PHILADELPHIA, PA – Love Beets has unveiled new packaging for its five flavors of marinated baby beets: Sweetfire Beets, Honey + Ginger Beete, Mild Vinegar Beets, White Wine & Balsamic Beets and Organic Mild Vinegar Beets.
The new packs feature state-of-the-art top seal technology to keep each beet fresher for longer and allow for easier portioning and storage across meals, snacks and recipes. For retailers, the packs can now stand upright on the shelf. According to a press release, this product ‘refresh’ is a part of the company’s larger overall re-brand to better represent its whimsical identity.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Fresh Del Monte is beginning a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer in order to purchase up to $175 million worth of outstanding shares of its company stock.
During this tender offer, Fresh Del Monte shareholders may either offer all or a portion of their shares at price between $30.50 to $34.50 per share. Shareholders also have the option of tendering their shares without specifying a purchase price. In this case, the shares will be purchased at a price determined in accordance with the tender offer.
At the expiration of this offer, Fresh Del Monte will purchase those shares priced at the lowest price point within the prespecified range, up to an aggregate value of $175 million. All shares tendered at a price point exceeding Fresh Del Monte's accepted price point will be returned to the original shareholder. All purchased shares will be paid for in cash.
According to a press release, this tender offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 2, 2014, unless extended or terminated by the company.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for further updates on the future actions of Fresh Del Monte and the fresh produce industry.
SINT-JANS-MOLENBEEK - The Delhaize Group released its Q3 financial report on November 6th, 2014, revealing impressive growth both in terms of revenue and operating profit. While analysts quoted by Reuters only predicted an operating profit of €182 million, Delhaize revealed that it blew past these estimates by €10 million with an operating profit of €192 million (over $237 million) in Q3.
“In the U.S., comparable store sales growth was very strong at 5.3%, resulting from both continued good momentum at Food Lion and favourable, albeit temporary, competitive dynamics at Hannaford,” shared Frans Muller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Group. “These positive volume trends resulted in a 10% increase in our U.S. underlying operating profit. In August, we have launched the first 31 Food Lion stores deploying our new 'Easy, Fresh & Affordable' strategy. Although it is too early to draw conclusions, they are experiencing good initial customer response. We will roll out the next 45 stores next week.”
Other highlights from the financial report include:
- Revenue growth of 3.3% at identical exchange rates (3.3% organic growth) and 5.9% revenue growth for Delhaize's United States operations.
- 5.3% same store sales growth in its United States stores. This result beat the expectations of analysts quoted by Reuters, who only anticipated 3.0% same store sales growth this quarter.
- 4.2% underlying operating margin in the United States.
- Free cash flow generation of €118 million.
In its Q3 financial report, Delhaize also revealed that it has agreed to sell its 66 Bottom Dollar Food stores to Aldi in the interest of focusing on its core base of operations in the United States.
Congratulations on a strong Q3 performance, Delhaize!
GUADALUPE, CA – Beachside Produce, LLC is gearing up for the holidays with the peak of the production of its California Brussels sprouts and celery approaching.
According to a press release, the company’s crop is looking great and supplies will be plentiful through the Thanksgiving pull and into the Christmas and holiday season.
Beachside grows its Brussels sprouts domestically in Lompoc and Guadalupe, CA. The product ships from both the Lompoc and Santa Maria Valleys. They are offered in Iced 25# Regular and Jumbo sizes in both carton and RPC packs. The product lineup also includes 18/1# packs offered in RPC’s.
The company is also offering festive 9 count Brussels sprouts stalks through the holiday season. The stalk can be roasted in an oven to make a special presentation on the holiday table.
Beachside’s celery is also in full swing. In a release, the company states that it has ample supplies predicted from mid-November through January 2015. The celery will be available in naked packs and sleeves in 24, 30 and 36 sizes.
The company is also packing celery sticks and hearts weekly for the holiday pull in both retail and club packs.
SANTA PAULA, CA – To determine who has the recipes for the most creative and delicious lemon cocktails in the world, Limoneira is kicking off a series of international mixology contests.
On November 18, Los Angeles’ most distinguished bartenders and mixologists will be serving up their most inventive lemon cocktails at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.
“We’re excited about our upcoming lemon mix-off in Los Angeles and eager to see the innovative lemon cocktails these talented bartenders create,” said John Chamberlain, Limoneira’s Director of Marketing. “This will be part of a series of competitions that will take place in New York, Chicago and Hong Kong, among others, in 2015.”
At the event, competitors will have 15 minutes to put together an original concoction for each member of the judging panel along with an additional one for presentation, according to a press release. To get the creativity flowing, the contests have no limits on ingredients and contestants are not required to use a particular type of spirit.
The winners from each contest will face off against each other at a final round for a chance at a grand prize. Let’s meet some of the competitors and judges participating part in the LA event.
Competitors:
Joseph Brooke, from The Edison and Mixology 101, is a fast-rising star in the mixology world. He came to LA six years ago and has spent time working in some of LA’s most popular nightspots. He graduated from Southern Wine & Spirits’ mixology and fine service course and received his BAR-Ready certification from AKA Wine Geek in 2010.
Brian Leon is the famed mixologist from Nobu Malibu. For 8 years, he has served drinks to regulars at Nobu like Robert Downey Jr., Courteney Cox, Mel Gibson, Nicole Richie, Pink and more.
Melodee Murphy gained her mixology chops in the world of hotel bartending, family owned restaurants, and private events and has most recently found her home at James Republic in downtown Long Beach.
Other notable competitors Include Ferrari Watts from Rivera 31, Michael Nemcik from redclay, Nic Hirsch from Loft Bar and Montague Laguna Beach, and Patrick Reynolds from Wildcat and Santa Barbara
Judges:
Lanee Lee is a Los Angeles-based writer covering cocktails, cuisine and quirky destinations. She is also the co-founder of Voyage Vixens, an online female-centric travel blog and YouTube series.
Lesley Jacobs Solmonson is published “Gin: A Global History” in 2012. She is the cocktail/wine writer for the LA Weekly and also writes for Chilled magazine.
Other judges include Hadley Tomicki from Urban Daddy, Beth Fisher from Busy Beth Fisher, and Elana Lepkowski from Stir and Strain.
Guests attending the private event can watch the bartenders competing while enjoying an assortment of hors d’oeuvres, Diabolo sparkling French soda, Four Brix wine, handcrafted Italian liqueurs from Venturs Limoncello Company, and lemon-centric libations from Greenbar Craft Distillery.
Good luck to all of the mixologists participating in this event!
NEWARK, DE – The inaugural PMA Fruittrade Latin America will kick off soon in Santiago, Chile through the collaboration of PMA, Fedefruta (the growers association of Chile) and Yentzen Consulting Group.
According to a press release, this first-of-its-kind event for South America is replacing both Fedefruta’s and PMA’s long standing individual conventions in the region. The event is scheduled for November 12-13.
“This new collaboration is part of PMA’s strategy to help the industry build consumer connections by linking members to the people, markets and insights needed to grow business and increase consumption,” said Nancy Tucker, PMA’s Vice President of Global Business Development. “This event is designed to help industry members build connections – to experts, ideas, trends and talent – produce and floral companies can focus on building consumer demand for the products they grow, ship and sell.”
This convention is going to feature business round-tables that connect retailers and suppliers. According to a press release, a group of international buyers including Associated Wholesale Grocers, Cencosud, Costco Wholesale Canada, Eurosupermercado, Grupo Éxito, Grupo Pao de Acucar/CBD, The Kroger Co., Sam's Wholesale Club, Save-a-lot, Ltd., Spinneys Dubai LLC, Supermercados Tottus, Tesco, and Wal-Mart Mexico, Inc. will participate in this unique ‘matchmaking’ event.
“I am looking forward to participating in PMA Fruittrade Latin America,” said Oleen Smethurst from Costco Wholesale Canada. “I expect to make new connections and that the program will be very enriching and give me the insight I need on key markets.”
Additionally, Carlos Furche, Chile’s Minister of Agriculture, will join ProChile’s Director Roberto Paiva, Fedefruta President Juan Carolus Brown and Tesco Sourcing Manager Simon Mandelbaum for PMA Fruittrade Latin America’s inaugural session on November 12. The session will focus on how the organizations are addressing the needs of the industry.
Another session entitled “Turning Trends into Market Strategies” will feature Naturipe Vice President of Marketing Robert Verloop, Nielsen Perishables Vice President Sherry Frey and Cencosud’s Stephan von Meyenn. It will focus on consumer trends and how they differ around the world.
"As a grower, the topic of global consumer trends can be so broad that it can be difficult to relate it back to what we grow today and what we should grow in the future,” says Verloop. “How does a grower in Chile respond to the consumer demand of healthier, convenient snacks? I think the answer is in rethinking your supply chain and business models.”
For the full list of education programming for PMA Fruittrade Latin America, click here. This new event is sure to become a staple in the industry.
UNITED STATES - I’m no master chef, but with the holidays quickly approaching, the pressure is on to make a dish worthy of being included with a classic Thanksgiving dinner.
This year, my roommates and I are planning to make our own homemade dinner at the apartment before we all head home to our families for the holidays. Normally, this would be the time I’d start to panic, but having had the opportunity to work with so many companies in the industry, I finally got to share some of my top stress-free produce picks with my friends to include with our dinner this year!
These five Thanksgiving staples can help make any millennial “cook” like me feel like a master chef…
1) Country Sweet Produce – Bako Sweets Steam Bag
Country Sweet Produce tells us that this new and improved steam bag cooks sweet potatoes in 10 minutes, dramatically decreasing the amount of time it usually takes by over 80%. Consumers can achieve the same great taste and receive the same health benefits with significantly less effort. Convenience and value-added offerings are quickly catching on in the market, and Country Sweet Produce is delivering in spades with this new steamer bag.
2) Duda Farm Fresh Foods – Celery Sticks
The convenience and versatility of this produce favorite makes it perfect for a healthy snack for kids, an easy addition to salads, or a must-have item for a classic turkey stuffing. My personal favorite is setting it out on a platter for quick dipping. Duda offers its celery sticks in 8 oz, 1.6 oz, and 1.25 lb size bags for retailers.
3) Naturipe – Cranberries
Cranberries can help brighten any main Thanksgiving dish with their glossy red color, but they can also be used for sauces, salads, or healthy desserts. They’re packed with antioxidants and disease fighting components including anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, and immune system support. Retailers should encourage consumers to pick up a box of cranberries based on their versatility and wide range of health benefits.
4) To-Jo Mushrooms – Mushrooms
Mushrooms are in heavy demand this holiday season with July, normally the slowest month of the year, setting a new record high for the category, according to Mushroom Council statistics. With a range of packaging options available for retailers, To-Jo is all set for a busy Thanksgiving this year. Toss some mushrooms in with a stuffing recipe, or even use them as a regular side dish.
5) Wada Farms – Smalls
Recently introduced at PMA Fresh Summit, Wada Farms’ Smalls – Artisan Mini Potato potatoes are bringing new options for consumers on a time crunch. The Artisan Smalls include C-size, mini red, and mini gold potatoes, no peeling necessary. Wada Farms says each 1.25 lb microwaveable bag cooks these potatoes in just 5 minutes.
From the looks of things, this is going to be one produce-packed Thanksgiving. I can hear my stomach growling already…
SAILSBURY, NC - Aldi has reached an agreement with the Delhaize Group to purchase 66 Bottom Dollar Food stores for a total of $15 million. This transaction, which includes the land, buildings and leasehold improvements associated with the Bottom Dollar Food banner, will significantly expand Aldi's presence in the greater Philadelphia, southeast New Jersey, and greater Pittsburgh regions.
"This decision was difficult given the impact on our associates, customers and communities in which we operate," shared Gene Faller, Vice President of Retail Operations for Bottom Dollar Food. "We want to thank our associates, customers and communities for their support over the past four years."
According to a press release, Bottom Dollar is currently expected to continue the operations of its stores through the end of the year, after which it will close all 66 locations and retire the Bottom Dollar banner. The retailer shared that it plans to offer each of its associates severance, as well as career transition services for those eligible.
The Delhaize Group shared that this sale agreement, which will end Delhaize's participation in the U.S. discount retail sector, is part of its overall strategy to focus on its core operations centered around traditional retail outlets.
This transition created an exciting opportunity for Aldi, which is currently working to expand its store base in order to add 650 new stores nationwide. This would bring its total store count up to nearly 2,000, a milestone the retailer hopes to reach by the end of 2018.
This transaction and key early step towards Aldi's longterm goal, is expected to close during Q1 in 2015.
Congratulations on the completion of this latest acquisition, Aldi!
CHICAGO, IL – Food Genius has announced a massive update to its suite of services for the restaurant industry.
This update will allow the company’s clients to access enhanced features in the company’s award winning analytic dashboard, according to a press release. These updates help to create a better user experience and provide deeper insights about the foodservice landscape.
“Our clients are now fully equipped with market level data for developing selling strategies that take advantage of all our core strength, being at the intersection of technology and food data. Clients who have been exposed to the new features are already expressing delight at the depth of insights as well as the enhanced functionality, leading to time saved and greater understanding of complex data,” says CEO Justin Massa.
The updates include a revamped user experience for many tools and features as well as greater functionality. It also has added metropolitan-statistical-area (MSA) data, enhanced interoperability between Food Genius’ suite of services and deeper analysis of pricing data. Let's break these three new features down:
Addition of MSA Level Insights – Clients will be able to filter all the way down to the metropolitan statistical area level. This will allow sales and marketing professionals in the foodservice industry to get deeper, more regional perspectives, and ultimately develop more specific insights for their targets.
Enhanced Interoperability – Before this update, Food Genius’ three premier services, Reports, Engage! And Industry Reports, worked as separate entities in the suite of service. The company has now addressed that. “Now users can expect a more holistic experience from Food Genius. Whenever clients perform a search in the dashboard, the system will automatically highlight related Engage!, and Industry Reports collateral that the user has access to,” says Paolo Lorenzoni, VP of Product Development.
Pricing Analysis Update – According to the company, pricing of menu items is one of the most common requests from its clients. Based on feedback over the year, Food Genius’ pricing module in the menu analytics dashboard has been revamped. It now highlights the two most common price points for the dishes as well as the average across all instances.
For a more detailed look at Food Genius, check out our interview with CEO Justin Massa as he discussed how the company is using data to track current market trends and consumer attitudes. Food Genius’ clients will have access to all of these enhanced features starting on November 10th.
SANTA PAULA, CA - Calavo Growers, Inc. recently debuted three new products for retail and foodservice partners – AvoMayo, Avocado Chocolate Mousse, and Aveyo items. The company has been a worldwide leader in the procurement and marketing of fresh avocados and other fresh produce as well as the manufacturing and distribution of prepared avocado products and fresh salsas.
Calavo tells AndNowUKnow:
Avomayo - Calavo asks, "Tired of using boring, less healthy Mayonnaise?" AvoMayo is a true Mayo, but with Hass Avocado added for a true comfort food made better. Use AvoMayo to wake up the flavor in your foods and get the nutritional benefits of avocado with less bad fats and calories than the leading traditional brands. Treat your body to a healthier mayo and treat your taste buds to delicious AvoMayo Sandwich Spread. AvoMayo is currently available in an 18 oz. bottle for retail, but is also available in a foodservice packed 12/24 oz. pouches or 2/1 gallon jugs.
Avocado Chocolate Mousse - Calavo is always looking for healthier ways to serve, and with this Rich Chocolate Mousse they've outdone themselves. Mixed inside are fresh Hass avocados with rich chocolate, and only three other ingredients to make this chocolate mousse vitamin packed, natural, lactose-free, gluten free and vegan. And the best thing is, this is a guilt-free indulgence. Use as is or add to your favorite recipes. Frost or fill cakes, mix with fruit, even use on pancakes for a special morning treat. Use to make a healthy chocolate shake for the kids. Currently available in trays for retail as well as foodservice packed in 6/ 1 lb pouches.
Aveyo - A delicious and healthy avocado-based mayonnaise alternative, created by people with strong values. Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Preservative-Free, Vegan. This is a true Mayo replacement made with 82% fresh Hass avocado that can be used with any recipe, salads, sandwiches, sauces and baking, making yet another guilt-free comfort food to help people make healthier choices. This is a collaborative effort using Aveyo’s marketing and recipes and Calavo’ s strength in manufacturing and distribution nationally. Packed in 3/2oz portion packs for retail and ease-of-use and Foodservice packed 6/1 lb pouches.