BAKERSFIELD, CA - Western Veg-Produce is gearing up for a new collaboration with West Coast Berry Farms, a third generation strawberry grower based in Oxnard, California. After more than 22 years of business dealings, Western Veg is pairing up with West Coast Berry, currently owned and ran by RC Jones and family.
“Throughout these years, we’ve all had the pleasure of getting to know each other personally, and we’ve developed a very high level of trust in one another. Both parties have long desired a strategic partnership, and in 2018, our companies will finally work together to provide the industry with premium quality strawberries in promotable volumes, year-round,” Western Veg stated in a recent press release.
With such a long-standing relationship, it is no doubt an exciting moment to merge the companies’ business profitability. And now that West Coast Berry has acquired over 1,500 acres of prime farming land in California--including Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Watsonville--the partnership is bound to be more fruitful than ever. The company continues to satisfy consumers with its excellent and reputable strawberries after more than 20 years.
A new commitment with top Mexican growers will also be West Coast Berry's year-round production of the strawberries its consumers know and love within the Short N’ Sweet and Cal-Fruit labels.
Western Veg’s 150+ years of experience pairs nicely with West Coast Berry’s recent expansion. The two are focused on initiatives dedicated to providing quality produce by rigorously monitoring quality control and sustainable farming initiatives.
“Our mission is to provide consistent, premium quality berries, and help our customers aggressively increase their sales volume for this category year-over year. We are looking for more strategic partners to grow with, as well as opportunities to enhance existing relationships. Advancements in technology allow us to engage with consumers in millions of unique ways, and it also helps us solve complex problems on the farm which results in higher quality produce and increased capabilities,” said Western Veg-Produce’s press release.
Western Veg’s focus within this partnership is buying and merchandising to create one-of-a-kind programs, fitting the needs of the consumers and optimizing on sales productivity.
For more details on Western Veg-Produce’s sales team, visit http://www.wvegpro.com/, and keep following AndNowUKnow.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Looking to get a jump on its competitors, Target rolls out aggressive remodeling and investment plans for 2018, and forty-nine states are in for a treat – wait, fifty! As of fall of next year, the retailer will open its first Vermont location in South Burlington, officially bringing Target to every state in America.
“Guests are rewarding us with more traffic and we’re driving increased sales,” said Brian Cornell, Chairman and CEO, according to Bloomberg. “It’s given us confidence to move forward aggressively.”
And that’s not all Target has planned. Originally aiming to remodel 600 stores by 2019, Target set a new goal with plans to revamp more than 1,000 stores by the end of 2020, concentrating investments in major city hubs, web-friendliness, and smaller stores.
With Walmart abandoning small-format stores, Target has chosen to rework the more profitable store format into its plans in order to boost sales and differentiate from competitors. Despite typically being costlier to operate than larger stores due to frequent deliveries for essentials, small-format stores generate at least twice as much in sales per square foot, and Target is hoping to prosper. Opening 11 small-format stores this week alone, racking up a grand total of 55, Target plans to have 130 small-format stores nationwide by the end of 2019, according to the report
“As we open more small-format stores in our new neighborhoods across the country, we’ll be even closer to our guests, and our reimagined stores will provide elevated inspiration and ease, along with serving as hyperlocal distribution centers to fulfill digital orders faster,” said Cornell in a press release.
Along with remodels and store openings, Target is also gearing up for its Restock program, a service that lets customers have essentials like toothpaste delivered the next day, set to launch next year.
Will Target’s investment in small-format stores give them an edge over competitors like Walmart? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP, PA - Five years ago, robots roving supermarket aisles might have seemed like a stretch of the imagination. Today, the concept is not only a reality, but quickly gaining footing with retailers. One such example comes in the form of Marty, a friendly, googly-eyed robot that Ahold USA, parent of Giant Food Stores, is piloting in Pennsylvania as part of a larger upcoming program, according to local source Penn Live.
Marty is a multi-purpose bot-- a tall gray gadget personified with a set of eyes. The robot is part of a test program being developed by Badger Technologies.
"We recognize an opportunity to have a robot that could give us an assistance in the building to our associates. The robot can't do the work of the associates but he can report out information and data to us that is a value, not only to us as a business, but to our customers," said Patrick Maturo, Manager of Store Optimization for Ahold USA.
Marty the robot currently patrols the store aisles several times a day. It does not replace duties of any employees, but is able to:
- Scan floors for slip or trip hazards
- Read unit tags to recognize if items are out-of-stock and notify employees or generate replenishment reports
- Check prices
"Marty can actually look at a unit tag on the shelf, read that unit tag, reference it back to the front register system, and know whether or not that tag is reflective of the correct retail price," Maturo added.
According to Maturo in the report, by 2018, Ahold USA is planning to have an expanded version of the program with a dozen robots operating throughout its banners.
Other retailers currently experimenting with robots include Target, Amazon, and Walmart.
How will this technology impact the retail landscape? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
SALINAS, CA. - Mann Packing has introduced a new bowl to its award-winning Nourish Bowls line. A Spicy Thai kohlrabi noodle bowl is the newest addition and is set to premiere at the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit this weekend at the “On the Go” new products showcase.
“We aim to continually innovate with our product offerings, and there is no better place to unveil our new Spicy Thai Nourish Bowl, foodservice items, and other exciting products, than at PMA Fresh Summit,” said Gina Nucci, Mann’s Director of Corporate Marketing.
Featuring nutrient-rich kohlrabi noodles, kale, carrots, and a spicy Thai sauce, this new bowl is perfect for the cooler months ahead and is only made more delicious with the sweetened coconut flakes that are sprinkled on top.
The newest member of the Nourish Bowl family joins the Sesame Sriracha, Southwest Chipotle, Bacon Maple Brussels, and Cauli Rice Curry bowls, and it is the first to incorporate kohlrabi noodles. According to a recent press release, the Nourish Bowls line has garnered 32,000 points of distribution since its 2016 launch.
Mann Packing said it has endured exponential growth within its organic lines, with the Organic Super Blend at the epicenter, a crunchy veggie medley. Not only is it revealing a new addition to its popular Nourish Bowls, but the company is also showcasing a finalist in the Sensory Experience showcase at the Summit.
“We’re also pleased to announce our recipe for Cauli-Tots, using Cauliflower Cauliettes®, has been selected as a Sensory Experience finalist,” Nucci said.
You will be able to find the company’s new organic products on display at the Summit in the “Certified Organic” new products showcase.
If you are attending the Summit and want more information on the company’s new products, Mann Packing will be revealing its new offerings at booth #707.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - The employee-owned and fresh produce-focused Tanimura & Antle is taking a new, ecologically friendly approach by using CHEP and IFCO’s storage and inventory management solutions. Salinas-based Tanimura & Antle is seeking to eliminate supply chain disruptions to meet sustainability commitments. The partnership was created in 2000, and the lasting effects are measurable and exciting to hear. The story of the partnership between Tanimura & Antle, CHEP, and IFCO is highlighted at Fresh Summit.
“We have built a strong reputation for providing our customers with premium fresh produce every single day,” said Eric Wexler, Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Tanimura & Antle. “Working with CHEP and IFCO, we have peace of mind knowing that pallets and RPCs are on-hand and readily available to meet customer demands, efficiently and sustainably.”
How does this specifically help the environment? Well, according to the press release, the partnership has taken carbon emissions down by five million tons, saved almost 92 million gallons of water, taken food waste down by four million pounds, taken down the total solid waste production made by over 3,000 homes, and saved enough energy to power over 32,000 homes for one year.
With those hard numbers, Tanimura & Antle is commending its wise decision to embark on an ecologically focused business model with CHEP and IFCO. It is not only its waste reductions and energy saving solutions that Tanimura & Antle is celebrating. The company’s partnership is said to increase efficiency and optimize the shipping and handling during peak harvest seasons.
Tanimura & Antle is able to optimize on this partnership by storing its hundreds of thousands of pallets at its locations in Yuma, Arizona, and Spreckels, California, before its peak harvest seasons begin. This solution has helped Tanimura & Antle work more effectively during harvests and made its efforts towards the reduction of carbon emissions and environmental impact more efficient.
“We are committed to doing business in a responsible way that protects and preserves our natural resources. CHEP and IFCO are innovative and collaborative partners that help us deliver on our sustainability commitments,” said Mr. Wexler.
While CHEP tends to the logistics of Tanimura & Antle’s plans, IFCO offers Tanimura & Antle reusable plastic containers for the packaging, transporting, storing, and displaying of the company’s fresh produce. On top of that aspect, IFCO makes sure that it is readily equipped to assist in Tanimura & Antle’s harvesting efforts by using crop forecasting, acreage yield data, and transition plans according to the research it has acquired on Tanimura & Antle’s harvesting seasons.
Tanimura & Antle is not the only company that has benefitted from CHEP. Wholesum Harvest and Metro Inc. have had their own relationship with the company to develop their own innovative supply chain solutions. The increase in efficiency, reduction in costs, and increase in sustainable dividends has been attractive to many businesses.
“CHEP and IFCO constantly strive to develop new and innovative strategies that help growers and retailers successfully navigate the demands of the modern fresh produce supply chain,” said Jason Adlam, Vice President of New Business Development, CHEP USA. “Our pallet storage, sustainability and international flow solutions are examples of the value we deliver for our customers.”
The two companies’ parent company is Brambles, so it is no surprise that CHEP and IFCO share a commitment to achieving a Circular Economy-- one that generates zero emissions and zero waste. Brambles recently expressed its dedication to sustainability by publishing its Sustainability Review for the 2017 Financial Year (FY17). The Review includes updates on CHEP and IFCO’s sustainability program and its progress towards its 2020 Sustainability Goals.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.chep.com or follow us on Twitter @CHEPna or LinkedIn. Please also check out our YouTube channel.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Sometimes it’s good to put all your eggs in one basket – or in this case, snacks! Touting snack leaders in multiple categories, The Wonderful Company features its top three brands side-by-side in its new company-wide ad campaign “We are Number Wonderful.” Uniting the popular brands Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Pistachios, and POM Wonderful the ad series will launch at PMA and is set to appear in trade publications soon.
“As snacking reaches an all-time high, we’re excited to align all of our fresh, produce-driven brands under the easily recognizable Wonderful umbrella,” said Adam Cooper, Vice President of Marketing for The Wonderful Company, in a press release. “More than half of U.S. households already buy a Wonderful product each year, so helping consumers make the connection that Wonderful is a healthy snacking brand they can trust is a natural progression of our marketing strategy. The PMA Fresh Summit is the perfect venue for us to unveil our new We are Number Wonderful trade ad campaign.”
“We are Number Wonderful” creates a powerful synergy amongst the Wonderful brands, helping to establish a strong connection to the Wonderful name. This effort coincides with The Wonderful Company adding more dollars to produce than any other company and securing its place as one of the fastest growing at 15%.
With 3.5 billion servings of Wonderful products enjoyed each year, more than $2 billion in annual branded retail sales, and a $115 million combined marketing budget, The Wonderful Company has accounted for 13% of all dollar growth in snacks and produce combined since November 2016, including:
Wonderful Halos
- This season Halos is launching one of produce’s biggest-ever POS display programs, “Grove of Goodness,” capitalizing on the fact that Halos velocity doubles when showcased in a marquee display. The collection features a grove-to-store tractor, bringing to life the process of delivering fresh mandarins directly from farm-to-table.
- Building on this idea, Halos will also have a mandarin grove tree display that offers a smaller footprint in secondary locations for retail grocers.
- Rounding out the POS program, Halos will be introducing Holiday Spectacular bin wraps for special occasions including Christmas and Easter.
Wonderful Pistachios
- Wonderful Pistachios is now America’s fastest-growing snack brand and accounts for 11% of all dollar growth in snacks, while adding more dollars to snacking than any other single brand.
- For the first time at PMA, Wonderful Pistachios will debut a new look in packaging, highlighting optimal shelf appeal by increasing Wonderful branding, differentiation between popular flavors with the use of vibrant colors and leveraging high quality photography to increase appetite appeal.
- Wonderful Pistachios No Shells is getting a dramatic refresh with a new vivid green package, and the brand will also launch 16oz Natural Raw in Q1 2018.
- Helping to fuel this meteoric rise is a robust $55 million marketing and advertising effort spearheaded by the brand’s biggest football campaign ever, “Put a Smile on Your Snackface.” The ads, starring Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, launched to critical acclaim last month.
POM Wonderful
- Sales of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice are up 25% compared to a year ago.
- POM Wonderful will debut its largest digital campaign featuring the health benefits of POM 100% Pomegranate Juice.
- Fresh pomegranate and POM POMs season is just getting started. Last year the arils category experienced a 28% increase in sales in-season, and POM POMS dominated sales with a record 79% dollar share.
- POM Wonderful’s recent acquisition of Ruby Fresh, a leading processor and distributor of fresh pomegranates and arils, further enhances POM Wonderful’s position as North America’s leading pomegranate producer and distributor.
Those attending PMA Fresh Summit can visit The Wonderful Company at booth #2645 to experience the new Halos POS display program and learn more about the “We are Number Wonderful” trade ad campaign.
For more produce industry news, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
VIDALIA, GA – Giro Pack, Inc. introduces new box filling machine and high-speed dynamic weigher to further streamline and automate packinghouse bagging operations. The new Exact-100 offers more bags per minute, increased accuracy, and the ability to feed 3 baggers simultaneously with the same footprint as most layouts with only 2 baggers.
The GBF-100 automates the last step in the packaging line (the filling of boxes with net bags); resulting in improved efficiency and ultimately a savings in labor costs. This new machine is also extremely versatile and can accommodate an array of pack styles and weights, across a variety of different commodities.
Stop by Booth #1259 in New Orleans to see the GBF-100 first-hand and watch the Exact-100 video running full production at Fowler Packing.
EXACT-100
- Capacity: Up to 400lbs (200kg) of fruit per minute
- Output: Up to 90 bags/min (depending on bag size and commodity)
- Versatility: Ability to run 3 baggers simultaneously
- Accuracy: 5 grams per dump more accurate than Giro’s previous weigher; Saving up to $0.07 per 5# bag
- Labor Savings: Overall labor reduction up to 30%
- Footprint: Up to 50% more output with a smaller footprint than Giro’s previous line
GBF-100
- Output: Up to 90 boxes/min (depending on bag size and commodity)
- Labor Savings: Up to 2-4 people; Overall labor reduction up to 30%
- Box Composition: Plastic and/or carton
- Box Sizes: 600x400
- Featured Benefits: Vibrating/compacting device to ensure the proper positioning of the bags inside the box
- Optional Feature: Rejection system for over/underweight boxes
- Optional Feature: 1 or 2-layer feeding
Video:
For additional details on the GBF-100 or EXACT-100, please contact [email protected].
If you would like more information regarding this topic, please contact Jennifer Doxey, at 559.474.5694 or [email protected].
NEW ORLEANS, LA - As produce purveyors and makers descended upon the tempting backdrop of the New Orleans experience, it doesn’t suffice it to say that the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit was a hit. Strong retail presence spanning multiple markets nationally and internationally, over a thousand exhibitors, and more than 19,500 in attendance are just some of the markers of the powerful presence the event provided.
“We are thrilled that our industry continues to see Fresh Summit as such an important gathering place for the fresh produce and floral communities,” Cathy Burns shared with me as we discussed the last few days. “Thanks to the scores of volunteer leaders and exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, and members who worked so hard to make this a place of connections—to people, ideas, products, services, and more.”
In addition to strong numbers in retail (off-hand I recall bumping into team members from Sprouts Farmers Market, Schnucks, Loblaw, Longo’s, and Sam’s Club among several others) global participation was exceptional according to the PMA team.
The other big factor to tie into a hit show is, naturally, the products. The industry certainly turned out its best and brightest.
“Creativity and innovation are two words that come to mind when I look at this year’s Fresh Summit,” Cathy reflected. “Certainly we see this at the expo, where I’m so impressed with the products and services our exhibitors have on display. And I see it in the keynote presentations and workshop speakers who share their insights with the rest of us. It’s great to see everyone snapping pictures of the slides and swarming the speakers at the end of the workshop to get additional ideas.”
Amongst the 1,000+ exhibitors, five companies in particular took home honors for Best Overall Product Promo and Best Packaging Promo, as well as Best of Show.
- Best of Show: Zespri Kiwi Fruit
- Best First-Time Exhibitor: Obrigado
- Best of Show: Ripe
- Best Overall Product Promo: Southern Specialties
- Best Packaging Promo: Mucci Farms
Upon hearing the news of the team’s victory, Zespri’s Marketing Manager, Sarah Deaton, tells me, “We are so excited to receive this award. So much effort and planning went into our PMA booth. Our brand was represented through our team spirit, colorful booth graphics, and engaging staff that helped make the show a success!“
Congratulations to Southern Specialties, which was presented Fresh Summit’s Best Overall Product Promo award. Judged by anonymous retail panel, the PMA desired the purpose for the award was to encourage marketing innovation.
“I was very excited to be a judge, and to see the latest our industry has to offer,” said Walmart Stores, Inc. Senior Director of Global Sourcing Ron McCormick in a press release. The contest entries, he noted, demonstrate that “product packaging helps sell products, and is critical to our industry’s success."
The new Best Packaging Promo award, designed to encourage packaging innovation by recognizing pioneering ways that packaging is being used to market fresh produce and floral, was awarded to Mucci Farms for its Veggies to Go™ on-the-go snacks for kids. The product features new easy-snap packaging, and also brought home the Kids Choice Award for Sensory Experience Contest.
"PMA Fresh Summit 2017 was a 'WIN WIN' all around for our entire team. Between our award for Best Packaging Promo for Mucci’s Veggies to Go and the incredible insights and opportunities for building and growing relationships, PMA offered the perfect platforms to showcase our latest innovations while continually learning both professionally as well as personally," Mucci’s Marketing Manager Emily Murracas tells me. "There are a lot of moving parts to creating and executing a successful product and everyone on our team had a hand in creating our award-winning line. To be recognized for that hard work is incredibly rewarding. We were grateful for the resources offered, and in particular, the line-up of speakers this year was both inspirational and extremely empowering."
Looking forward, PMA incoming Chair Jin Ju Wilder of LA & SF Specialty announced on Saturday that bringing together the global produce and floral community to “grow a healthier world” is the new vision for the Association and the Center for Growing Talent by PMA.
“There is a lot in the new vision, and it resonates with me because it’s inspirational and aspirational,” Wilder said in a separate release. “It’s clear and compelling. What’s different is how that vision will shape how we deliver on our missions.”
Additionally, she noted that PMA will continue to connect, inform, and deliver industry solutions to enhance PMA members’ prosperity while the Center will continue its focus on attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
I know better to doubt that next year could top this one, however difficult that might seem. So instead I will say that I cannot wait to see how the team does it for 2018!
While we may no longer be in NOLA, we still have more to come from the floor, so stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more exciting coverage of the 2017 Fresh Summit.
LAKE OSWEGO, OR - Those who are seeking advising on how to get a grip on their business, fear not. It can be scary to get our hands dirty to make things right, but with a little guidance from Giant Results™’s Matt Curry, who was the former owner of Curry & Company, the clean-up can be much easier. The wisdom and expertise Curry gathered while working within the produce industry for 22 years will be a great asset as he begins his new venture.
“Right now it’s pivotal for produce companies to have an absolute grip on their companies. EOS® (The Entrepreneurial Operating System ®) is the proven process to getting what you want out of your business. If you want a simple system for solving -- people, lack of control, lack of profit, team maxed out and nothing working issues, you better get started now,” advised Curry in a recent press release.
Curry started his new company, Giant Results, to help entrepreneurial spirits find their way in the business world. He said that it is more important than ever to get a grip on our business acumen before it gets out of hand.
The difference between EOS® and other systems is its approach. With a more holistic-style and self-sustaining focus, it arguably helps entrepreneurs get the most out of their business and to ultimately cultivate the successful company they desire. But the proof is in the pudding, as can be seen in the fact that over 25,000 full-day trainings to more than 4,000 companies have benefited from this specifically designed approach.
The program builds the ability to create a clear and succinct vision for companies, traction with strong leadership that will propel companies towards higher successes, and a healthy leadership group that is supportive of and prepared for the growth to come.
While it has proven to be a real-world resolver for issues for businesses, EOS® is also explored in the book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business.
“EOS® is the system that enables legacy transitions to be executed,” said Curry. “Many times family businesses have a plan but don’t execute that plan because they don’t have the simple processes in place. This makes the accountability happen.”
Giant Results™ is headquartered in Lake Oswego, OR, and you can also visit his website for more information on his targeted approach to fixing the entrepreneurial mindset: www.giant-results.com.
SALINAS, CA - For foodservice customers seeking a salad fix, Markon Cooperative has announced a recent expansion to its produce packed lined up. According to a press release, the company has two new offerings coming to customers: Ready-Set-Serve® (RSS) Aromatic Herbs & Tender Greens and RSS Organic Lemony Arugula.
“The demand for exciting ingredients with bright flavor, varied texture, vibrant color, and organic options is becoming a must, especially with the increasingly influential Millennial demographic,” said Chris Casson, Director of Produce and Specialty Foods for Shamrock Foods Company, in a recent press release. “The new Ready-Set-Serve salad combinations save time without sacrificing quality or taste, and allow chefs to spend their time creating the delicious, healthy food options that today’s consumers want.”
What makes these options so convenient is the ready-to-eat set-up, but what makes them so great is their nutrient-dense blends, making eating healthy both a delight and delightfully easy to do without losing the variety we all crave.
A product of Markon’s member chefs during the 2016 Chef Summit , the RSS Aromatic Herbs & Tender Greens is available to foodservice operators through Markon member distributors exclusively. Members include Ben E. Keith Foods, Gordon Food Service, Gordon Food Service Canada, Maines Paper & Food Service, Nicholas & Company, Reinhart Foodservice, and Shamrock Foods Company.
The RSS Aromatic Herbs & Tender Greans is colorful in taste and texture, with a combination of red chard, wild arugula, green oak, frisee, parsley, dill, and cilantro. While eating this salad might work perfectly for on-the-go consumers, it is also just as good for dinner when sauteed or in a stir-fried mixture.
The second new addition to Markon’s products is the RSS Organic Lemony Arugula, which paints the palette with the earthy arugula and bright lemony sorrel leaves. This zesty blend is a healthy option for lunches, or it pairs well with omelettes, burgers, and more. It’s easy to fix up straight out of the bag, making this option a easy choice for consumers.
Citing a Technomic report, Markon said consumer concern for healthy options has soared in recent years. This, Markon said, has made uniquely blended salads increase in popularity as a tasty version tried-and-true staple in healthy-choice living.
“Whether you’re using the RSS Aromatic Herbs & Tender Greens as a base for an entree grilled chicken salad with goat cheese, radishes and cherry tomatoes or simply topping eggs benedict with fresh RSS Organic Lemony Arugula, these ready-to-serve product offerings easily enhance taste and add flavor,” said Paul Young, Reinhart Foodservice Corporate Executive Chef, in the same release.
The two new options are backed by Markon’s 5-Star Food Safety® program, which tracks products at five key points throughout production: fields, facilities, transportation, distributor warehouses, and operators’ kitchen. This creates a trust in the company’s traceability back to the field.
Both salad blends are available now.