands are plant-based, not plastic, and only food-grade inks are used for the print. The water resistant bands remain effective throughout the supply chain.
For more ground-breaking packaging, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WOODRIDGE, IL - Produce Pro Software understands that salespeople are on the go. And, whether in a plane, on the road, or on foot, our CRM is there to support your sales team—wherever they may go.
Here’s What’s in Store.
Built specifically to meet sales teams’ needs, our CRM allows your department to manage all facets of sales pipelines.
Accessible through our core Produce Pro system and via mobile app, Produce Pro Software’s CRM solutions provide an accessible, easy-to-use interface on almost any device.
And our CRM is fully flexible, supporting the sales process with as much or as little structure as you need.
Fully integrated with the Produce Pro system, our CRM is updated in real time—because we know that real time data equals real results.
With Produce Pro Software’s CRM, users can easily:
- Manage accounts with a 360-degree view of customer information, contacts, orders, and credits;
- Create new accounts, leads, and opportunities;
- Add tasks, contacts, and touch points.
Users can also:
- Track and review account activity;
- View live product inventory;
- Conduct quick searches;
- And, finally, place sales orders on behalf of their customers.
Sales managers can access a variety of reports to see how their sales staff is doing—and our Salesperson Dashboard can pull and filter the status of sales pipelines by salesperson.
Plus with our “Near Me” feature, salespeople can search their current location for identified customers, leads, and prospects, maximizing time in the field and increasing efficiency throughout their day.
Put the power of Produce Pro in the hands of your sales team. Contact us at 630-395-9600 to learn more or visit producepro.com.
Thank you for watching What’s in Store.
BENTONVILLE, AR - The labor war wages on, with Walmart finally revealing what it has been hiding up its sleeve: a new innovative headquarters. Last week, the retail behemoth announced it is breaking ground on a 300-acre corporate HQ in northwest Arkansas that is expected to lure in talent thanks to a few exciting perks.
“It’s a very competitive talent war,” Dan Bartlett, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, said to reporters according to Business Insider. “And as we are striving to attract and retain the best talent in order for us to win the future of retail, a key component that is the work environment in which we’re creating.”
With its new HQ, Walmart hopes to create more of a community amidst its employees—which Bartlett believes its current Bentonville-based headquarters lacks due to its structure. In order to promote collaboration while also pushing forward its digital transformation, the retailer pulled inspiration from college campuses like Stanford University, the University of Texas, and the University of Arkansas, as well as other companies’ innovative corporate campuses like Apple and McDonald’s.
“We view this…more like a college university campus, versus a walled-off-from-the-community corporate headquarters,” Bartlett continued. “We want it to feel—and it will be—very accessible to the community.”
In a press release, Bartlett also outlined what new and veteran Walmart employees can expect from the HQ, including ample natural light, expanded food offerings, convenient parking, fitness options, and a child care facility. The new facility will also feature solar panels atop parking decks, energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, regionally sourced building materials, and a habitat for wildlife, shade paths, and bike trails.
“We expect this will accelerate Walmart’s digital transformation and help attract the next generation of talent with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary conveniences,” Bartlett wrote in the press release.
Doug McMillon, President and CEO, added, “Arkansas has been good to us, and there’s nowhere else we’d rather call home. When I imagine the next 60 years, I can’t help but smile at the possibilities."
Construction will kick off this July, with the project expected to be completed in 2024. Walmart plans to open in phases between 2020 and 2024.
Will Walmart’s new HQ successfully pull in more talent? And how will competitors respond to Walmart’s latest labor strategy? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Last month’s Viva Fresh Expo was full of enough innovations to keep the ANUK team reporting on the Tex-Mex corridor’s ingenuity for quite some time. And SunFed® was no exception. With a new machine that can guarantee the sweetness of this summer’s melons—Gretchen Kreidler Austin said it first!—and high graphic retail bins no grocer will want to miss out on, SunFed is making sure its latest innovations will have the industry singing sweet melon-themed melodies all summer long.
“At SunFed, we are known for innovation, and this year, we are introducing our sweet melon machine. We can guarantee, at a boutique level introduction program, the sweetness of our melons at SunFed,” Gretchen, Director of Marketing and Business Development, told me on the show floor.
The machine is especially beneficial to retailers, Gretchen noted, as it helps bolster sales and build brand recognition with shoppers.
Another strategy SunFed is implementing to build brand recognition is with bold retail bins that are most definitely what you’re produce aisles are missing.
“We have developed new high graphic bins for the retail floor. These bins are the perfect size for one RPC or a DRC, and one of them fits perfectly inside the bin. And we have high graphics that can be easily changed to fit a store format or a label or a brand or our own brand,” Gretchen explained. “They can really stand out and catch the customer’s attention. They’re good for a new program, a trial program, or even a display contest, because the graphics are so bright, bold, and eye-catching.”
For more details on what SunFed is bringing to the (picnic) table this summer, check out our exclusive video above.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. organic market in 2018 broke through the $50 billion mark for the first time, with sales hitting a record $52.5 billion, up 6.3 percent from the previous year, as reported by the 2019 Organic Industry Survey released by the Organic Trade Association.
"Organic is now considered mainstream. But the attitudes surrounding organic are anything but the status quo," said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director. "In 2018, there was a notable shift in the mindset of those working in organic toward collaboration and activism to move the needle on the role organic can play in sustainability and tackling environmental initiatives."
According to a press release, the stalwart of the organic industry, sales of organic fruits and vegetables rose to $17.4 billion in 2018 for a 5.6 percent rate of growth, on par with the growth attained in 2017. By comparison, the overall fruits and vegetables category, including both organic and conventional products, grew by just 1.7 percent in 2018. Fruits and vegetables now account for 36.3 percent of all organic food sales. Organic fruits and vegetables make up close to 15 percent of all the produce sold in the U.S. and have nearly doubled their market share in the last 10 years.
Popular in the organic produce aisles are the classics, like carrots, greens, apples, bananas. Also hitting stride are organic berries, avocados, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and tropical fruits like mangos and papayas. And outside the fresh produce section, frozen, canned, and dried vegetable and fruit sections also made gains.
Produce is a gateway to organic for consumers, especially Millennials and those with young families. Industry experts note that the more people learn about health and wellness, the more people buy fresh produce.
"Organic is in a unique and tough environment. The government is slowing the advancement of the organic standard, but the positive news is that industry is finding ways to innovate and get closer to the consumer without walking away from the organic program—the sector is innovating yet requiring that federal organic be in place," said Batcha. "So, whether it's grass-fed, regenerative, or Global Organic Textile Standard certified, they all have to be organic. The industry is committed to standards and giving consumers what they want."
The association said millennials are pushing for transparency and integrity in the food supply chain, and they are savvy to misleading marketing. The USDA Organic seal is gaining new appeal as consumers realize that organic is a certification that is not only monitored and supported by official standards, but is the only seal that encompasses the spectrum of non-GMO, no toxic pesticides or chemicals, dyes, or preservatives.
"Activism is a natural reaction from an industry that is really close to the consumer,” said Batcha. “When we are in an environment where government is not moving fast enough, the industry is choosing to move to meet the consumer rather than get stalled."
Currently, almost 6 percent of the food sold in this country is organic. Today's consumers can find organic products—food and non-food items—in every aisle of their grocery stores. They can choose organic in their favorite big box store, their club warehouse store, even in their neighborhood convenience store, and increasingly on the internet. Organic is no longer a niche market.
Additionally, new records were set in both the organic food market and the organic non-food market. Organic food sales reached $47.9 billion, for an increase of 5.9 percent. Sales of organic non-food products jumped by 10.6 percent to $4.6 billion. The growth rate for organic continued to easily outpace the general market: in 2018, total food sales in the U.S. edged up just 2.3 percent while total non-food sales rose 3.7 percent.
To learn more about the Organic Trade Association's 2019 Organic Industry Survey, read the association's press release in its entirety here.
For news on anything fresh produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.