NEW ZEALAND - You would think one of the world’s largest discount chains would be an advocate for, well, giving its shoppers discounts, right? But it appears retail chain Aldi could be attempting to sneak good deals from right under shoppers’ noses to allegedly increase grocery trip spending. According to the Herald Sun, Aldi has phased in smaller unit price labeling across its 523 stores, literally minimizing its shoppers’ ability to quickly compare the value of varying products.
This week, reports surfaced that Aldi decreased the font size of unit pricing from 5 millimeters to 3 millimeters as well as altered the font from bold to regular print. Many shoppers immediately drew attention to the chain’s labeling mishap and criticized the move.
“The unit prices are much less prominent and legible for shoppers, so they are less likely to notice and use them to help make decisions about what they are going to buy,” Ian Jarratt, Queensland Consumers Association Spokesman, told the Herald Sun. “The consequence is shoppers don’t necessarily get the best value, and they end up potentially spending more.”
An Aldi spokesperson was quick to defend the chain, amending the font change was an attempt to “declutter” the labels and “provide clear and clean information” to shoppers.
“As a market leader in the adoption and promotion of unit pricing, we have no interest in minimizing this information,” the spokesperson told news source Starts at 60. “Over the last 12 months we’ve been phasing in the introduction of in-store price card printers. Our new printers are now in more than 75 percent of our stores. We will actively seek customer feedback to ensure that our new approach to label pricing is not confusing our valued shoppers.”
Will Aldi’s claim be enough to get the retailer out of hot water with its loyal shoppers? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest grocery retail news affecting the fresh produce industry.
NOGALES, AZ - The produce industry has transformed quite a bit over the past half a century, but one thing that has held fast in the face of change is the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) annual produce convention. Last week, the Association celebrated its 50th year of throwing one of the premier events celebrating Nogales agriculture, inviting produce professionals from across the region to the Tubac Golf Resort for some much deserved rejoicing. From November 1-3, the Nogales produce show highlighted high-quality educational sessions, networking opportunities, and, not to mention, delicious fresh produce.
"We had more than 800 attendees at the convention, and it was one of the largest to date, which is no surprise given all of the great events and the extra-special emphasis on our 50th year celebration," said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer in a release from the Association. "Our guests commented on the quality of the speakers, the entertainment, and the sense of community our event is famous for."
This year’s FPAA convention was one of many highlights, including Thursday’s educational sessions. Jim Mullen, General Counsel of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Bradley Hayes, Executive Director of the Office of Trade Relations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were among speakers at the show, as was Dari Duval from the University of Arizona, who spoke on the economic impact of the fresh produce supply chain on the U.S. economy. In addition, Thursday saw a panel of industry experts who discussed such hot topics as the new U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), blockchain, food waste, social responsibility, and beyond.
"The produce industry is complex, and our educational sessions reflect that," said Jungmeyer. "We try to touch on some of the key things impacting members of the industry and to bring the experts on these issues so that we can foster a good dialogue."
Thursday night ended with the always fantastic opening fiesta, held in the outdoor plaza of the Tubac Golf Resort. With live music, a photo booth, a gallery showcasing 50 years of Nogales Produce Conventions, and amazing food created by Chef Pati Jinich, the fiesta was certainly a celebration worth kicking off a convention 50 years in the making.
"As a member of the board and an attendee, I appreciate a diverse program, which helped keep education sessions near seating capacity the whole day," said FPAA Chairman Scott Vandervoet of Vandervoet and Associates. "That momentum in attendance carried through to the whole event."
On Friday, the Consulate General of Mexico and the FPAA teamed up to host the 3rd Annual Culinary Showcase, inviting guests to experience food created by chefs across Arizona and Mexico. Participants were welcome to take a helicopter ride down "produce row" to the border and back and see for themselves how produce enters the U.S. and arrives at area warehouses in Santa Cruz County.
The first-ever Women's Leadership Invitational was also held on Friday and celebrated women of the produce industry. Sabrina Hallman of Sierra Seed Company, LLC led a panel discussion with guests including Cathy Burns of PMA, Rosie Cornelius of MAS Melons & Grapes, and Pati Jinich. Each speaker discussed lessons they have learned as women in their respective industries, strategies for success, and challenges they have overcome to be where they are today.
"I was honored to be part of the historic and inaugural Women's invitational. I learned so much from the panel, which had such trailblazing women willing to share constructive insights for hardworking women, whether you are in the produce industry or not," commented Pati. "It was a delight to interact with the audience which was so engaged and shared so many fascinating and meaningful stories."
Then, Friday night, the real party began. This year’s annual Gala was once again an elegant celebration, featuring entertainment, music, and special recognitions and awards. University of Arizona's Folklorico Dancers performed before Scott Vandervoet presented Rosie Cornelius with the Pillar of the FPAA Award. Given each year to Association members that have contributed greatly to the evolution and sustainability of the U.S. industry importing fresh produce from Mexico, the Pillar of the FPAA went to Rosie in recognition of her commitment to the community, industry, and, of course, the FPAA. Last but not least, the FPAA partnered with the Nogales U.S. Customs Brokers Association and the United Fresh Start Foundation to announce Little Red School #28 in Nogales, Arizona, as recipient of this year's salad bar donation.
Feeling green with envy for those who were able to attend the 50th anniversary convention? You’ll be able to celebrate the 51st in Tubac, Arizona, November 7-9, 2019 for another landmark show. 2019 will be the 75th year FPAA as been an association, so it's definitely one not to miss.
SALINAS, CA - Growth is on the horizon for D’Arrigo California, including the addition of two members to its team. The company announced it is proud to welcome Cody Ramsey as the Foodservice Manager and Shannon Aliotti as a Sales Representative.
“I am excited to work for such a progressive and dynamic family-owned produce company that has close to 100 years of being a titan in the produce industry as a grower, packer, and shipper of quality Andy Boy products,” Cody said. “D’Arrigo CA has really expanded their foodservice portfolio to include custom growing, organics and key services such as cross dock, consolidation, and commercial cooling giving them the competitive edge to be a one-stop shop year-round.”
The new Foodservice Manager brings extensive knowledge of project development and management to the table, according to a press release. Before joining D’Arrigo CA, he worked with Mann Packing for ten years, during which he directed sales and business efforts, specifically targeting the foodservice sector.
“We are thrilled to have Cody on board, he will bring a fresh perspective and approach to our sales office,” stated Dave Martinez, VP of Sales. “Cody has demonstrated an ability to harvest the limitless opportunities the industry has to offer and provide incredible insights to customer engagement and relationships.”
Director of Sales, John Scherpinski, noted that the company is expanding and enhancing its foodservice operations to better serve its valued customers.
“Cody’s leadership will help to elevate our service levels, attain our short and long-term business goals and build the overall category. Cody is unique in that he is well versed in strategic foodservice initiatives to manage customer relationships. His professional demeanor and expertise are great additions to our management team and our future business growth plans,” he concluded.
Shannon comes to D’Arrigo CA with 13 years of experience working in the sales sector, most recently having been a sales representative and commodity manager at NewStar Fresh Foods.
“I was attracted to join D’Arrigo CA because of the company’s respected and well known Andy Boy label that stands for top quality and consistency,” Shannon commented. “I am delighted to be part of such a sustainable and socially conscious produce company whose business portfolio expands from farming to solar panels, mechanical harvesting and more.”
At D’Arrigo CA, she will lead communication and execution of the day-to-day functions for several foodservice accounts.
“Shannon’s knowledge of produce coupled with her passion to find ways to enhance our daily sales execution will be an asset to our team,” John said on her joining the team. “Her depth of experience, knowledge, and communication skills will complement our growing team.”
Congratulations to D’Arrigo California and to its two newest team members!
ELGIN, MN - Honeybear Brands is not done rolling out premium apple varieties just yet. On the heels of the company’s debut of the First Kiss® MN 55 apple and two buzz generating, in-development, new varietals at PMA Fresh Summit, Honeybear Brands is also prepping the largest-ever offering of Pazazz. North American markets will welcome Pazazz on the shelves beginning as soon as December.
“We came out of a very busy PMA and just didn’t stop,” said Don Roper, Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “The show was about giving our buyers a sneak peek at some future star varietals we have in development, but it’s also now go time for Pazazz and we’re expecting really big things for our retailers this season. Hands down, across the board, the quality, color, and overall eating experience of Pazazz has never been better than what we’ve seen coming out of every one of our orchards.”
By January 2019, Honeybear expects Pazazz to be in more retail locations than ever before—more than 60 retail geographies across North America. Honeybear will also launch an integrated marketing campaign featuring digital consumer advertising and social media marketing that will incorporate top food influencers and select sponsored events.
According to a press release, Honeybear is also continuing work perfecting the two varieties debuted at Fresh Summit. They include:
- A red flesh apple with an attractive and surprising internal red blush; the red peel of the apple bleeds into the flesh around a red cream center
- A yellow apple with a unique, almost tropical flavor and an unexpected firm texture, which maintains many months after harvest
“Colored flesh is a growing trend, but this apple is making its way to the finish line and has enormous visual appeal for consumers and retailers, as well as an undeniable great flavor,” Roper noted of the first apple. “The other is going to be a star once it launches. We don’t see any other premium variety in the market today that looks or tastes the way this does. The bright yellow on deck adds a real pop of vibrant color, but the best part is that this apple can actually handle the rigors of retail, as it has such strong pressures and presence on the deck. All in all, it’s a far better eating apple than the Golden Delicious with a fantastic blend of tropical nutty flavors.”
In addition to Honeybear’s varietal work, the company also announced it will increase its organic apple production. The company said its goal is to fully transition approximately 25 percent of current growing acreage to organic production within the next three years with the help of growing partners. New organic production zones will include orchards in Washington, New York, Nova Scotia, and Chile.
“Every Honeybear variety is grown with a great deal of care organic or otherwise,” said Roper. “We’re already dedicated to sustainable growing, protection of natural habitats for orchard wildlife, as well as best-in-class environmental stewardship of the land, but there’s a growing demand from consumers for organics—so we’re not going to ignore that.”
With 2018 almost in the books, Honeybear Brands looks to have an exciting 2019 in store for us, too. Stay tuned for the latest in the coming months.
CINCINNATI, OH - Consumers are taking bites out of plant-based proteins with zeal these days, with carnivores, omnivores, and vegetarians/vegans all getting in on the popular trend. For its fourth Natural Foods Innovation Summit, in partnership with 84.51°, Kroger is tapping the genius behind growing plant-based protein brand Beyond Meat®, announcing the brand’s Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Honest Tea, Seth Goldman, will participate in the summit’s keynote.
"It's been one year since Kroger launched our Natural Foods Innovation Summit," said Robert Clark, Kroger's Senior Vice President of Merchandising, according to a press release. "The interactive model has proven to be successful, creating a new channel for enterprising small businesses and startups to engage Kroger, America's largest grocery retailer, with innovative ideas and products for our customers."
At this year’s keynote event, Goldman will touch on the importance of sustainability in the food industry and share best practices for operating a mission-driven company. The summit will also consist of the participation of nearly 60 brands. Since the summit’s inception, Kroger has engaged with over 200 different small businesses and counting.
"Kroger has experienced five consecutive years of double-digit growth in the natural and organic foods category," continued Clark. "We know today's customer wants better-for-you products, and Kroger will continue to make natural, organic, and free-from products accessible and affordable through Simple Truth® and supplier partnerships."
Kroger recently announced its top food trend predictions for 2019, predicting a variety of plant-based alternatives and flexible eating styles will continue on the rise across food fads.
How will the growing popularity of plant-based alternatives positively impact the pillar of grocery—fresh fruit and veg? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the freshest grocery news.
CHICAGO, IL - Ahold Delhaize is making moves in the e-commerce sector, and it is continuing that growth with the latest addition to its team. Selma Postma has been named to lead Ahold Delhaize's brand, Peapod. Appointed to the role of President, her start date is effective January 1, 2019.
"I'm very excited to join Peapod, which has a great 30-year heritage in e-commerce to build upon as we look to future growth," said Postma. "I look forward to working with the team that has built this strong brand, along with Peapod Digital Labs and the great local U.S. brands of Ahold Delhaize, to continue to accelerate sales and deliver a world-class consumer experience."
Postma joins Peapod after a career of nearly 20 years at Albert Heijn; she most recently served as General Manager of Albert Heijn Online. According to a press release, in this position she led the transformation of Albert Heijn into an omnichannel retailer.
"We're extremely pleased to have Selma to serve at the helm of Peapod," said JJ Fleeman, Chief E-Commerce Officer and President, Peapod Digital Labs. "Selma has a proven track record of building an omnichannel experience at Albert Heijn, where she accelerated online growth to more than 20 percent annually and launched several customer-facing solutions, such as the popular mobile app, Appie, single sign-on with bol.com, the largest online, non-food retailer in the Netherlands, and much more. We are confident her expertise will accelerate the e-commerce experience for Peapod customers and continue to grow sales."
Postma holds a business administration degree in Strategic Management from Erasmus University, Rotterdam. She will relocate to Chicago with her husband and three children in the new year.
Congratulations to Selma on this new position!
PHARR, TX - Hot off the heels of a successful PMA Fresh Summit, London Fruit is adding to its sales team; the company has hired Tonya Hill as its new Retail Development Manager in Sales. Hill brings over fifteen years of produce experience to the company.
Hill recently served as the Texas Regional Manager for New Jersey-based Amazon Produce Network—helping the company grow programs for mangos, limes, and tropical produce categories. In addition to that Regional Managerial role, she also served in previous roles as Director of Sales and Transportation, Category Manager, and Director of New Customer Development.
Jerry Garcia, VP of London Fruit, said he’s excited to have Tonya join the London team. “Her experience will greatly add to the strength and depth at London,” he added.
Hill, a native of Texas, began her career in the field of accounting, after attending Texas A&M University.
When she’s not selling produce, she and her husband run their family farm and a registered cattle business.
We at AndNowUKnow congratulate Tonya on her exciting new role and wish her and London Fruit the very best in all their future endeavors.
INDEPENDENCE, MO - FreshXperts is expanding its stable of produce industry experts; the consulting firm is welcoming Nick Pasculli—Founder, Owner, and President of The Marketing Department, Inc., aka TMD Creative—to the team. Pasculli brings almost thirty years of experience to his new role as a produce industry consultant, which he will hold in addition to continuing in his position with TMD Creative.
“The decision to join FreshXperts was an easy one for me. Having known several members of the group for years, I was very comfortable with the decision and felt I would really fit in. Our value alignment and the collection of complimentary experience of the other members of the team make perfect sense.” Pasculli said, in a press release. “I am delighted to be part of a group of experts that share my broad-based experience to create bottom line results for our clients.”
According to that press release, Pasculli is well regarded in the fresh produce industry for his expertise in brand strategy, creativity, marketing, business development, and leadership development. Pasculli additionally brings decades of experience in banking and finance to his new role.
“Nick brings to our group a broad base of experience in the use of technology as we brand and market our clients,” said Anthony Totta, Founder of FreshXperts. “We hope to assist clients in upgrading the look, feel, and content of print and digital materials to communicate an accurate reflection of who our clients are and what they offer as a supply chain partner.”
Before beginning TMD Creative, Pasculli worked for some of the industry's most respected grower/shippers, including Tanimura & Antle, Naturipe Berry Growers, and D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of CA.
A first-generation Italian immigrant born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Pasculli has called Salinas, California, his home for the last 30 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Marketing from California State University, Fresno and later a Master’s Degree from Loyola University, New Orleans. Pasculli currently teaches courses at Hartnell College Agriculture and Technology Institute in Salinas, CA.
According to FreshXperts’ press release, the core values of partnerships, a focus on the fresh food industry, developing lasting relationships, trust, quality, and excellence are perfectly aligned with the way Pasculli conducts his business.
From the whole AndNowUKnow team, congratulations, Nick, on your new role.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Every Who down in Whoville and every grocery shopper around is getting a holiday treat like no other found. The Wonderful Company announced, with lots of fanfare, that Wonderful Pistachios and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch are the season’s best pair. Through a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign, including two commercials to boot, the notoriously grumpy Grinch discovers Wonderful Pistachios are the perfect holiday loot.
“This partnership was a no-brainer,” said Darren Moran, Chief Creative Officer of Wonderful Agency, according to a press release. “When you put two famously edgy (and green) iconic brands together, the result is going to be fun, attention-getting work that becomes an instant holiday classic.”
Created by The Wonderful Company’s in-house agency and animated by Illumination, The Wonderful Company’s two commercial feature is the latest produce marketing innovation. The first of the two aired in October and depicted a frowning Grinch discovering the taste of Wonderful Pistachios is like no other.
“Wonderful Pistachios is the green icon of healthy snacking so partnering with The Grinch, the green icon of the holidays, is the perfect opportunity to spread green holiday cheer to moviegoers everywhere,” said Adam Cooper, Vice President of Marketing, The Wonderful Company.
In the second commercial of the two is Wonderful Pistachios No Shells brand’s debut! In this commercial, set to air November 26th, the Grinch swipes the best part of the Whos’ stockings to get his No Shells pistachios fix.
Supported by an online digital campaign and in-store point-of-sale (POS) including bins and standees, retailers won’t want to miss out on this collaboration of the century.
A fun marketing campaign that is sure to be a hit is helping Wonderful Pistachios and more get in the holiday spirit. And while holiday cheer doesn’t always come from the store, there’s no doubting that Wonderful Pistachios are part of this season’s core.
For more fresh produce news from around the biz, stick with AndNowUKNow!
ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Are automated warehouses the hottest new trend in retail? Joining the likes of Albertsons—which recently announced its own automated fulfilment pilot—is Ahold Delhaize. The Netherlands-based grocery group will roll out small, automated warehouses to speed order picking and cut delivery times, according to a Reuters report, in an effort to put itself first in the e-commerce race. Chief Executive Frans Muller confirmed the deal on Wednesday.
At an investor event on November 13th, Ahold Delhaize is expected to showcase a new partnership with Takeoff—the same partner used by Albertsons—that will provide the retailer with miniature “robot supermarkets” attached to its stores to automate order collection, Reuters said. Each warehouse costs around $3 million to build, a price tag Takeoff notes is less than the cost to revamp a store.
“With the robotized solution we can optimize those picking costs and be closer with micro fulfillment to our catchment areas. We also reduce the cost of the last mile,” Muller said.
Ahold Delhaize’s deal also follows Kroger’s partnership with British e-commerce giant Ocado. As we previously reported, Kroger will disclose the locations for the first of three of 20 high-tech Ocado warehouses it plans to build on U.S. soil in the next couple of weeks. Each will take about two years to build and cost about $39 million.