SAN ANTONIO, TX - With everything lined up and ready to go, H-E-B is now playing the waiting game, as it anticipates the Historic and Design Review Commission’s approval of a six-story parking garage and attached sky bridge across E. César Chávez Boulevard in downtown San Antonio. When completed, the bridge will link the parking structure with the company’s corporate headquarters.
According to an HDRC agenda item, the garage will be capable of housing up to 750 vehicles and will feature façade screening, a roof-top shading trellis, LED lighting, landscaping elements, and new fencing, as reported by The San Antonio Business Journal.
The current positioning of the parking lot is a flat, 70,000-square-foot area and sits at 506 S. Main Ave. or 415 Dwyer Ave. The space was last appraised at $5.3 million by Bexar County Appraisal District. And the project was planned by Ford, Powell, & Carson Inc., a local firm.
H-E-B has committed to investing $100 million into San Antonio’s downtown, but while estimates are in the $1 million ballpark range, it is still unclear how much of that investment will be going towards this specific project. And on top of this massive undertaking, the grocery chain also has a parking lot at 404 S. Flores St. in the works. This other parking lot is a precautionary measure for overflow parking while the plans are fleshed out and built upon for the coming larger structure, explained Dya Campos, the company’s Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, in the same article.
As the million dollar project makes headway this coming January, with an April due date on the horizon, how will this project affect H-E-B’s headquarters and the business at large? AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date with the latest.
KINGSVILLE, ON - Finishing up 2017 with a bang, SUNSET™ is launching a new “You Make Me™” product line featuring four new pasta kits that will be sold in supermarkets nationwide. Designed with convenience top of mind and developed by SUNSET® Culinary Director and celebrity chef Roger Mooking, these meal kits contain everything you need to cook a flavorful, gourmet pasta dish at home—fresh tomatoes, perfectly portioned pasta, spice packets, and infused olive oil.
“At SUNSET®, we identify with busy consumers who don’t always have time to prepare home-cooked meals from scratch using our fresh produce,” shared CEO Paul Mastronardi. “Ready in minutes with fresh tomatoes included, our ‘You Make Me™’ pasta kits deliver ‘grab and go’ convenience without sacrificing flavor or compromising on nutrition.”
For the launch, the “You Make Me™” line will feature four different flavors packaged with eye-catching graphics, each including a unique pasta variety:
- Classic Italian (“You Make Me Fresh”)
- Spicy Arrabbiata (“You Make Me Hot”)
- Creamy Parmesan (“You Make Me Blush”)
- Cold Pasta Salad (“You Make Me Chill”)
According to a press release, the “You Make Me” line is the evolution of the Minzano® pasta kit that SUNSET® tested earlier this year in select supermarkets, said Mastronardi, who explained, “We launched the Minzano® kit in March and it exceeded our expectations. We then went straight to work on optimizing an assortment of recipes to provide consumers with a line of fresh and convenient meal choices that would meet their needs.”
Each kit serves dinner for two or makes four sides, and can be cooked in 15 minutes or less. “If you don’t have time to make it from scratch, grab a ‘You Make Me” Pasta Kit,’ Mooking said, sharing Mastronardi’s excitement for the innovative new line. “We picked all the ingredients so you can prepare a tasty meal in less time than it takes to order in!”
Want to find out more about the “You Make Me™” line and all of the innovative products SUNSET® has to offer? Dive in further at www.sunsetgrown.com.
MISSION, TX - The Viva Fresh Expo is back and better than ever this year, and the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)-hosted event is coming back to the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio. Taking place from April 5-7, 2018, this year’s fourth annual expo is expected to once again cater to sold out crowds and attract major buyers from regional and national retailers alike.
“We’ve seen increased attendance from retail and foodservice buyers from companies including H-E-B, Walmart, and US Foods, and 100 percent of our surveyed retailers say the expo meets their business needs,” shared Dante Galeazzi, TIPA’s President and CEO. “Since we know this region is a main focus for attendees, we’ve increased our outreach to include more regional growers and revamped our exhibitor list, so the majority of exhibitors will be from Texas, Mexico, and the Southwest United States.”
As the importance of the Texas, Mexico, and Rio Grande Valley produce industry grows, so does the success of this premiere regional event. In 2016, TIPA established a Retail & Foodservice Advisory Board, made up of 14 retail and foodservice contacts, to assist in guiding the direction of the Viva Fresh Expo. Today, these advisory members have continued to reinforce the significance of the region, as well as cite its importance as a main factor in why they continue to be involved with the expo.
“I’ve been impressed with the Viva Fresh Expo year after year,” said Joseph Bunting, Produce Business Director at United Supermarkets and Advisory Board member. “It’s a true regional event and showcases Texas and Mexico as a commanding force for high-quality, year-round fresh produce. I always look forward to Viva Fresh to strengthen current relationships, make new connections, and stay up on all the regional trends.”
According to a press release, approximately half of fresh fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico entered the U.S. through Texas land ports in 2016—meaning $5.4 billion worth of produce, or over 220,000 truckloads, have entered through the region. TIPA shared that fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico are growing at an astounding rate: from 2007-2015 alone, imports from the country have more than doubled, reaching an impressive 107 percent growth rate.
Not a group to rest on its laurels, TIPA’s Viva Fresh is continuing to push for innovations and advanced best practices. Through the Viva Fresh educational seminar program, attendees can experience a virtual tour of a field, a packing house, and quality control measures to help learn more about topics like best in class food safety and how Mexican suppliers are raising the bar. Additional educational sessions will tackle such industry challenges as the multi-generational marketplace and how Amazon will impact the future of retail sales and marketing.
Registration is now open for exhibitors and sponsors at www.vivafreshexpo.com, and if year’s past have taught me anything, it will sell out! Plan to register early and scoop up those hot exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities. Registration for most retail and foodservice buyers is free, and a travel stipend is provided.
See you all in San Antonio!
Viva Fresh Produce Expo Texas International Produce Association
UNITED KINGDOM – There’s a new app in town, and unlike other apps that help strangers meet, this app is for the hungry, not the thirsty. Designed to alleviate the imminent threat of food waste riddling our environment today and cure the epidemic of having eyes that are larger than stomachs when grocery shopping, mobile phone app OLIO is here to save the day by sharing leftover, unused, and excess fresh food and produce with strangers, friends, and anyone else who might want it.
After throwing away too much food in the midst of moving three years ago, entrepreneur Tessa Cook realized the wastefulness and unnecessity of doing so when she could have just given the food to someone else.
“I thought, ‘This is perfectly delicious food. I know there is someone within 100 meters who would love it. The problem is they don’t know about it’,” Cook said, according to a report by Reuters. When she realized there were no apps available yet to share food, she teamed up with Saasha Celestial-One, and OLIO was born.
Globally, $1 trillion worth of food and produce–mainly from homes–is thrown away every year, not only leaving it to rot and release toxic greenhouse gases into the environment, but also wasting the land and water used to produce it. However, OLIO users can download the food sharing app and upload a picture with a short description of the food they want to give away instead of throw away. Users can then contact each other via private message to arrange for pick-up. Or if users want to exchange clothes and furniture, there’s a section on the app for that as well.
Launched in January 2016, the app has over 322,000 registered users and over 400,000 shared food items. And now, supermarkets, like Sainsbury’s, are partnering with OLIO in order to also cut back on food waste and share leftover food within their communities.
While in the past, some, like Chrissy Teigan, have taken to social media to request and dispose of fresh food and produce, OLIO is hoping to streamline this process and help users not only reduce waste and save money, but also try out new foods. And, you never know, maybe one day an OLIO user will bring fresh produce to recently revealed banana-crazed Prince Harry craving his favorite yellow fruit.
For more new happenings stirring up the produce industry, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA – Stepping into the company’s newly created President role at Naturipe Brands, industry veteran Chris Coffman is joining the Naturipe team. His position, which he stepped into on November 13th, will be reporting to Naturipe Brands' Board of Directors, and strategic partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, investment opportunities, licensing, and brand extension opportunities will all be under his care.
"I am humbled at the opportunity to join an organization with a remarkable business model, extended history of success and most importantly, a culture of values that is exemplary,” said Coffman in a recent press release. “The prospect to steward the Naturipe brand and the extension of new business units and revenue streams is an excellent challenge.”
The company is excited to bring on such an knowledgeable and expert employee to steer its direction with the aforementioned duties.
“We are excited to have Chris lead Naturipe Brands, which is focused on delivering value to our grower-owners and customers,” said Dwight Ferguson, CEO and President of Naturipe Farms. “His breadth and depth of business development experience is key to execution of Naturipe's strategic growth initiatives.”
Coffman’s resume includes his role as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at J&J Farms, as well as his roles at PRO*ACT, Apio, and Del Monte. His career boasts of heavy-hitting names in the industry, and Coffman gained his education from UC Davis. While he currently lives in Wellington, Florida, he and his family will be making the move to Naturipe’s Estero, Florida, office in 2018.
Congratulations to Chris Coffman and the whole Naturipe team! We wish you every success moving forward!
LAKELAND, FL - The convenience-driven food craze is getting a winter-focused twist with Publix Super Markets’ new meal kit line designed for slow cookers. Launching three varieties for this first iteration of the line, Publix is offering packaged chicken and dumplings, chuck roast, and pork carnitas kits—all including at least one produce item.
Each kit makes a meal for four people, Publix Media and Community Relations Manager Brian West told the Tampa Bay Business Journal, and also comes with a slow cooker liner that makes cleanup a breeze. So far, the chicken and dumplings, priced at $14.99, and the chuck roast, priced at $19.99, are available in several stores in Tampa, near Publix headquarters.
On first glance, it looks as if the new meal kits will feature the following produce items:
- Chicken and dumplings: onions, carrots, and celery
- Chuck roast: potatoes, carrots, onions, and herbs
- Pork carnitas: lime and pico de gallo salsa
These additions come on the heels of spring 2017’s meal kit introduction from Publix, tapping into the company’s Aprons recipe development department. As we previously reported, the meal kits are offered at three different price tiers, and have options that span the gamut of culinary skill levels. Options are typically also made to serve a family of four, with six different meals to choose from.
Will meal kits still pull in consumer dollars even as companies like Blue Apron are seemingly beginning to flounder? AndNowUKnow is keeping a close eye on this new and growing trend.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ – Capespan is getting a jump start on the whole “New Year, New Beginnings” mentality; it not only created the newly minted General Manager USA position, but also appointed Erin Meder to fill it.
"Linking sales and operations with this new position and reporting structure represents Capespan North America’s continued commitment to sales and service excellence," said Mark Greenberg, President & CEO, in a recent press release.
In her new role, Meder will be an executive with general management responsibilities within the entirety of the Capespan North America’s U.S. sales and operations domain. She will be reporting to Greenberg as she continues to work from the company’s Gloucester City sales office.
"Since her arrival at Capespan North America, Erin has demonstrated leadership, a firm grasp of sales and operations, and an unimpeachable work ethic. She is widely respected at all levels of our organization, among our grower base and by the customers she serves," added Greenberg.
In September of 2015, Meder joined the Capespan North America team as a Senior Sales Executive and Category Leader. In conjunction with her sales role, Meder took on the responsibilities for Category Leader of table grapes and soft citrus.
Congratulations to Erin Meder and the whole Capespan North America team from AndNowUKnow!
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO – Grower of premium greenhouse fruits and vegetables DelFrescoPure® has been at work getting the freshest produce possible to its customers for over 35 years. And after introducing a pilot program producing everbearing, day-neutral strawberries last year, the company has expanded acreage and production to produce its optimally-fresh Yes!Berries strawberries.
“Last year…we had a successful campaign with them,” Carl Mastronardi, President of DelFrescoPure, told me on the floor of the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit. “This year we are expanding to ten-acre full production…The huge advantage for these strawberries is we intend on picking them and getting them to market the next day.”
With a Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and all the amenities of a state-of-the-art greenhouse growing operation in place, Carl tells me the company is now looking to work with its retail partners, introducing new packaging and pack sizes to meet demand.
“Were going to do an 8x14" twelve oz package and we’re also looking at new pack sizes for the future…We’ve also tried the snack size, and we’re going to test that this year in some of our [partners’] stores,” Mastronardi adds.
For more, watch our complete interview above.
CASTROVILLE, CA – With a revived focus on making life a little bit easier for consumers, Ocean Mist® Farms is launching its new-and-improved, high-functioning website. With the new design, the users can connect with the company to learn more about its expansive product line.
"Our inspiration for the new website design started with looking at our brand from the outside in," said Senior Director of Marketing for Ocean Mist Farms Diana McClean, in a recent press release. "People know us as a family-owned business dedicated to value, high-quality products, and chef recommendations. Because of that, we designed the website to convey a clean, bistro-style vibe and offer people a place to come to for inspiration and advice as if they were asking a friend."
The company’s deep roots in the industry, with four generations steeped in the family-owned farm’s values and traditions, highlights its strong adherence to integrity, quality, passion, and success. The new website will showcase its commitment to delivering high-quality products and customer service, as it strengthens its relationships with visitors through recipes, nutrition facts, vegetable cooking and storage tips, crop updates, point of sale materials, and more.
“We are ecstatic to have the new website as another resource to educate and spark creativity in consumers,” adds McClean.
As the company addresses the increasing interest into who is growing the foods we consume with behind-the-scenes industry details, Ocean Mist Farms has devoted video footage of its fields and the hard work that goes into them. Not only will it grant insight into the operations at the company’s farms, but it will also inspire visitors to join in on its sweepstakes, download its free cookbooks, gain information on what its growing, and learn about its harvests and food safety practices.
UNITED KINGDOM – News headlines went bananas last week after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement, and apparently, the couple is also a little, well, bananas for a certain yellow produce variety. While no fresh produce was harmed, or used, to reveal their engagement, the couple has already kicked wedding planning into high gear and are set to have a banana-flavored wedding cake at their May ceremony.
“This will be the first royal wedding cake made from bananas,” a source close to the couple told The Telegraph. Typically, the top tier of the royal wedding cake is a fruit cake because it is said to be long lasting. However, because the couple is crazy about bananas, the two will break from this tradition, and go for a banana cake instead.
While their engagement is still fresh, the couple’s love for bananas is evergreen. According to Daily Mail, Prince Harry has loved anything with bananas since he was a kid, including banana flan and banana ice cream.
And this isn’t the couple’s first time capturing news headlines because of fresh produce. Thirteen months ago, Markle posted a picture on Instagram of two bananas spooning with the caption ‘sleep tight xx,’ which many interpreted as the actress confirming her relationship with Prince Harry.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle include more nods to their favorite fresh fruit in the wedding ceremony? AndNowUKnow will continue to report as the royal banana saga continues to unfold.