“We continue to include ANUK in our media mix because we believe they do a really good job of reaching, engaging and retaining the audience we seek, at an affordable rate, and the team at ANUK is great to work with.”
TEFEN, ISRAEL - StePac has announced it has been acquired by Johnson Matthey Plc, a company providing sustainable technologies. The company says the transaction, which includes all assets of StePac, is an important step in the development of Johnson Matthey’s Atmosphere Control Technologies business.
"Under the umbrella of Johnson Matthey, we expect to make major advances in modified atmosphere packaging technology that will bring unparalleled added value to the fresh produce industry,” said StePac’s General Manager Asaf Shachnai. “This represents a springboard for further development of StePac and we look forward to undertaking this challenge and serving our customers with even better packaging products that offer more benefits."
According to a press release, StePac is a provider of modified atmosphere packaging, which works closely with growers and distributors of fresh produce to develop, manufacture, and supply application-specific products. Atmosphere control technologies for shelf life extension in the fresh produce supply chain is one of Johnson Matthey’s new business areas, and the company believes this is an attractive market for the development of advanced packaging solutions that can prolong shelf life and thereby reduce food waste.
Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey, said, "The acquisition of StePac is an important step in the development of our Atmosphere Control Technologies business. The combination of Johnson Matthey’s expertise in advanced materials and StePac’s complementary technical and applications knowledge will enable us to develop new, sustainable technologies for customers in the fresh produce supply chain that prolong shelf life and reduce waste."
StePac is also bringing an established network of relationships across the fresh produce supply chain which will inform future technology and product development. These provide a strong platform of complementary technical skills and market access to enable Johnson Matthey to accelerate the selection, development and commercialization of new technologies.
SCHILLER PARK, IL - Sun Belle Inc. has added Bob Hylka and Jan McDaniels, two senior produce specialists, to its sales and marketing team.
Bob Hylka, a former Produce Buyer at Jewel Food Stores, has joined Sun Belle’s sales office in Schiller Park, IL, where he will be responsible for handling national and Midwest retailers. Prior to joining Sun Belle, Hylka worked in a number of retail positions, including produce department manager and produce operations specialist, as well as store management and sales and merchandising management, according to a press release. He became a Produce Buyer at Jewel in 2011, and in 2013, joined Aldi as a Corporate Produce Manager.
“We welcome Bob’s breadth of retail produce experience, both at the corporate and store level,” said Janice Honigberg, Sun Belle’s Founder and President. “Bob brings to Sun Belle a deep understanding of the retail buyer’s viewpoint and needs which will help customers drive their produce sales.”
Jan McDaniels will oversee the company’s distribution facility near Los Angeles International Airport and handle West Coast and national sales.
For over 20 years, McDaniels has been involved in fresh produce sales and logistics, having worked with Gourmet Trading in Auckland, New Zealand and moving stateside in 1997. While at Gourmet Trading, McDaniels handled retail, club, and foodservice sales in the U.S. and Canada, with a focus on logistics and quality details to ensure successful sales of asparagus, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries, according to a press release. In 2011, she founded Fresh Girl Trading, which specialized in asparagus and blueberries.
“We are very pleased Jan has joined us, and know that her entrepreneurial experience and hands-on skills provide Sun Belle a very solid presence in West Coast markets, furthers Sun Belle’s product offerings, and strengthens Sun Belle’s commitment to quality, value, and service,” continued Honigberg.
Sun Belle currently operates four distribution centers in the United States – in Jessup, Maryland; Schiller Park, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Los Angeles, California – and is a shipper of South American and North American blueberries, raspberries, red currants, and cranberries with customers in Europe, Asia, and North America.
UNITED STATES - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its forecast for the 2015 hurricane season, which officially starts on June 1st.
While it has been determined to be a light hurricane season, officials caution that this doesn’t necessarily mean an easy time for coastal locations like Louisiana or parts of Florida and Georgia, according to a press release.
“A below-normal season doesn’t mean we’re off the hook. As we’ve seen before, below-normal seasons can still produce catastrophic impacts to communities,” Kathryn Sullivan, Ph. D, Administrator for the NOAA, stated in the release.
The NOAA's reported predictions for the season include:
- A 70 percent likelihood of 6 to 11 “named storms,” meaning winds of 39 mph or higher
- The possibility of 3 to 6 of those storms forming hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher)
- A chance of 0 to 2 major hurricanes - category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher
While a below to normal season is predicted to be 70 percent likely at this point, the NOAA report also lists a 20 percent chance of a near-normal season, with a 10 percent chance of an above-normal season.
The chances of the hurricanes remaining minimal, officials stated, is due to our being in an El Niño year.
“The main factor expected to suppress the hurricane season this year is El Niño, which is already affecting wind and pressure patterns, and is forecast to last through the hurricane season,” Gerry Bell, Ph.D., the Lead Seasonal Hurricane Forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, commented. “El Niño may also intensify as the season progresses, and is expected to have its greatest influence during the peak months of the season. We also expect sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic to be close to normal, whereas warmer waters would have supported storm development.”
NOAA will reportedly issue an updated outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season before the peak portion of the season in early August. The end of the hurricane season comes to a close on the 30th of November.
ZAANDAM, NETHERLANDS - Ahold has released its Q1 2015 financial report, highlighting an increased market share in the U.S. for the third consecutive quarter.
Just in Q1, Ahold USA added 183 stores, bringing the total of U.S. locations to 704. The company says the next steps in growth for the U.S. is the rollout of Super KVI (Know-Value-Item) price drops and the continued launch of 75 new produce departments. As we’ve previously reported, Ahold and Delhaize have confirmed that they are currently in merger talks. Ahold shares jumped nearly 18 percent and Delhaize shares rose 15 percent following reports of a potential merger.
Discussing Ahold’s financial results, CEO Dick Boer commented, “We are encouraged by the positive momentum in our sales trend, with sales growth of 3.1% excluding gas and at constant exchange rates, despite the adverse timing of Easter. We have continued to respond to the changing needs of our customers, by making further price investments, increasing and improving our assortments, expanding our store network, introducing new formats and continuing to strengthen our leading online proposition.”
Total net sales for Ahold USA during the first quarter were over €7 billion ($7.6 billion), up 19.9 percent over last year. First quarter sales for all sectors of Ahold were €11.3 billion ($12.3 billion), up 14.9 percent.
Other highlights from the report include:
- Net income was €213 million, up €163 million compared with last year
- Underlying operating income was €390 million; €2 million lower than last year.
- Sales excluding gas up 3.1% at constant exchange rates.
- Sales in the Netherlands up 5.7 percent.
- Underlying operating margin of 3.5 percent.
Continue watching AndNowUKnow for all the latest industry financial news.
5/27/2016 9 a.m. PST - The story below includes the following correction: Golden Eagle Farm Group is owned by the Aquilini family of Vancouver, British Columbia, and not Munger Farms.
SALINAS, CA - Naturipe Farms partner Munger Farms has announced a joint venture agreement with Golden Eagle Farm Group, boosting the company’s market share in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
“This addition will complement our current production from Naturipe Farms partner MBG Marketing’s, premier grower base in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon,” said Brian Bocock, Vice President of Product Management for Naturipe Farms. “This significantly boosts our market share in the Pacific Northwest and BC, allowing us to provide domestic and international customers a consistent supply of premium blueberries from this region."
Golden Eagle Farm Group is owned by the Aquilini family of Vancouver, British Columbia, who has several diverse farming operations and are significant growers of blueberries in British Columbia and Washington State, according to a press release.
“The joint venture with the Aquilini family will increase our acreage by 4000,” said David Munger, Co-CEO of Munger Farms. “The Canadian blueberry fields are in full production and the Washington operations will start limited production in 2016."
Munger continued that the decision to expand in this region reflects the company’s confidence in Naturipe Farms grower-owned business model, its market leadership, and the synergies amongst the Naturipe grower-owners.
WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms has launched a new website with large format visuals and content designed to give each visitor a unique, personalized experience.
The new website features exclusive recipes, free e-books, sweepstakes, content opportunities, and more, aimed at meeting the demand for consumers who browse the web for food photography, recipes, and info with which they connect, according to a press release.
“Today, with social media and on-demand information at everyone’s fingertips, it’s critical for our marketing touchpoints to be colorful, inspirational, and emotional in order to become and remain present in the minds of consumers,” said Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing.
The new website also allows the company’s marketing team to analyze visitor data – including product, content, and communication preferences – to continually update the website, as well as provide visitors with content that is custom-tailored to their exact preferences.
“We are most proud of the many ways that we are now able to connect with consumers on their terms, from detailed, helpful recipes with compelling photography at calgiant.com to our daily conversations with them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram,” continued Jewell.
The company’s trade website has also been revamped, and members of the trade can subscribe to The Buzz e-newsletter via the site.
Be sure to check out the new and improved California Giant Berry Farms website by clicking below.
TULSA, OK AND BRADENTON, FL - Aldi is increasing its reach with two expansion plans for the near future. Aldi is opening a discount grocery store in Tulsa, OK, and has paid $1.75 million for four acres in Bradenton to open a new Florida store.
The Tulsa location will open on June 10, during which customers can tour the store. The new locations will have high ceilings, natural lighting, and uses environmentally friendly building materials such as recycled materials and energy-saving refrigeration and light bulbs, reports news source Tulsa World.
"We look forward to introducing west Tulsa shoppers to Aldi, where they can find the majority of their average weekly shopping list from our exclusive brand products — including fresh meats, fruits, vegetables and bakery items—for up to 50 percent less," said Mark Bersted, Olathe Division Vice President for Aldi in a statement.
For the Bradenton store, it will be the discount grocer’s second store in Manatee county, the first of which opened in September 2010.
According to the Herald-Tribune, the Manatee County Commission approved a rezoning so Aldi could build a 17,000-square-foot store at the site in March. That followed "a protracted due diligence and closing period," according to Joe C. Hembree and Ken Hoskinson Jr., who represented the sellers. The land was purchased from Route 70 Holdings, a Sarasota company managed by Danielle Gladding and Joann E. Desrosiers, according to state records.
According to Tusla World, Aldi is saving costs on its new stores by using a smaller store footprint, open carton displays and encouraging customers to bring their own shopping bags, as well as a cart rental system whereby shoppers insert a quarter to release a cart and then receive the quarter back after returning the cart.
As we've previously reported, Aldi has been expanding rapidly as of late, with expansions in Virginia, Texas, and its recent 66 Bottom Dollar acquisitions.
IRVINE, CA - The bringer of Doritos Tacos and Chalupas appears to be joining the fresh trend sweeping fast food, having announced that it is cutting out artificial flavors and coloring beginning this year.
“People haven’t slowed down, and more than ever want quality and convenience,” Brian Niccol, CEO of Taco Bell Corp, said in a press release. “They are seeking more information and a variety of options they can customize to meet their lifestyle, without giving up the flavors they love or the innovative food they expect at Taco Bell. They’re also telling us less is más when it comes to ingredients, so we’re simplifying with natural alternatives and staying true to who we are and what makes us unique.”
The company is calling the menu makeover a commitment to simple ingredients in response to a consumer desire to understand what they are eating.
“We’re part of an exciting time – a food revolution,” Liz Matthews, Chief Food Innovation Officer for Taco Bell Corp, commented in the release. “Today’s customers are more curious and interested about food than ever. They want to understand what they’re eating and expect to know more about it.”
Corporate sibling Pizza Hut will also be participating in the content cleanup, both companies sharing Yum! Brands as a parent company, reportedly shooting to have eliminated all artificial flavors and coloring by July of this year, according to 10 News.
Taco Bell, however, will be a slower transition. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company said it would remove additional artificial preservatives and additives where possible within the next two years.
“We are excited to bring new tools and the right information that is relevant to our fans today,” Mathews said in the release, adding that these changes are to make it easy for them to understand what’s in the company’s food, providing options for current lifestyles and price points.
The company also suggested that these changes are not all it has, so stay tuned.
OCEANSIDE, CA - Dick Robson, the 45-year Vons/Safeway veteran, passed away on May 12 of this year. Dick is survived by his wife of 42 years Sue, two daughters Janel and Rebecca, and five grandchildren.
“There are few people that you meet in life that you just like immediately, Dick was one of those people,” said Carissa Mace, President of the Fresh Produce and Floral Council. “Dick was a leader and mentor to many people. He always conveyed a positive message and was well respected by his produce staff, peers and senior management.”
Dick started his career at Vons in 1970 as a box boy like most in the retail business, and held many positions throughout his 45 year career at Vons, his last being as a merchandiser in San Diego. His presence and dedicated service to the industry will be missed.
Carissa continued by saying that Dick’s knowledge, experience, and strong work ethic has helped him drive positive results in sales and profit for the company throughout his career. He was often sought out by other merchandisers to help resolve issues and just be a sounding board for them to vent. Dick will be missed, along with his great smile and his keen insight on the larger picture.
According to the Fresh Produce and Floral Council, services for Dick Robson will be held on May 29, 2015 at the Calvary Chapel located at 3715 Oceanic Way in Oceanside, California.
If you plan on attending, the Fresh Produce and Floral Council asks that you please RSVP to Sue Robson at [email protected].
AndNowUKnow would like to offer our sincere condolences to all affected by this loss.