MONTREAL, CANADA - Fall is my favorite season, but when I was a kid, I absolutely hated pumpkin carving—it was the guts, you see, I couldn’t stand the ooey gooey-ness. That’s why it’s so exciting for me to now learn that Bay Baby has my back with expertly painted pumpkins harvested in August and shipped in early September—perfect timing! Like many of you, Bay Baby will be presenting at this year’s annual CPMA Convention and Trade Show, and it’s aiming to steal the show! Bay Baby Spokesperson Jennifer Pierce was just as excited as I am for the company to “spread the pumpkin joy” on the expo floor.
“We are a one-stop grower and leader in painted pumpkins, long stem ornamentals, and winter organic squash,” said Jennifer. “Our vast array of fun and unique pumpkin products will fit each individuals’ personality and flavor palate.”
While the company began with two innovative women, Michele Youngquist and Liz Mitchell, and a plot of just 30 acres of soil, it has grown into a leader in painted, decorated, and ornamental pumpkins, and many varieties of winter squash. In 2000 Bay Baby introduced its signature Pumpkin Patch Pals®, a vibrant crew of individually hand-decorated, painted mini pumpkins with festive character faces and distinctive feathery hair and hats—just what I need for my fall decorations! The company’s newest design concept is based on sports, y’all! The pumpkins all come with football- and hockey-inspired designs and would be right at home with fall decorating.
“We are continuing our mission of ‘SPREADING the PUMPKIN JOY’ with our additional line of Sports Painted Pumpkins,” commented Jennifer. “Our new line will continue to excite and bring joy when others see our products in store or give them to others.”
Bay Baby will be featuring its Hockey and Football Painted Pumpkins at CPMA as well as its Pumpkin Patch Pals, organic hard winter squash, and many other fun and unique ornamental pumpkins. For retailers, the company has half pallet displays available, pre-mixed with an instant Pumpkin Patch display and focal point. There are no single-case picks—cases are already mixed on pallet—and there are instant ready displays for a variety of products. If you thought the football pumpkins and Pumpkin Patch Pals are all the company has to offer, think again! The design options feature silhouettes, skulls, pets, and lots of fun faces. The zany pumpkins will surely entice customers during fall!
A golden opportunity, the CPMA Convention offers companies a chance to connect with produce industry colleagues from all stages of the supply chain.
“The CPMA Convention offers a variety of networking and learning opportunities to absorb and grow in the Canadian market; as well as open the door of trade opportunities through partnerships with wholesale and retail entities. The investment made to be a part of CPMA, pays dividends for many opportunities to come,” concluded Jennifer.
To optimize retail fall sales and see these festive pumpkins in person, visit booth #724 at CPMA’s annual Convention and Trade Show.
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.
MORE RAIN COMING TO CALIFORNIA
On Tuesday we had mentioned it appeared California might be out of the rain cycle, but new storms have developed over the past few days that are predicted to hit next week.
The first storm will hit Monday, bringing possible rain to growing locations in the northern half of the state. Salinas along the coast may see some light showers as well as the Sacramento Valley area in the center of the state.
A chance for heavier rain will come next Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6. This storm is predicted to come further south and hit regions such as Oxnard on the coast and Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley. Over the two-day period Salinas and Santa Maria may see up .6” while locations in the northern end of the San Joaquin valley will see up to .75”.
Look for harvests to possibly be affected out of Salinas and Santa Maria during these days. Broccoli and cauliflower are currently coming from these regions. Strawberries are also beginning. Asparagus out of central California has also started and could be affected by the rain.
Obviously, this can all change over the next 10 days so we will keep you informed as we get closer.
WARM TEMPS STILL COMING TO CA
The warmer temperatures we talked about on Tuesday are still coming this weekend and into next week. The desert regions will see a maximum temperature of 91° on Sunday and Monday. The citrus regions of Visalia and Bakersfield will see maximum temperatures of 76° on Sunday and 80° on Monday. Oxnard will reach of high of 77° on Sunday and Monday. Temperatures across the state will cool off a bit on Tuesday and Wednesday but will climb again by Thursday. For the regions not affected by rains, look for good volumes and quality.
RAIN IN FLORIDA IS A BUST
On Tuesday, we informed you of rain forecasted next week for all regions of Florida. As of today, the possibilities and locations of rain have been greatly reduced.
In the southern half of the state, the current forecast is for a 40% chance of light showers from Tuesday to Thursday. Belle Glade, Homestead, and Immokalee will see 0.1” over the three days.
The heaviest rain will be isolated in the northern section of the state in areas such as Alachua, where the blueberry harvest has begun. This region will see up to .5” on the Monday and Tuesday.
Temperatures across the state will be in the mid-80°s (the high) and mid-60°s (the low).
Cantaloupe regions of Plant City and Zolfo Springs are getting close to the beginning of harvest. Look for the first shipments the week of April 22. Watermelons out of Florida should also begin about the same time.
MEXICO - CULIACAN
Temperatures will remain hot for the next ten days, with highs in the 90°s and lows in the upper 50°s. Look for production numbers to remain strong.
CIUDAD OBREGON
Look for temperatures in the 90°s through Monday. Tuesday through Friday will see high temperatures in the upper 80°s and then back in the 90°s by next Saturday. If production hasn’t started already in this area it is close. This production will only add to volumes coming from Culiacan in Nogales. Maybe look for pricing to come off on most items.
EL BAJIO
Central Mexico region will see perfect conditions over the next ten days with highs in the mid- to upper 80°s and lows in the low 50°s. Lettuces and wet vegetables are coming from these regions.
TORREON
This major growing region in the northeastern state of Chihuahua is also experiencing perfect growing conditions with high temperatures in the upper 80°s to mid-90°s over the next ten days and low temperatures in the mid-50°s. This is another major spring/summer growing region for shadehouse veg. We should begin to see production out of this area sometime next month.
MICHIOACAN
All avocado and berry regions of Michoacán are experiencing perfect weather. High temperatures range from the mid-80°s to the lower 90°s, depending on the location. Lows range from the upper 40°s to the mid-50°s.
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Growing regions of the Baja peninsula will see the same warmer temperatures hitting California over the weekend. San Quintin will max out at 78° on Sunday and Monday, while Vizcaino will see high temperatures of 92° for the same days. Minimum temperatures will be in the mid-50°s. This is great weather for strawberries coming from these regions that ship through San Diego.
Thank you again for your support, and we will be back next week with another update.
MONTREAL, CANADA - This year’s CPMA Convention and Trade Show is going to be totally bananas. At least it will be once you stop by Chiquita Brands’ booth. The banana company will be ready and waiting to connect with attendees and show off its impressive wares. Chiquita Brands Director of Sales, North America, Jamie Postell, spoke with me about the banana’s strong presence in the Canadian produce market, the company’s marketing prowess, and the evolution of Chiquita’s iconic Blue Sticker.
“The banana category continues to be well-positioned in the produce section,” said Jamie. “Bananas are a great source of fiber and heart healthy fats, providing the feeling of staying fuller longer. The fruit also provides a good natural sugar source—fructose—that is slowly digested and absorbed, preventing sugar spikes that leave consumers craving more sugary foods. While consumers know bananas are good for physical well-being, it has also been proven that bananas are good for mental well-being. Bananas include high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin, a natural substance known to have a calming effect on the brain and naturally boost your mood and promote feelings of relaxation.”
The Canadian market is particularly primed for a banana revolution, because more and more Canadian consumers are becoming concerned about the link between food and health. In fact, according to Nielsen’s Panelviews Canadian survey, in 2018, 70 percent of Canadians said their number one motivation to make healthier food choices is to prevent future health issues. Because most Canadians consider fruits and vegetables to be integral to healthy eating, produce consumption in the country is growing rapidly.
Chiquita is a produce company with a mind for marketing, and the company continues to invest in research to find unique ways to engage with banana consumers. Chiquita conducts in-store testing and campaign tracking to determine the most successful and innovative ways to engage customers and drive category sales. One way to drum up shoppers’ interest is through the unique and timeless Blue Sticker, which consumers know means high quality. Chiquita introduces a new series of stickers each quarter, whether they be flowery designs to celebrate the arrival of spring or turning the Blue Sticker pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The company has also gotten pretty creative with its stickers, and made a super team-up, this year partnering with the animated adventure movie THE LEGO® MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART. The movie featured the introduction of Banarnar—a LEGO banana character. Over a four-week period though the movie’s February 8 North American release, more than 300 million Blue Stickers in the U.S. and several European countries featured characters from the movie, including Banarnar, of course, as well as a code allowing fans to play online games and win themed prizes in the “Chiquita Build For a Chance to Win” promotion. Unique codes can also be found on the Chiquita Facebook page, which are posted daily throughout the promotion.
And, Jamie added, Chiquita knows the advantages of technology when it comes to marketing and is not shying away from making tech strides.
“In 2018 Chiquita pioneered AR/VR expertise in fresh produce aisles across America, partnering with Shazam to engage with shoppers by taking them on an innovative journey to learn about the brand’s ‘Behind the Blue Sticker’ initiative,” Jamie told me. “By scanning the Chiquita sticker, shoppers accessed an AR experience via the Shazam app that transported them into the tropics and followed the journey of a banana from Chiquita farms in Latin America, to the port facility, right across the Atlantic, and all the way to their kitchen table via their favorite grocery store.”
The partnership paid off for Chiquita, as over 16 percent of users worldwide scanned the sticker, and in the U.S., the campaign captured the brand’s coveted millennial audience—69 percent of total users.
And Chiquita hasn’t stopped there, as the company has most recently partnered with Snapchat to engage shoppers. During the month of April—in honor of World Banana Day on April 17—consumers are encouraged to participate in a new promotion. Through the end of May, SnapCodes will appear on 200 million Blue Stickers, allowing fans to virtually “peel back” the sticker to tap into three exciting new experiences.
With all these promotions and developments, it’s not hard to see why Chiquita is so excited for the show. CPMA offers Chiquita the opportunity to connect with Canadian customers and showcase its product offering across the Canadian market. The unique connections that Chiquita will make at CPMA allows the company to get its message out about its brand values.
“Chiquita’s focus is to bring to market a banana that is premium quality, and that pleases the consumer—not just with the taste and appearance, but also with the intrinsic qualities of the banana itself. Chiquita continues to invest in logistics programs for a fresher and more premium quality banana. At Chiquita, we want to make sure that our iconic Blue Sticker stands for both sustainable bananas and our inspiration for doing well and giving back. Efficient and sustainable business processes throughout the whole supply chain with a healthy, motivated workforce is at the core of how we run our company.”
To go ‘nanners with Chiquita, visit booth #909 at this year’s CPMA Convention and Trade Show.
BOISE, ID - This morning, Albertsons companies announced a new President and CEO; effective April 25, 2019, Vivek Sankaran, current Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo Foods North America, will assume both roles.
Albertsons’ current President and CEO Jim Donald will continue as Co-Chairman of the Board alongside Leonard Laufer. The company’s longtime leader Robert Miller has been named Chairman Emeritus and will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
“It is a great privilege to join a company that has such deep roots in American retail,” said Sankaran, in a press release. “Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel Osco, Shaw's, ACME, Tom Thumb, Randall’s, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, and Carrs—all of these banners and more in the Albertsons Companies family of stores have hundreds of years of combined history. Our stores are integral to the lives of millions of customers each week. I’m excited to build on the legacies of past CEOs Bob Miller and Jim Donald who both laid a solid foundation for success and look forward to working with our associates to realize the opportunities and navigate the challenges in our evolving industry.”
According to Albertsons’ press release, Sankaran has served as CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America since December 2018. Prior to that, Sankaran served as the company's President and COO, a position he was named to in 2016.
Before joining PepsiCo in 2009, Sankaran was a partner at McKinsey and Company, where he served various Fortune 100 companies, bringing a strong focus on strategy and operations. Sankaran holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in manufacturing from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai.
“Vivek brings a rare blend of CPG, retail, manufacturing, logistics, technology, and research and development to Albertsons Companies, all of which are key components to being a successful retailer in an Omni Channel-driven environment,” said outgoing President and CEO Jim Donald. “Moreover, Vivek has the keen understanding that the front line is directly linked to the bottom line, and I'm confident he will inspire and engage our 270,000 associates across our stores, support offices, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers.”
Robert Miller echoed those sentiments, expressing confidence in Sankaran’s abilities and Albertsons’ future.
“I’ve known Vivek for many years. He has always impressed me, not only with his exceptional work at Frito-Lay in managing the many facets of a multibillion-dollar food business, but also with his ability to work with and develop people,” said Miller. “I couldn’t be happier to leave Albertsons Companies in Vivek’s hands.”
Donald also added, “When I joined Albertsons Companies in 2018, I found a company that had a strong decentralized operating model, a fantastic leadership team, and incredible potential to be the four-walls and no-walls leader in the grocery industry. Over the past year, our team made our company’s nearly 2,300 stores even stronger as we sharpened our focus on the intersection of technology and service. I’m looking forward to the continued progress of the company under the seasoned leadership of Vivek. We continue to be well-positioned to serve the evolving needs of today’s customer, where, how, and when they choose to shop with us.”
Albertsons’ press release noted that Laufer, who was appointed to the Albertsons Companies Board of Directors in October 2018 and is now Board Co-Chairman alongside Jim Donald, is a Senior Managing Director and Head of Transformation and Technology for Cerberus Capital Management and the leader of Cerberus Technology Solutions. Prior to joining Cerberus, Laufer had launched and was the head of JPMorgan Intelligent Solutions, a unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Before that, Laufer cofounded and was CEO of Argus Information and Advisory Services, which was sold in 2012 to Verisk Analytics. He’s a is a graduate of Harvard University, and he received an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
What does the future hold for Albertsons under its new leadership? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with more on the dynamic retailer.
NEW ZEALAND - This giveaway will drive you crazy! JAZZ™ and Jeep are teaming up for the JAZZ'd Up Jeep Sweepstakes to provide key promotional opportunities in order to drive more traffic to retail stores, inspire sales, repeat purchases, and keep customers wanting more JAZZ apples.
“This sweepstakes and its associated elements, including a nationwide Ibotta rebate offer, highlight our commitment to fully integrated consumer and trade marketing initiatives that will grow brand awareness, add value to our retail offerings, and increase demand for JAZZ apples long after the activities conclude,” said Brock Nemecek, Regional Marketing Manager for T&G Global, one of JAZZ’s in-market sales agents.
According to the company’s press release, the sweepstakes has already received almost 300,000 entries and 7,000 valid receipts proving purchase via mail and the online form. It will wrap on April 30, 2019. JAZZ is supporting the sweepstakes with email marketing, consumer advertising and PR, as well as a content campaign featuring brand ambassador, Chef Adam Glick with the coveted grand prize—a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The Jeep will be awarded to the lucky winners in May. There is also a wide array of additional outdoor-themed secondary prizes.
In February, JAZZ launched a new Impulse Buy Bin Program coordinating with JAZZ’d Up Jeep. The program is designed to live beyond the promotion and spur impulse purchases. Showcasing JAZZ apples beyond the fresh produce department, the custom displays enable retailers to make healthy snacking centers and are currently available.
“With an innovative secondary display, our customers can drive incremental sales by elevating bagged and bulk JAZZ apples as ideal grab-and-go, fresh snacks,” explained Roger Aguirre, Apple Category Director at Oppy. “The display, which looks like an actual Jeep, promotes JAZZ’s position as the go-to apple for outdoor enthusiasts and encourages shoppers to get outside as spring and summer approach.”
Owned by T&G Global, JAZZ is a trademarked apple brand headquartered in New Zealand. Its three in-market sales agents, Oppy, Rainer Fruit Company, and CMI Orchards, work alongside T&G to offer JAZZ apples.
For more updates on JAZZ'd Up Jeep Sweepstakes, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Berry season is upon us, and I couldn’t be more excited. DelFrescoPure® got everyone on the strawberry train by testing our readers’ knowledge of my favorite summertime treat. Many threw their hat in the ring, so to speak, but only two have been crowned champion and winner of the $100 grand prize!
The buy-side winner, Senior Purchasing Manager for Denny’s, Gene Harris, is the lucky ducky who proved his berry knowledge and is now $100 richer! Congratulations, Gene, on one of many ANUK quiz victories!
On the supply side, Procurement Manager for Fresh Concepts, another repeat winner, Dustin White, knocked out the competition left and right, and came out on top!
“I’m very tempted to use my entire winnings to buy $100 worth of DelFrescoPure Strawberries," Dustin commented. "The product looks so amazing I could almost taste it just looking at it!”
Take a peek at our leaderboard below to see how tight the competition was for this strawberry quiz…
The Quiz Quix winners nabbed perfect scores, but not all of us were so lucky. The most missed question on the quiz was:
Most Missed Question
YES!Berries comes in new 3-4 oz snack packs, what are they called?
Correct
Stackers
Didn’t do so well this round? Buff up on your berry knowledge and practice fo the next Quiz Quix by checking out the link below!
Make sure you’re subscribed to AndNowUKnow’s newsletter to be in-the-know for The Snack Magazine contests, industry news, and the chance to win our next quiz!
Sign in through your email or one of several social media accounts to join in the next Quiz Quix, and maybe you might just be a winner.
Quiz Quix is our way of encouraging a little healthy competition within the industry, and of course, to have fun. Signing in will give us a token to verify you and enables us to put your name in the ranking. It does not give us access to more than your name and email address—we value your security. Participants must have a valid email address registered in their individual name in order to play.
Congratulations to Gene and Dustin!
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO - Red Sun Farms is bringing the heat to the Great White North this April with new greenhouse-grown products that pack a one-two-punch. We spoke with Carlos Visconti, CEO USA and Canada Operations, and Harold Paivarinta Senior Director and Head of Sales for North America, to learn about the Red Sun Farms’ plans for the 2019 CPMA Conference and Trade Show and the company’s exciting new offerings.
“The key message is that Red Sun Farms is a company that sets the bar in terms of quality, innovation, and service,” Carlos told me. “Our seed to plate approach insures these things as we control all aspects of the supply chain from seed selection to delivery. It is this approach that created Sweetpops and Sweetpeps, as we strive to create the perfect products. With the seed to plate mindset, we have the ability to deliver the very best in quality & flavor, year-round.”
With Sweetpops—a line of snacking tomatoes that debuted last year—and Sweetpeps— mini peppers first featured at SEPC’s Southern Exposure—Red Sun Farms is confident that they have hits on their hands that could help Canadian produce departments drive sales.
“Late last year we hit the produce industry with our ultimate snacking tomato, ‘Sweetpops,’ and the demand and feedback have been tremendous,” Harold noted. “We warned everyone that we weren’t stopping, and just recently at Southern Exposure, we unveiled our ‘Sweetpeps,’ our 100 percent high-tech greenhouse grown mini peppers. Following the look and feel of Sweetpops we’ve created a fun 8oz resealable bag that’s great for people on the go. The initial response to Sweetpeps has been amazing, so we’re confident that we’ve now created the perfect one-two punch of Pops and Peps! We’re already saying ‘Whether you pep or pop, either way you won’t stop!!’”
For Red Sun Farms, CPMA presents a key opportunity to connect with partners, new and old, Harold noted, and to showcase products like Sweetpops and Sweetpeps that are transforming the landscape of the produce department.
“CPMA is an important show for Red Sun Farms. We have a major footprint in the Canadian market, and CPMA allows us to network and connect with our Canadian partners,” said Harold. “This show inspires exhibitors to showcase creative new product innovations, and as a team we look forward to seeing the latest and greatest from the produce industry.
Harold continued: “There is definitely opportunity in the Canadian Market. Especially in regards to specialties and organics, as we are seeing these categories expand year after year. It’s our job as growers to listen to the market, create the products they are looking for, and help our retail partners with the next big thing.”
With Sweetpops and Sweetpeps, Red Sun Farms may have just that.
“Red Sun Farms is committed to exceeding our customers expectations,” added Carlos. “Our fantastic team is working diligently on the next big thing. The success we have had with our products is not by accident, but by design to deliver flavorful products 365 days a year. Stop by booth #1501 and see the difference yourself!”
Show-goers at the 2019 CPMA Conference and Trade Show, held April 2-4 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, can learn more about Red Sun Farms’ latest products at booth #1501.
BURLINGTON, ON - Earth Fresh Farms is bringing a breezy springtime theme to Montreal next month. The spud specialists are taking to this year’s CPMA Conference and Trade Show with an Airstream trailer and a full family of organic offerings in tow.
“At the CPMA Conference and Trade Show, we’re going to focus on our core values,” said Marketing Director Stephanie Cutaia, “going back to the earth and celebrating clean eating—our core values of being healthy and organic. We’re in the growing world, so we wanted to do something with a really natural environment for our booth design. We’re replicating a park with green grass and picnic tables.”
Stephanie tells me that the company’s approach to its CPMA booth is less about displaying produce and more about creating a connection between the brand and its trade partners.
“Every year we try to really wrap who we are as a company into our booth so when our trade visitors come and visit us, they create a bond with us. They connect with us on a sensory and emotional level. We all know you have to make that emotional connection to your customer or your consumer, and we try to do that with our booth every year,” Stephanie said. “Our park is blue skies and fresh-cut fries themed. We’ll be serving organic fresh-cut fries and organic beer to help quench your thirst, and we’ll have a really cool vintage Airstream trailer.”
For Earth Fresh Farms, the CPMA Conference and Trade Show is about more than just networking. The company is actively involved, as a Gold Member sponsor, in supporting the association and helping ensure a bright future for fresh food in North America.
“The annual Convention and Trade Show is a great must-attend event. Every year they are selling out booths and increasing attendance from key buyers in the foodservice and retail sector,” Stephanie explained. “We’ve really grown our relationship with the CPMA in the last ten years. We’re gold member sponsors now, and we see the CPMA as almost our trade partner. We rely on them heavily for a lot of things including food safety. They keep us current on Canadian regulations to ensure effective food safety across the board and throughout the supply chain. We rely on them with regard to government relations and advocacy. CPMA is always there with its Half Your Plate program helping consumers and promoting the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.“
Like the CPMA, Earth Fresh Farms is actively encouraging healthy eating habits, and Stephanie told me that highlighting the health benefits of potatoes is one of Earth Fresh Farms’ top priorities.
Creating and capitalizing on the buzz around healthy organic potatoes and onions shouldn’t prove too hard for the company as it offers a comprehensive selection of bagged potatoes with USDA and CFIA bona fides.
“We offer organic potatoes in reds, yellows, whites, and Russets. We do them in a five pound, a three pound—and we also have a 1 and 1/2 pound baby potato mixed organic pack with purples, reds, and yellows,” added Stephanie. “We do baby organic reds and baby yellows. We also have organic onions in both red and yellow. So we’re able to provide a whole family of organic products—both potatoes and onions—to our customers, which is great because the organic market is growing.”
Additionally, Stephanie noted, Earth Fresh Farms is hard at work bringing new varieties sourced from around the globe to the North American market. The company’s president Tom Hughes has made it his mission to track down the best and brightest spuds, and his latest find, the Red Emily variety is in the works and soon to hit Canadian and U.S. shores.
“It’s interesting when the globe becomes smaller and more accessible,” Stephanie added. “It’s neat that we can do this—bring varieties from all over the world, and our Potatoes of the World program highlights these varieties. It allows consumers to connect with varieties that come from their homelands.”
For more fresh-focused news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
LEHIGH VALLEY, PA - Lidl is looking to make Pennsylvania its Stateside domain. The retailer first made headway into the Keystone State in November of last year and, recently, sought $9.5 million in state redevelopment grants for six possible stores in the Philadelphia area. This week, Lidl once again made major moves in Pennsylvania, with The Morning Call reporting that the grocer is opening its first store in the Lehigh Valley on April 24.
“We’re thrilled to open in the community and serve customers there,” said Will Harwood, Director of Communications. Harwood also noted that the store was a $20 million investment that included the building, site remediation, and street work.
The news source reports that Lidl has been trying to open its Lehigh Valley store for the past three years, but corporate scale backs ultimately prevented the chain from making strides toward an opening date.
But that's not all Lidl has in the works this week. News also broke that Lidl was testing out its own convenience-style chain, joining the likes of Whole Foods, Hy-Vee, and even its major global competitor, Aldi. The Washington Business Journal reported that Lidl Express, the retailer’s new convenience-sized store that offers a variety of fresh food and staples, is its first store in Arlington, Virginia. The store is a little more than 1,000 square feet and is located inside Lidl’s U.S. headquarters.
“We are looking at a variety of different store sizes and formats as they come up,” Harwood said. “Right now, it’s [Lidl Express] just this space, but it shows how agile and adaptive Lidl can be.”
While Lidl Express is open for business and ready for shoppers to revel in its convenience, Harwood noted that, as of now, Lidl is not looking to expand its new concept.
Is Pennsylvania now a Lidl-yellow state? Will the market eventually become synonymous with Lidl as Florida is to Publix? And what do all of these grocers-turned-convenience-stores mean for the industry? AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest moves happening on the retail chess board.
SEATTLE, WA - Amazon is heading south to the Lone Star State, expanding its Austin Tech Hub, and creating 800 new tech jobs. Together with its customer fulfillment facilities, the e-tailer has created more than 22,000 full-time jobs in Texas and has invested over $7 billion in the state since 2011.
“In the last four years, we have created more than 1,000 jobs in Austin,” stated Terry Leeper, General Manager of the Austin Tech Hub. “With a strong pool of technical talent in Austin and a dynamic quality of life, we are excited to continue to expand and create more opportunity in this vibrant city."
According to a press release, the new jobs center around software and hardware engineering, research science, and cloud computing.
“The state of Texas has cultivated a strong and vibrant business environment, leading to more jobs and greater innovation,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “With today’s investment and continued investment in the technology sector, Texas will continue to chart a path toward greater economic prosperity.”
Senator Kirk Watson went on to say, “I’m pleased that Amazon is doubling down on Austin by expanding the Tech Hub. Austin is a special place that fosters creativity and innovation, and I appreciate that Amazon has chosen to become an even greater contributor to our dynamic community and economy.”
Amazon’s Austin Tech Hub is one of the company’s 17 North American Tech Hubs—a network of development centers in addition to Amazon’s Seattle and Northern Virginia headquarters. Employees at these Hubs build new products and services for Amazon customers around the world.
“We are pleased to see Amazon’s significant investment in the Austin region continue to grow,” said Gary Farmer, Opportunity Austin Chair, Austin Chamber of Commerce. “This expanding presence is indicative of our region’s ability to provide creative and innovative talent. We’re proud to call Amazon a partner in our efforts to achieve regional prosperity.”
Congressman Michael McCaul added, “It is no surprise that Texas’ booming economy continues to attract innovative companies, both large and small. Amazon’s decision to further expand comes with the recognition that Texas continues to boast a pro-business environment that helps businesses and families to grow, thrive, and succeed. This expansion will help ensure Austin remains at the cutting-edge of the tech that’s fueling and driving emerging markets.”
For the latest in how Amazon is expanding nationally, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.