LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The ALC Logistics division of the Allen Lund Company is currently expanding its Transportation Management Software (TMS) with new hires and more.
Two have joined the Allen Lund Company’s TMS division, Ian Fisher as Implementation and Customer Support and Greg Au as Business Development Specialist.
"Our TMS product is making great gains in the shipping community, especially in transportation of perishable products," Kenny Lund, Vice President of Support Operations for Allen Lund Company, said in a press release. "Greg brings extensive sales knowledge, and Ian used our TMS in a previous work life so his knowledge of the product is first hand. They are great additions to the team as we continue our fast paced growth."
Au holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Technology from the California State University of Los Angeles, while Fisher comes to the team from Califia Farms and is currently studying at Royal Holloway University for a B.A. degree.
The company is also growing the division with increased installations, as well as expanding customized transportation solutions for ALC Logistics shipping customers.
As we previously reported, there is over $1.5 billion in freight spend running through Allen Lund Company’s TMS Systems, making the software’s benefits like automatically sending information like carrier report cards and real-time information about product in transit extremely beneficial.
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to explore food trends and the factors behind growth in the fast food sector, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service has created the Food Access Research Atlas, a detailed map that explores what "influences food choices and diet quality."
According to the USDA's website, the atlas currently features over 211 indicators—such as proximity to grocery stores and restaurants and food prices—of the food environment across the county, state, and regional levels.
The atlas can be used to explore things like which counties and states have the best access to grocery stores, where food deserts are most prevalent, and the growth of fast food restaurants across the country. The data has shown several cities that have had a 50 percent increase in fast food restaurant outlets between 2007 and 2012.
The publication Eater went in-depth in the USDA’s new tool, finding cities that saw drastic changes in the number of fast food eateries. These include Custer, ID which saw a 200 percent increase (a jump from two restaurants to six), and La Salle, TX which witnessed a 133 percent increase (from three restaurants to seven). While the percentages are quite high, the actual number of restaurants are fairly average. San Diego, CA only saw a seven percent increase in fast food restaurants, Eater reports, but the number jumped from 2,367 restaurants to 2,536. Even places with larger populations like Los Angeles, a city which in parts has been under a moratorium on new fast food restaurants since 2008, has seen a nearly 6.5 percent increase.
In particular, both the Midwest and West have seen the number of fast food restaurants dramatically decrease. Multiple cities across South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Idaho have seen a 50 percent or greater drop in fast food restaurants, Eater has found. The city of Sagachue, CO saw a 100 percent decrease in fast food restaurants between 2007 and 2012 dropping from two to zero.
With this new information available on food choices and quality, will we be better able to tackle the problem of food deserts in our communities? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to cover this growing issue.
DALLAS, TX - Mexico’s avocado exports continues to climb to new heights, already expecting to hit 1.8 billion pounds this year over last year’s 1.5 billion pounds.
Maggie Bezart Hall, Vice President of Trade & Promotion for Avocados From Mexico, Inc., took the time to tell me why this sector is such a hot spot for avocados and how that’s come to light.
“Avocados from Mexico’s substantial growth began in 2007 with a release of the USDA to [permit Mexico avocados] to service all 50 states in US. At that time we were only exporting approximately 500 million pounds,” Maggie tells me, a far cry from this year’s projected 1.8 billion pounds.
This increase isn’t due to a change in Mexico, but to the available markets and promotions in the U.S. that have opened up to the fruit in the last eight years.
“Consumption continues to grow by double digits every year,” Maggie said. "Mexico is the only origin with four blooms a year of avocados, allowing fresh, quality product 365 days a year. That’s how you build consumption is with consistent supply, because retailers can then have promotions instead of waiting for peaks and valleys of fresh supply.”
It is with this supply, and consistent promotions, that Maggie credits the significant growth the Mexican avocado sector has seen. Currently the company is part of the national tailgate tour, providing thousands of tailgaters with it’s Rockin’ Guac “speed scratch” recipe.
“Speed scratch means you are adding a fresh ingredient to prepared ingredients that have flavoring so that you don’t have to spend time chopping and cutting to serve a fresh, quick dish,” Maggie said.
As for what’s next for Avocados From Mexico, Maggie tells me that the increased pounds of product only give the company more excitement about the opportunity to service retail and foodservice with great quality avocados from Mexico.
NEW YORK - Nearly a month after the appointment of Nelson Peltz to Sysco’s Board of Directors, the company has presented a three-year plan that aims to improve its annual operating income by $400 million.
Sysco presented the plan during its 2015 Investor Day on Tuesday, in which the company also announced that it is targeting a 15 percent return on invested capital by fiscal 2018.
The foodservice giant proclaimed that it would achieve these goals by accelerating local case growth, improving gross margins, leveraging its end-to-end supply chain, reducing administrative costs, and generating more than $1 billion in free cash flow per year, according to a press release. Reuters reports that an estimated 15 to 20 percent of the operating income growth is expected to come from reducing administrative costs.
“This plan leverages a variety of new capabilities and initiatives developed over the past several years that together provide a strong foundation for ongoing value creation,” Bill DeLaney, Sysco’s Chief Executive, said in a press release. “We are confident that this plan is the right one for Sysco shareholders, customers, and associates, and we look forward to delivering on these commitments.
As of September 16 at 1:21 PM EDT, Sysco’s stock is up 0.03% to $39.47.
In an interview with Reuters, DeLaney also added that the company is looking to grow its cases and accelerate its case growth with the locally managed customers it has.
Just one week after Trian Partners became the largest individual shareholder in Sysco, the firm’s Nelson Peltz and Josh Frank joined Sysco’s Board of Directors in an attempt to enhance the company’s performance after its failed merger with US Foods.
“Obviously, they're a big shareholder, and they’re on our board, so we’re certainly going to listen to all of that,” DeLaney told Reuters. “We need to take costs out, but one of the things we’ve learned over the years is if you do it the wrong way or if you do it before you’re really ready to execute it well, there can be ramifications on the customer side, which you don’t want to have. It just needs to be executed well.”
Reuters also reports that Sysco has already cut approximately $700 million in annual costs over the past three years.
How will Nelson Peltz’s addition continue to shake things up at Sysco? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to find out.
BOISE, ID - It looks like legal woes won’t be getting in the way of Albertsons' planned $24 billion IPO, sources are reporting.
According to Reuters, sources have confirmed that Albertsons' majority owner, Cerberus Capital Management, will continue its plans to carry out the IPO despite the recent $1 billion lawsuit from Haggen and increasing volatility in the stock markets. Confidence remains high that the firm will be able to retain Albertsons’ high valuation.
As we’ve previously reported, Haggen accused Albertsons of misrepresenting the financial health of stores that Albertsons sold to the retailer. Albertsons sold the stores as part of an effort to win approval for a $9.2 billion merger with Safeway. As part of the merger, Albertsons divested 168 stores, 146 of which were to Haggen.
Despite these allegations, which Albertsons vehemently denies, Cerberus sees an IPO as a way to capitalize on the strong performance of rivals like Kroger, the sources told Reuters. Kroger's most recent financial report, announced last week, beat analysts' expectations in both profit and same-store sales and has been trading at approximately 8.23 times its projected 12-month EBITA, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Albertsons will use its “still unrealized synergies” from the Safeway merger and potential acquisition opportunities to gain investors attention, the sources said, while also confirming that the listing date could change based on market conditions.
FRIESLAND, WI - Alsum Farms & Produce Inc. has a new item in store for those attending Southeast Produce Council's (SEPC) Southern Innovations Symposium Bright Ideas Platform September 17-19, 2015. The company has announced it will introduce new Fast & Fresh! potatoes, a 12 oz package of microwave-ready russet potatoes, for the Bright Ideas Platform showcase for the best innovative ideas in produce.
“The Microwave-Ready Russet Potatoes bring fresh, convenient potato solutions to the time-starved consumer,” says Heidi Alsum-Randall, National Sales and Marketing Manager of Alsum Farms & Produce. “Demanding lifestyles coupled with the desire for healthier meals make the Alsum 12 oz Microwave-Ready Russet Potatoes a convenient side dish for today’s busy consumers and millennial shoppers.”
Now available year-round, Alsum Farms & Produce’s Fast & Fresh! Potatoes are a 12 oz package of fresh baby russet potatoes that are triple-washed and ready to cook. The company says that these potatoes allow for today’s busy consumers to go from the microwave to their plate in 5 minutes or less. According to a press release, Fast & Fresh! potatoes are the perfect side dish that’s delicious, good-for-you and easy to serve with any meal.
These convenience packed potatoes are now available at select retail grocers alongside Alsum Farms & Produce full-line of conventional, organic and specialty potato offerings. Showcased in am eye-catching steamer package, the company says its new product capitalizes on the trust and expertise of the farmer, Larry Alsum, as well as protects the potatoes from light to prevent greening when on the store shelf or in the home cooks pantry.
PHOENIX, AZ - VPC Freight Solutions has announced that its truck fleet is now equipped with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). This comes ahead of the time when these devices will be required for all trucks by the US Department of Transportation in the second half of 2016.
“E-logs are now an essential piece of technology that will be mandated to be in all commercial trucks in the near future,” says Steve Day, Sales Manager for VPC Freight Solutions. “With the integration of E-logs to our fleet, we will chauffeur in a new era of safety and it will assist in driver and company accountability. Think of E-logs not just as electronic log books, but also they function as a GPS, navigation, and email. Essentially a small office located inside the cab of a truck, ready to transmit pertinent information.”
According to a press release, ELDs installed in interstate commercial trucks will help ensure compliance with safety rules that govern the number of hours a driver can work. The early transition to E-logs will also allow VPC Freight Solutions to remain competitive and maintain its premium customer service.
The USDOT law has four basic parts, VPC Freight Solutions reports:
- The requirement to use ELDs
- Protections against driver harassment
- Hardware specifications for the devices
- Hours-of-service related supporting documents drivers must continue to carry after the mandate
“It was a priority to get these systems in our trucks and have our drivers fully trained prior to the law going into effect,” said Daniel Holmes, General Manager for VPC Freight Solutions.
Holmes also sees improved productivity as an advantage of these new systems, he says, as well as helping the company to manage its business costs.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Watch out LA, there’s about to be a new contender in your city’s grocery wars.
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market has announced the addition of 14 new stores throughout the Los Angeles area beginning this December, and continuing at a rapid pace throughout 2016. All this less than one week after Haggen announcing it has failed to make a significant impact in the Southern California market.
Grocery Outlet says the company sets itself apart from other discount retailers by offering name brands at prices up to 60 percent off traditional supermarkets. This year alone, the chain claims that shoppers have saved more than $1 billion on products purchased at Grocery Outlet as compared to traditional grocery stores.
"It's fun to watch eyes pop and jaws drop when people come to our stores the first time and see such extreme bargains on the brands they love," said Eric Lindberg, Co-CEO of Grocery Outlet. "There is a reason we label products with discounts over 50 percent as 'WOW' deals. It's often the first thing shoppers say when they realize how much money they'll save.”
The first stores are scheduled to open in Costa Mesa on December 3 and Westminster on December 10, marking a comeback for the 227-unit chain in the area. Grocery Outlet previously operated outlets in Buena Park and Fountain Valley, but closed those stores a few years ago when the leases expired, saying the company wished to regroup at the time, according to the OC Register. Now, it appears the retailer is ready for its next moves, with a total of 35 stores planned over the next two years in the Los Angeles area.
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market uses a unique buying model to achieve its low prices. According to a press release, Grocery Outlet buyers negotiate directly with manufacturers to buy overstock and surplus products at deep discounts and pass those savings directly on to customers.
In addition to bringing affordable, healthy options to the Los Angeles area, Grocery Outlet will be attempting to make an impact in the local communities as well. All of the company’s stores are independently owned and operated by residents in or near the communities they serve.
"Giving back to the Los Angeles community is a big priority," said MacGregor Read, Co-CEO of Grocery Outlet. "My grandfather started this business nearly 70 years ago. As a family-run business, we're proud to say our values are reflected in each of our stores. From supporting little league teams to donating food to those in need, our local owners share our commitment to making a lasting impact."
With the opening of the first 14 stores alone, the independent Grocery Outlet operators will create jobs for approximately 500 people.
FRESNO, CA – Culinary Competitions International (CCI) is paving its way into China with the opening of four new offices.
With new locations in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, this agricultural marketing company is confident it can continue meeting the export or import demands of its client-base.
Peter DeYoung, CEO of CCI, said he was very excited about this international expansion, noting that having offices in these specific regions can act as a “home base” for the company’s clients in their main target markets.
“We now have a greater presence in these target export markets, which opens doors often closed to U.S. exporters,” said DeYoung. “Our team in China is comprised of agriculture marketing experts and highly trained PR specialists.”
CCI’s target focus is helping its clients increasing overall exports and delivering key messages in-market with international marketing promotions. While culinary competitions comprise only one area of specialty, marketing strategies include but are not limited to foodservice promotions, coordinating trade relations, recipe contests, culinary and baking competitions, and the planning and execution of high profile marketing and PR events, according to a press release.
“Expanding internationally has made a big difference in helping us grow with our clients,” said Marilyn Cowley, Vice President of Marketing. “We are very excited for the future. We plan on opening more offices around the world to meet similar client needs.”
CCI is confident that with China being one of the lead export markets for U.S. agriculture, this expansion will serve as a huge benefit to its clients.
YUMA, AZ - Google Maps has made life a lot easier for everything from travel plans to dining choices, but for selecting planting grounds?
That is what seed producers in Yuma, Arizona, are saying, according to a KJZZ report.
“We were spending a lot of time just going back and forth trying to pin isolations on [a] board,” Jose Solorzano, Research Manager for vegetable and flower seed company Takii, told KJZZ.
Isolation is key for this aspect of the industry in order to maintain the purity of the seeds, Yuma County Extension Director Dr. Kurt Nolte explained.
“Cross pollination is vital within a field, but purity of the seed is at risk when bees move pollen to other fields," Dr. Nolte said, according to the report. "So if we have a white onion field right next to a red onion field, the possibility of getting a pink onion is very high.”
And of course, he added, nobody wants a pink onion.
Now these growers have “plugged in” so-to-speak, having a shared Google map that has moved the pins of isolated areas from a board in Yuma’s extension office, where everyone had to meet annually to sort out crops and areas, to one easily accessible forum online.
“As long as we have an Internet connection, we can do it anywhere in the world,” Solorzano told KJZZ.
While the workers of this aspect of the Arizona produce industry, which the USDA reports brings in more than $4.5 million, can’t control the bees, they now have a bit more control over how they compensate for them.
Though Google Maps does have many options for different mapping needs, including satellite, topography, transit and the like, it does not yet have a mapping option specifically geared toward agriculture. Perhaps with a few more stories like the seed producers of Yuma, Arizona, Google will provide the industry with one.