PORTLAND, OR - Locally-owned grocer Basics Market has announced an expansion from its humble Portland, Oregon, origins with plans for its third store. Opening its first location just last summer, the Chuck Eggert-founded retailer’s growth is thanks, in part, to its interactive approach to cooking and eating nourishing, locally-sourced meals. Opening in Portland’s Pearl District, the 13,000-square-foot store is set to open in fall of this year, soon after the opening of the company’s second store in Tualatin, Oregon, late this summer.
“Our model exemplifies a next generation grocery built around a commitment to healthy, seasonal eating; recipe and ingredient inspiration; and community driven, educational programming to help people cook nourishing meals at home,” said Basics Market’s Vice President of Operations, Creative Director & Executive Chef, Fernando Divina. “Our team is delighted to bring our concept to life in the Pearl and eager to welcome neighbors before the year is out”
According to a press release, the new store will be geared towards its urban audience, offering several features including a beer and wine bar, fresh deli case, cheese aging observation station, dry cured meats, and, of course, lots of fresh produce.
Other store features include:
- Fresh produce from its founder’s and local Willamette Valley farms, delivered daily
- Monthly rotating meal stations with ingredients organized by chef-developed, nourishing recipes inspired by seasonal and regional products
- A Discovery Kitchen and Nutrition Classroom with state-of-the-art cooking facilities and a full schedule of free classes, including interactive demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and nutrition classes, taught by Basics’ Culinary and Nutrition Mentors
- A protein counter featuring a wide variety of Pacific Northwest meats, poultry, and seafood, as well as dry cured beef, pork, poultry, and plant-based protein options
- An antipasti and deli case featuring fresh grab-and-go roasted organic chickens, sandwiches, salads, and other delicatessen offerings
“We are excited to welcome Basics Market to Lovejoy Square. Their focus on health, sustainability, wellness, and community engagement aligns perfectly with our mission and values at Killian Pacific,” said Adam Tyler, President of Killian Pacific—the commercial real estate company that owns the building. “We believe the Basics experience will activate the local community with fresh ideas, resources, and breathe new energy into the surrounding neighborhood.”
Will the retailer’s third location be the first of many? Will the new store set the tone for future urban retail endeavors? AndNowUKnow will keep reporting.
ARLINGTON, VA - Prepare yourselves, East Coast, for the most intense Lidl-fication of your lives! By the spring of 2020, the discount retailer hopes to open 25 new stores in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.
By the end of next year, a press release noted, Lidl expects to sell its award-winning products in more than 100 stores and create more than 1,000 new jobs across nine states. As part of this move to operate in the most convenient locations, Lidl will also close two stores in Rockingham and Kinston, North Carolina, this summer. All employees there will be given the opportunity to relocate and work at other stores within Lidl’s growing markets. Earlier this week, Lidl also announced it will hold a hiring event to fill around 100 new positions at its regional headquarters and distribution center in Alamance County, North Carolina.
“We are committed to long-term growth in the United States and always strive to locate in the most convenient locations for our shoppers,” said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. “These new stores are part of the next steps in our U.S. expansion. Over the next year, we are excited to introduce more customers to Lidl’s award-winning quality, reliably low prices, and convenient shopping experience.”
Below is a list of the 25 new stores that will open along the East Coast over the next year. The grand opening dates of the individual stores will be announced over the coming months.
- Catonsville, Maryland
- College Park, Maryland
- District Heights, Maryland
- Hagerstown, Maryland
- Lanham, Maryland
- Nottingham, Maryland
- Waldorf, Maryland
- Bergenfield, New Jersey
- Lacey, New Jersey
- Babylon, New York
- Center Moriches, New York
- Huntington, New York
- Plainview, New York
- Cary, North Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Matthews, North Carolina
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Trooper, Pennsylvania
- Royersford, Pennsylvania
- York, Pennsylvania
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Virginia Beach, Viriginia
For all things retail, be sure to stick with us here at AndNowUKnow.
WATSONVILLE, CA - What’s your favorite type of berry? If your answer was blackberries (and a whole heckuva lot of them), then you’re in luck because Driscoll’s doesn’t just have blackberries this season—the company has a record volume!
“Driscoll’s blackberry supply reached record volume growth in the months of April and May as consumer’s consumption rate continues to increase year over year,” Frances Dillard, Senior Director of Brand and Product Marketing, shared with me. “With household penetration close to 28 percent, Driscoll’s market share continues to lead in this exciting and booming category.”
Frances attributed this exciting growth to Driscoll’s branded blackberry campaign, which was met with strong support from all sales channels, from retail to foodservice. The campaign’s goal was to attract new consumers during the time of the year when the berries boast their best flavors. As a result, the campaign not only caught consumers’ attention but also encouraged more than twice the number of Driscoll’s national retail customers to participate with in-store merchandising and signage.
Of course, the blackberry category’s growth can also be attributed to Driscoll’s insanely flavorful varieties. Driscoll’s Global Plant Breeding Director of Blackberries, Gavin Sills, might have explained it best in the company’s award-winning Pursuit of Flavor, which tells the story of the underdog berry and how it surprised everyone with tremendous flavor. But, while I had Frances on the line, I wanted to get her spin on it.
“The growth of the blackberry category is proof of the success of Driscoll’s dedicated blackberry breeding program,” Frances said. “Driscoll’s Global R&D team developed a true consumer feedback loop-to-the-field pipeline for delivering the most delightful varieties to our independent growers. This particular supply window was grown in Central Mexico as we transition to our growing season in California.”
In addition to hitting a new volume record, Driscoll’s is also celebrating the success of its digital consumer strategy, which included Costco’s Quick & Easy Blackberry salsa recipe video that reached over one million views just 10 days after being promoted. Driscoll’s also developed exclusive recipes, like Easy Blackberry Turnovers, One Bowl Vegan Blackberry Banana Bread, and Blackberry Macaroons—which went viral on Instagram with nearly 200,000 views—hosted on Driscolls.com. The campaign also included back-of-the-store handling posters in order to lend a helping hand to produce managers across the country.
This spring, it’s all about blackberries. But, not just any blackberries—Driscoll’s blackberries! You heard it here first! For more spectacular crop updates like this, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow for the latest.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The Allen Lund Company has revealed the promotion of Wendy Adan to Manager of the ALC San Francisco office.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the executive team for this opportunity,” said Adan. “To Bob Rose, my mentor, thank you for having faith in me and for all the guidance you have provided throughout the years. To my amazing team in San Francisco, this would not be possible without your hard work and dedication. I look forward to this next phase and providing more opportunities for growth and advancement. Thank you again!"
According to the company’s press release, Adan has over 18 years of experience in logistics and transportation. Adan attended San Diego State University and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration.
"Wendy always said she wanted my job, and sure enough, 12 years later, she has it!” said Bob Rose, Vice President of National Sales. “Wendy showed her willingness to work hard, help others, and believed if you did all the right things good opportunities could come your way. I'm proud of our company and extremely proud of our newest manager, Wendy Adan. I expect that the San Francisco office will take on more projects and become so much stronger under her leadership. No luck needed, but good luck!"
Adan came to the Allen Lund Company in April of 2007, and started as a transportation broker in training working exclusively with dry freight. Over the years, she was promoted to a broker, operations manager, and then assistant manager. The company stated that Adan has established herself as a “strong leader” and has “proved herself” in becoming the new manager of the San Francisco office.
Congratulations to Wendy Adan from the AndNowUKnow team!
LAKELAND, FL - Late last year, rumors began swirling that Publix could be expanding its Lakeland headquarters. This week, it appears the Florida-based retailer finally disclosed that it indeed has plans of transforming its headquarters from Dr. Banner to full-on Hulk, so to speak. According to News Chief, records show that the company has increased its HQ spending from $28 million to $65 million to cover the costs of a 190,000-square-foot expansion.
“The increase in costs are due to approximately 30,000 square feet of necessary building space to accommodate our projected job growth, construction and equipment cost inflation, and finished interior costs,” Chris Mesa, Director of Tax and Treasury for the retailer, said, as the news source reported. “[…] This project is in the final stages of planning and design.”
Publix plans to begin construction on the 190,000-square-foot HQ addition in the fall of 2019. This plan also includes the retailer purchasing $13 million-worth of office equipment and $6 million-worth of computer equipment in 2020.
Todd Jones, CEO and President, disclosed that the current headquarters, which opened in the early 2000s, is built for 1,200 employees—a number that has since increased in the last two decades. The expansion is slated to create 700 additional jobs.
The news source also noted that because the addition is larger than expected, Publix is in the running to receive a larger tax break as well. Originally, Publix was set to receive an estimated $163,208 each year for ten years.
For more news like this, AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you covered.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Though the Viva Fresh expo floor bustled with a plethora of excited produce mavens, J&D Produce was particularly jazzed to show off its star variety of onion—the HoneySweet® Onion. I got to speak with James Bassetti, Vice President of Operations, who spoke about the numerous uses and exceptional flavor of this special variety of onion.
“What’s great about our onion and the variety that we use is that it’s versatile,” said James. “We can grill it, sauté, and even have it raw in a burger or salad. And everyone can enjoy it because it’s got that low pyruvic acid, which is what is the bite of that onion. So it’s very, very mild.”
J&D Produce grows its HoneySweet Onions 12 months out of the year, ensuring a steady supply of sweet onions for retailers and consumers. Described by James as “chasing the sun,” the grower is committed to consistently providing consumers with delightfully mild onions all year long. The onions are grown in different regions throughout the world—in Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Peru, and Mexico—to ensure that supply meets demand.
The company has not stopped at growing, but has launched a comprehensive marketing strategy to spread the word about the favorable qualities of the HoneySweet Onion.
“What we did here specifically is tried to promote a marketing campaign that has a registered dietician and recipes that can be utilized for adults and children,” James commented.
Above all else, it's taste that matters, and J&D Produce proves that a focus on flavor leads to success.
For more exclusive videos, keep reading (and watching) AndNowUKnow.
IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!
Today, I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see where the rain is falling, the sun is shining, and everything in between.
CALIFORNIA RAINS – WHAT WILL BE AFFECTED?
Round one of the California winter storms in May came down pretty good yesterday in the northern part of the SJ Valley. Sacramento received 1.50” while Stockton received 1.00”. We don’t want to speculate about possible damage so please check with shippers to confirm. These regions are big suppliers of cherries and blueberries this time of year. At the southern end of the valley around Bakersfield and Fresno the rain totals were much less, under .10”.
Along the coast Salinas received .50” while Santa Maria received .25”. Strawberries and lettuce come from these regions.
Round two of these May storms will come ashore tomorrow bringing another .75” of rain to the Sacramento area and to the coastal regions while the southern end of the SJ valley will receive approximately .25”.
There is potentially more rain in the forecast next Tuesday and then another possible storm for Friday, May 24. We will keep you posted as things develop.
Another issue with these storms is the cooler weather. Bakersfield this time of year should be experiencing maximum temperatures in the 90°, but yesterday had a high of 67°. This region won’t see a maximum temperature of about 76° until next Saturday, the 25th. Sacramento had a maximum temperature of 58° yesterday, which is 30°s below normal for this time of year. These cooler temperatures might also affect summer crops from this region such as bell peppers, melons, grapes, etc. We will have to wait and see if harvest start dates get pushed back.
4th OF JULY SKIING IN CALIFORNIA
These storms are anticipated to bring several feet of new snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains. The accumulation numbers this season are astronomical. I wouldn’t doubt there will be skiing for the 4th in the mountains of California.
COOLER TEMPS IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST
The same storms mentioned above are bringing cooler temperatures to the desert growing regions where summer crops are starting to harvest. The Imperial Valley of California will experience maximum temperatures in the upper 70°s and lower 80°s for the next ten days. This region should be in the mid 90°s heading into the second half of May. Look for possible slow down in crops from these regions.
GEORGIA HEATING UP
Georgia is currently experiencing perfect weather and will see a heat wave come through the area by next weekend. Right now, the peach state has high temperatures in the low 90°s, but starting Monday temperatures will begin to rise slightly every day, and by Friday the 24th the region will be above the 100° mark. Expect several days of temperatures above 100°. This same heat wave will extend north into the Carolinas. These temperatures might bring on the volume of blueberries.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST COOLDOWN
The Yakima and Wenatchee Valleys of Washington state are experiencing some rain and cooler temperatures at the moment. Yesterday, the valleys received somewhere between .25-.75” of rain.
Hood River, Oregon, which is a big region for cherries, is also experiencing unseasonably cooler temperatures and rain. The next five days have a good chance of daily rain with maximum temperatures in the 50°s. The normal high temperature for this time of year is 72°.
All this wet and cooler weather out west might make for an interesting season for cherries all the way through the summer.
NEW JERSEY
The Garden State is experiencing great weather for this time of year. Temperatures were a little on the cool side last week, but things have definitely turned around this week. With high temperatures ranging from the mid 70°s to the mid 80°s and low temperatures ranging from the mid 50°s to mid 60°s over the next 10 days, things are setting up nicely for a possible early season out of the region.
MORE LOCATIONS IN THE APP
With more growing locations coming into season every week around the country there is too much to cover in our weekly emails. Please download our free Weathermelon app and follow your commodity to see where weather may affect markets.
Thanks again, and we'll be back next week with another weather report!
FLORIDA - Michael Schadler of The Florida Tomato Exchange, recently put forth a statement on the May 10 proposal for a new Tomato Suspension Agreement.
“Sadly, the Mexican industry rejected the proposed terms and is now complaining that the Commerce Department’s proposal contained unlawful demands,” Schadler stated. “This, of course, is posturing because the Commerce Department doesn’t make unlawful proposals. Mexican tomato growers would be wise to remember that a suspension agreement is a negotiated settlement in exchange for the U.S. government not prosecuting a case in which Mexican exporters were found to be dumping tomatoes.”
The Florida Tomato Exchange believes that the May 10 proposal contained new provisions to eliminate the loopholes in the old agreement that permitted alleged cheating by Mexican exporters.
“We hope the Mexican industry will reconsider its opposition rather than resorting to litigation tactics that run the risk of collapsing the negotiations,” said Schadler.
Below are the The Florida Tomato’s Exchange’s understanding of the provision in question:
- The old agreement only allowed U.S. buyers to adjust prices based on condition defects; not quality defects. The Commerce Department’s proposal would allow price adjustments for both condition and quality, which would actually provide more rights to U.S. buyers of Mexican tomatoes. This would also level the playing field by making Mexican tomatoes subject to the same USDA standards as American tomatoes.
- The old agreement created an incentive for growers and distributors of Mexican tomatoes to game the agreement’s price adjustment system by shipping product they knew would not make USDA good delivery standards on arrival. The Commerce proposal would eliminate this loophole by preventing tomatoes that don’t pass USDA inspection from being used as price deductions against the cost of tomatoes that do pass inspection, thereby lowering the price below the suspension agreement minimums.
- As anyone in the tomato business knows, most U.S. supermarkets have even stricter receiving standards than USDA. It’s incorrect to think that this provision—which would only be applicable during times of significant oversupply—would have any impact on U.S. supermarkets or consumers.
“To reject an agreement based on this provision demonstrates clearly that Mexican growers used the old suspension agreement as cover to continue dumping tomatoes into the U.S. market during times of oversupply,” Schadler aruged.
He also included comments from several growers who hope that a reasonable suspension agreement can be obtained:
“The market window isn’t there like it used to be. This is 100 percent due to supply from Mexico,” stated Fred Leitz, a vine-ripened tomato grower in Michigan. “Our costs are going up and our prices are going down. I sold tomatoes cheaper last year than I’ve sold in probably 10 years.”
Tony DiMare, Vice President of DiMare Fresh, added, “Individual growers and packing operations are leaving the industry in Florida at an alarming rate. This is a result of Mexican tomatoes being dumped in the U.S. market at less than fair value. Grower/Shippers in California are also leaving the industry.”
“As someone who grows tomatoes in both the U.S. and Mexico, I’ve witnessed firsthand the failure of the suspension agreement over the last 20 years,” said Jon Esformes of Sunripe Certified Brands, which grows tomatoes in Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Mexico. “The circumvention of the agreement hurts domestic farmers and frankly hurts Mexican growers who abide by both the letter and spirit of the law. Any new suspension agreement must have much tougher enforcement and inspection provisions.”
“Tomatoes from Mexico are priced so low that I am unable to price my products at levels that cover my increasing labor costs," stated Priya Singh of West Coast Tomato Growers.“Such a large price gap is stacked against not only us but all farmers in the United States.”
“We have the ability to double or triple our production to meet domestic demand," said Chad Ianneo of SunSelect Produce, a greenhouse grower of tomatoes-on-the-vine in Tehachapi, California. “Unfortunately, we have decided to suspend expansion due to low prices and the impact of increased Mexican imports.”
“Growing tomatoes in the U.S. has become more difficult each year," according to Toby Purse, Chief Farming Officer for Lipman Family Farms. “In Florida alone, we’ve gone from over 100 growers to around 20 in a short time. The smaller growers have been hurt the most. Cheap Mexican imports that are partly fueled by Mexican government subsidies have contributed to the decline of the U.S. tomato industry. We believe in free trade, as long as it is fair. This is not about higher reference prices; we just want an agreement that is honored by all. The lack of compliance by the Mexican growers in the previous agreement was the main reason for these negotiations. The domestic farmers have responded diligently to this process, including last week when the Mexican representatives walked away refusing to negotiate. Hopefully we can work together to get past this soon.”
For the latest developments on the suspension agreement, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.
WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards has revealed it is teaming up with Stemilt Growers to grow and market the bi-colored Skylar Rae® brand cherries!
Bob Mast, President of CMI Orchards, says the company is thrilled to add Skylar Rae to its manifest and sees huge potential for continued growth with this high-flavor, exceptionally sweet, branded cherry.
“Stemilt has done an outstanding job developing the brand and market for Skylar Rae,” said Mast. “We wholeheartedly believe that an alliance between two of the industry’s powerhouse growers, CMI and Stemilt, will amplify the retail merchandising possibilities for this incredible cherry.”
According to a press release, in 2004, Skylar Rae cherries were discovered by the Toftness family, growing by chance in a Sweetheart cherry orchard in Wenatchee, Washington. With unknown parentage (DNA) and a distinctively different flavor profile and texture, this new cultivar was granted its own price look-up (PLU) number—only the third cherry variety with its own number—for easy distinction and sales segregation from dark sweet Red and bi-colored Rainier cherries.
“Having a unique PLU number gives retailers a spectacular opportunity to capture substantial sales with an additional value-added segment within the category during the highly profitable, short cherry season,” said Mast.
Owners of the Skylar Rae brand, the Toftness and Van Hoven families, described the process behind adding another sales agency to market their special cherries.
“We thought long and hard about the need to add additional sales power and CMI was absolutely the best choice for us to expand our program and leverage the fantastic work and consumer interest already generated by Stemilt,” said Troy Toftness. “With CMI’s experience marketing some of the very best global apple brands available today, bringing them in to help us meet growing retail demands for Skylar Rae cherries was a logical move.”
Mast expressed the company is honored to become part of a successful program.
“Skylar Rae cherries are not only super sweet, but they have a unique flavor and firmness that truly stands out and leaves customers begging for their return each season,” he said. “We are really excited to work with the Toftness and Van Hoven families, and Stemilt, to expand the market for Skylar Rae cherries.”
Skylar Rae cherries will be available from CMI Orchards starting mid-June 2019.
For updates on CMI Orchards and Stemilt Growers partnership with the Skylar Rae brand cherries program, keep tuning into AndNowUKnow.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK; SURPRISE, AZ - Costco is doubling down on a commitment to growth, with the announcement of two new store openings. The stores, one in Oklahoma City, OK, and one in Surprise, AZ, are being welcomed with open arms by residents who have scrambled to get their Costco membership cards ahead of the openings. The Oklahoma City store has already opened to great fanfare, while the Surprise location is still in its planning stages.
The Oklahoma CIty location has already opened its doors and approximately 7,500 people have already signed up for memberships, according to Oklahoma News 9. This marks the first Costco in Oklahoma City—previously the closest location was in Tulsa, over 100 miles away.
The Arizona location, in Surprise, is still in its planning stages, though residents are already eager for the store to open. Set to take up 152,904 square feet over 16 acres, the store will feature all of its usual amenities, including a tire center, pharmacy, bakery, photo center, outdoor food court, hearing aid center, and optical center, according to documents obtained by The Arizona Republic. Costco expects to hire 200 to 250 full-time employees to man the store, though the timeline for the project, including the ground breaking or store opening date, has not yet been revealed.
Will the new stores’ profits and bump in membership help propel Costco to the top of the retail pile? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.