UNITED STATES - Changes are being implemented across Ahold Delhaize’s United States footprint. The company is streamlining its retail operations, announcing plans to close a number of U.S. Stop & Shop stores this year.

"Stop & Shop has already evaluated its overall portfolio and will make difficult decisions to close underperforming stores to create a healthy store base for the long term," JJ Fleeman, Ahold Delhaize USA's Chief Executive Officer, said during a recent call with analysts.

The retailer will announce the total number of stores to be affected later in the year, Reuters reported.

Located in the northeast U.S., Stop & Shop is among Ahold Delhaize’s five Stateside brands, operating nearly 400 locations. As the source noted, Ahold Delhaize earns more than half of its revenues in the U.S.

As more updates on this newly announced strategy become available, ANUK will be here to relay the latest insights.

PROVIDENCE, RI - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is aiming to become an all-in-one solution for its partners. In collaboration with Swiftly, the distributor has launched a Retail Media Network for independent and regional grocery retailers across the United States. The UNFI Media Network™ (UMN) is intended to bring cutting-edge retail technology solutions to more than 30,000 retail customer locations and approximately 11,000 brand partners.

“UNFI’s partnership with Swiftly is formidable, offering an innovative solution to power both enterprise and independent grocer technology and retail media,” said Sandy Douglas, UNFI’s Chief Executive Officer. “UMN enables UNFI’s retail customers and suppliers to better compete in today’s retail marketplace, with an increasingly digital focus. We believe UMN, powered by Swiftly, will help us create compelling and sustainable value for our customers, suppliers, and shareholders.”

UMN combines UNFI's expansive scale and breadth of supplier offerings with Swiftly's advanced technology platform, personalization engine, closed-loop reporting, and analytics capabilities. The goal of UMN is to empower UNFI’s retail customers to connect more meaningfully and personally with their consumers while simultaneously providing unique opportunities for UNFI suppliers to showcase their brands.

A press release explained that it is designed to enable retailers to reach their shoppers digitally while connecting to the industry’s largest collection of suppliers, who in turn, can take advantage of this platform to more effectively market directly to shoppers through the retailers in the network.

“We are thrilled to be pioneering a new chapter in the independent grocery retail channel alongside industry leader, UNFI," said Henry Kim, CEO at Swiftly. "Over the years, Swiftly has earned a stellar reputation amongst key brands and retailers for its turnkey, industry-leading technology and proven success helping partners digitally transform their businesses. Leveraging Swiftly’s advanced technology platform, UMN will enable brands to reach tens of millions of consumers across the U.S. Additionally, retailers will gain access to the content provided by UNFI’s approximately 11,000 brand partners, enhancing their offerings, and driving engagement with consumers. Together, we are positioned to build one of the leading retail media networks in the U.S., one that is dedicated to ensuring the growth and success of today’s independent and regional grocers.”

For more from the press release, click here. And keep reading ANUK for more industry news.

WASHINGTON, DC - At this year’s Washington Conference, held from June 10–12 in the nation’s capital, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) plans to launch a labor activation as part of its industry advocacy initiatives.

“The urgency around labor reform is a matter of national security,” said IFPA Director of Labor and Workforce John Hollay. “Out-of-control labor costs are threatening to upend our entire domestic food supply chain. While we know our system needs major reform, there are immediate steps Congress can take now to provide relief. We continue to share those priorities in all forums that are addressing labor, and we need the industry to lend their voices and turn the volume up on our demands.”

As a press release detailed, the labor activation builds on the success of the WIC Basket activation, which contributed to a fully funded WIC fruit and vegetable benefit this spring. Members will be invited to take part as they gather for the Washington Conference this June.

The release also stated that the activation will illustrate what’s at stake without relief and reform of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and blocking of the Department of Labor (DOL) rule that exposes employers to liability for issues outside of their control.

“There is no shortcut to make changes to major laws,” said Vice President of U.S. Government Relations Rebeckah Adcock. “It requires constant, consistent effort. IFPA members and allies must keep showing up to share their stories and knowledge about the labor crisis and how it uniquely impacts specialty crops. We are proud to represent the industry in these many forums but, as we saw with our WIC success, fresh can prevail when our industry stands up for our livelihoods and prosperity to ensure policy makers understand agriculture’s critical need for a reliable workforce. We look forward to hearing those industry voices in the halls of Congress to ensure our message is heard in Washington."

Over the past several months, IFPA has been advocating for our industry in multiple capacities, with focuses such as:

• Meeting with DOL Acting Sec. Su and USDA Sec. Vilsack
• Congressional Review Act Resolutions
• AEWR Relief
• Wilson Center Taskforce on Labor in North America

For more details on these efforts and the upcoming Washington Conference, click here.

Registration for the conference is currently open, and no previous advocacy experience is needed.

Keep reading ANUK as we provide the latest industry updates.

IRELAND - Fyffes has once again named Ireland’s Fittest School 2024. County Waterford’s St. Mary’s Touraneena National School has earned the title following its participation in a three-month competition, in which hundreds of schools from all over Ireland took part. The school won the live grand final in which the top four schools in this year’s competition were featured.

“It was really encouraging to see how much fun and enjoyment the young pupils had as they incorporated the exercise routines into their PE classes and undertook each month’s fitness challenge,” said Head of Marketing Emma Hunt-Duffy.

The grand final, which took place in Dublin last week, was hosted by three of Ireland’s best-known athletes—World Para Rowing champion Katie O’Brien and Olympian sprinters Phil Healy and David Gillick—and saw the four schools contest for a prize package which included €8,000 ($8,700 USD) worth of sports equipment.

Supported by Fyffes and tracked online, the purpose of the competition, launched last Autumn and now in its third year, was to promote the importance of exercise, fitness, and healthy eating amongst young people. According to a press release, a central feature of the program was a series of exercise routines which competing schools could adopt as part of their PE curriculum and against which performance could be measured.

Congratulations to St. Mary’s Touraneena National School!

COLLINSVILLE, IL - As a trailblazer across tag and label applications, flexible packaging, and product identification, Sev-Rend® is making its mark this year in providing solutions throughout categories and demographics. With a desire to offer customer service excellence with a boots-on-the-ground approach, the company is excited to attend this year’s West Coast Produce Expo in Palm Desert, California. With the event quickly approaching, Brittnie Hammack, Director of Marketing, joined me to discuss the company’s messaging and value and what we can look forward to in Southern California.

“The Sev-Rend team has years of experience not only in the produce industry but in other market segments as well. Our team knows the grower/shipper side, the retail landscape, and packing equipment in depth. We help our customers design exciting things that work in the store and in the packing shed,” Brittnie shared. “Along with that, we also have value-added services that our customers benefit from such as an in-house graphics team, sustainability consulting, product development team, domestic production, 24/7 online ordering portal, and more. We’re a full-service provider that helps our customers achieve their goals.”

In addition to the company’s vision and progressive strategies for helping customers, Sev-Rend has also grown its family of solutions in recent months to add more tools and advantages.

“We recently acquired Wolarmann Enterprises in Toronto in April. This adds clipping wire and additional wine glass tag production to Sev-Rend. We want to continue to add products that excite both packers and retailers. Having our in-house sustainability consultants allows us to provide support to the growers/packers so they fully understand the retailer initiatives focused on sustainable packaging,” Brittnie detailed.

Mark Hoppenjans, Vice President of Sales and Sustainable Business, a colleague who will also be at the show, knows the challenges new and complex guidelines can pose for suppliers. As he shares, the team makes it a goal to simplify the rules and regulations for customers.

“2025 is approaching quickly, and we’re here to help the industry reach its goals,” Mark adds.

As part of that boots-on-the-ground approach, Sev-Rend likes to find ways to contribute—especially where a little fun is being had. This year, the company is sponsoring the West Coast Produce Expo’s pickleball tournament T-shirts, where competition is sure to light up the desert.

“Pickleball is really fun, easy to pick up, and people love doing it! The show activity events bring people together and provide a great opportunity to build relationships on a personal level outside of business. The produce industry, as we all know, is based around relationships. Sponsoring activities like this allows us to grow existing relationships and meet new people within the industry,” Brittnie tells me. “It also allows for brand exposure as we want people to know who Sev-Rend is and we're a materials leader for automated packing equipment. Not everybody knows all the things we do.”

Whether you are a pickleball ace, just picking up the game, or focusing on the trade show floor (hopefully a combo), business is sure to be buzzing in Palm Desert this month.