WASHINGTON, DC - Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it had filed an administrative complaint against Aggrigator, doing business as Amor Organics, for alleged Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) violations.

The California-based company allegedly failed to make prompt payment to seven produce sellers in the amount of $264,268 from October 2022 through August 2023.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Aggrigator will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

To read the release in its entirety, click here. 

REHOBOTH BEACH, DE - Word has reached us that Grocery Outlet is breaking new ground physically as well as in its statewide footprint. The banner will make its debut in Delaware with its first store in the state due this week as it continues to expand eastward.

Opening on April 4, the store is at the state’s Rehoboth Beach.

Perhaps even more notably than the milestone itself is the excitement that looks to be bubbling ahead of the opening. Local news source delaware online reported the news with an exciting list of what is yet known about Grocery Outlet and what locals might expect from the new banner.

The included what differentiated Grocery Outlet from conventional supermarkets—namely it’s being independently operated as well as its model for finding deals on grocery overstock, particularly on specialty and name-brand items.

The Rehoboth Beach location is operated by Bridgette Jarrett, who said in a statement that she is "beyond excited" to open the Rehoboth Beach store, according to the source.

Additional pertinent information for its readers included Grocery Outlet’s standing against similar discounters, citing a customer survey conducted by mystery-shopper company Market Force Information this year listed it as the grocery store that offers the second highest perceived value for your money.

Though the chain began on the West Coast, it has more recently been expanding rapidly in the Mid-Atlantic. AndNowUKnow will continue to follow this and other retail strategies as they unfold.

WORLDWIDE - Consumers everywhere are looking for more sustainable options in the produce aisles and beyond, and that doesn’t just mean growing practices. Packaging is also vital when it comes to environmentally friendly products. As single-use packaging waste grows, the United Nations Environmental Assembly wants to introduce an international treaty to end plastic pollution globally.

“The scale of pollution still attributable to single-use packaging waste is staggering. Today, our throwaway culture produces around 400 million tons of plastic waste every year. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) estimates that approximately 85 percent of all single-use packaging ends up as waste in landfills and in our natural environment,” said IFCO Chief Executive Officer Mike Pooley in a recent article. “The full impact of this on human and planet health remains unclear, but it’s not good.”

The article noted that the final document is expected at the end of 2024. As Pooley asks, though, could this treaty make a difference in international legislation?

Although a recent UNEP study argues that it is possible to reduce global plastic pollution by over 80 percent by 2040, this will require us to rethink many industries, promote reusable packaging, and strengthen single-use packaging waste legislation across the board.

“Key takeaways from the report tie into my own beliefs. Disposability is the real issue. We need to turn off the tap and stop the leaking of single-use packaging waste into our environment,” Pooley added. “Most notably, the report highlights how industries will need to adopt reusable and recyclable packaging solutions that are run with a circular economy mindset. And that it will require common legislation to get us there.”

Currently, legislation remains confusing to many and varies from region to region, and even city to city in some countries like the United States. This makes it especially challenging for any grower or retailer who wants to work on an international level.

As the regulatory landscape continues to shift, so does legislation, which leads to uncertainty regarding what new measures will be.

To read more of Pooley’s deep dive, click here.

AndNowUKnow will report on this issue and others affecting the produce industry.

IRWINDALE, CA - It has been a transformative year for Deanna Jurgens. Celebrating her first anniversary at Bonduelle Fresh Americas, the Chief Sales Officer took some time to discuss with me the rocketship trajectory of the company’s Bistro Bowls® and how this sets the tone for several new cards in its proverbial deck of offerings.

“Bonduelle has an intriguing legacy as really the first brand to create the bowl segment, answering demand from consumers and closing the gap in distribution of branded products in this segment. Ours is a story of clearly understanding where opportunity existed,” Deanna explained.

That recognition is being proven by the tight hold Bonduelle still has on the increasingly popular bowl category, currently standing at 41 percent. With in-house culinary expertise and experimentation, as well as a devotion to quality and flavor, Deanna said the company is poised for new introductions both within Bistro Bowls and even other segments of the category.

“Bistro Bowls have been a great success story, and now we are utilizing that strategy as a starting point for other segments,” Deanna explained, teasing that much is in the works for this year. “Offering versatility through variety and enabling a rotation of flavors has been a key component to the Bistro line.”

Deanna is well-known and respected within the industry, having made the leap to Bonduelle after serving as President, North America, and Chief Growth Officer for plant-based giant Beyond Meat®, and before that nearly 16 years climbing the ranks under the PepsiCo umbrella.

“It was certainly exciting,” Deanna smiled reflecting on her experience, but said both the draw of fresh and the culture of Bonduelle, a family-owned and led company founded 170 years ago, have been an incredible change.

When it comes to the premium level associated with the salad bowl category, Bistro Bowl included, it is this confidence Deanna leans into as well as existing proof of consumers’ willingness to prioritize such items on a menu.

“We are aware that everyone is feeling the focus on price, and we have taken steps throughout our supply chain to ensure our recommended SRP is as reasonable as possible. But when I think of a restaurant setting and the prices of what is on the menu, the proof is there that consumers, especially the younger generation, are willing to spend for high-quality, healthy food. It is a matter of how we help connect that back to what we are offering in the store,” Deanna observed as she gave me a glimpse of just one aspect of what the company is cooking up behind the curtain.

Seeking disruption as the company expands size options to existing offerings, new flavors to favored brands, and even new product lines as a whole, this year is set to be an exciting one for Bonduelle.