​​DENVER, CO - An innovative retail partnership was recently announced, and we thought you might like to hear about it. Schnuck Markets has joined the Ibotta Performance Network (IPN), which delivers promotions in a coordinated fashion across retailer platforms, large third-party publisher sites, and Ibotta’s direct-to-consumer properties. A key component of the partnership will be strategic R&D with the goal of building the next-generation grocery shopping experience for consumers.

“Schnucks is thrilled to partner with Ibotta, a leader in digital rewards, to expand savings for our customers through our Schnucks Rewards program,” said Tom Henry, Schnucks’ Chief Data Officer. “Through this partnership, Schnucks customers will have access to a wider range of digital coupons in our Schnucks Rewards program, creating more value for customers with every in-store or online shop. Together with Ibotta, Schnucks is committed to creating innovative retail solutions that will shape the future of grocery shopping.”

The R&D component of the partnership will allow Ibotta and Schnucks to co-develop new customer experiences for a more dynamic grocery shopping journey, a recent press release stated. Potential areas of innovation include advanced digital offers in retail media and a heightened focus on creating new and innovative touchpoints in-store.

Bryan Leach, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Ibotta, also commented on the news.

“Driven by Ibotta’s mission to make every purchase rewarding, we’re pleased to add Schnucks, one of the country’s most storied regional grocery brands, to the Ibotta Performance Network, to drive more value for their customers through personalized offers and rewards,” said Leach. “Schnucks’ and Ibotta’s mutual track record of industry-leading innovation is a befitting foundation for our partnership to reimagine the grocery shopping experience of the future. Together, we’ll collaborate to develop a more personalized, premium shopping experience for Schnucks customers.”

Digital offers from the IPN are set to become available to Schnucks customers later this year.

As we hear more about the partnership, ANUK will be sure to report.

WOODLAND, CA - “Big anniversary, big plans.” That’s what the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) announced is in store for attendees of the nonprofit organization’s 15^th Annual Research Symposium. The symposium, which takes place in Denver, Colorado, on June 18–19, will explore the top research questions and science-based approaches to fresh produce food safety.

“If you haven’t attended one of our Research Symposia, this is the year you want to start. If you’ve attended before, you are in for something special,” said CPS Board Chair Joe Pezzini, Senior Director of Agricultural Operations for Taylor Farms. “This year’s Research Symposium will cover the science essentials of fresh produce food safety. We have pulled out all the stops for our 15^th-anniversary event.”

The two-day agenda is jam-packed with resourceful events, with a focus on presenting the “State of the Science” on produce safety’s most important topics. This includes four 30-minute produce safety “master classes.” As a press release detailed, each of the topical sessions will begin with a summary of key learnings to date on the subject; then, CPS-funded researchers will present final reports of any projects related to the topic, and address how those new findings add on to or change key learnings to date.

“We asked industry members from across the supply chain to identify topics they would most like to learn about. Chances are high that at least a few of these topics are on your mind, too,” added Pezzini. “When we’ve held sessions like this in the past, we could hear a pin drop the audience was so tuned in. You’ll take away essential knowledge and advice you can put to work immediately in your operation.”

“State of the Science” topics will include:

• Agricultural water management
• Animal intrusion and related pathogen transfer
• Produce safety process control as it relates to wash systems, compost, and soil amendments
• Environmental pathogens and their control
• Controlled environment agriculture
• Pathogen detection, persistence, growth, and movement
• Emerging use of genomics

"While we will publish key learnings after the event, being there in person—with the chance for peer networking and direct conversations with researchers—is simply invaluable,” said Pezzini.

Early-bird registration discounts will be available until May 31, when industry members can register for $725. From June 1-19, including on-site registration, the industry rate will be $825.

Read more about what to expect from this upcoming symposium here.

And leave a tab open to ANUK for more industry updates.