NEBRASKA - New store incoming! Fareway Stores is once again broadening its retail footprint, introducing a new 21,000-square-foot store location in Valley, Nebraska.
“We are excited to be coming to Valley, as we believe it’s a seamless addition to the Fareway family. Communities depend on a local grocer to offer high-quality products and unmatched service. Fareway values the communities and people it serves, and we look forward to building a new Fareway store for Valley,” said Fareway Chief Executive Officer Reynolds W. Cramer. “We feel this is a perfect fit for Fareway and are excited to continue to grow in Nebraska.”
Featuring a vastly impressive grocery selection, the new location will welcome shoppers with a wide selection of fresh-cut produce, healthy varieties, and locally sourced items.
The store will also offer a full-service butcher counter with high-quality meat offerings. Online ordering with convenient, curbside pickup will also be available.
Fareway is finalizing due diligence and plans to close on the property in early 2024, according to a press release.
For more updates on this retail expansion and more, keep reading ANUK.
HALF MOON BAY, CA - March 11 marked the new fiscal year for the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) during its Annual Membership Breakfast at the 88th Annual Meeting. During the event, the association elected the Board of Directors and Chairwoman.
The 88th Annual Meeting began on Sunday, March 10, with the Chairman’s Welcome Reception, a release explained. California’s Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis joined attendees as the special guest of the evening, where she spoke about the importance of California agriculture.
During the event, CFFA honored past Chairman Louis Pandol with the prestigious Mentor’s Award. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the fresh grape, berry, and treefruit communities through their leadership in the industry.
Additionally, the association and the California Table Grape Commission honored Domenick “Cookie” Bianco with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to an individual whose pioneering spirit and demonstrated inventiveness throughout his/her career inspired others and influenced the industry positively.
At the event, Melissa Frank of Wonderful Orchards was elected as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the 2024/25 fiscal year. The organization's officers are nominated to serve for a one-year period and are selected by a committee of past Board Chairs.
Other officers include:
- First Vice Chair: Casey Jones (Sun Valley Packing) – Reedley-based stone fruit grower and shipper
- Secretary/Treasurer: Louis Pandol (Pandol Bros, Inc.) – Delano-based fresh table grape shipper
This year’s event also featured two days of Industry Workshops where conversations were focused on agricultural technology, leadership versus management practices, and an update on California’s Card Check labor law.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow to see what else this year holds for CFFA.
MIAMI, FL - Thirty years down and still going strong. That is Crystal Valley Foods’ mindset this year as it rings in its 30th anniversary, but just because the family-operated business is celebrating doesn’t mean it will be slowing down its progress. To hear more about what the supplier has in store, I turned to Katiana Valdes, Marketing Director.
“We shipped our first pallet—a pallet of asparagus—in May of 1994. We have come a long way, and it is truly a testament to our leadership, employees, and partners,” Katiana tells me. “There has been a lot of hard work, dedication, and passion poured into Crystal Valley Foods from many incredible people to make this company what it is today, and we couldn’t be prouder of where we are.”
Over the last 30 years, the provider has built a successful, bicoastal company by focusing on integrity, loyalty, and long-term relationships with buyers, growers, and suppliers. It has invested in and partnered with packing houses and farms in its major sourcing regions, including Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Another crucial part of its growth has been fostering a healthy work environment for its employees, many of whom have been with Crystal Valley since that fateful first shipment.
“Through the years, we have been at the forefront of innovation. We were one of the first companies to import Peruvian asparagus, we helped create and establish the current asparagus box, and we were one of the first adopters of the strict food safety protocols that are now mandatory for every fresh produce company to do business,” explains Katiana. “Our focus on the future has helped us stay relevant in the industry for many years. Now, we have moved the company into a new era of automatization, implementing technology, improving the infrastructure, and finding new sourcing regions and products to offer our customers year-round.”
Looking ahead, Crystal Valley has several goals that will bolster its mission of bringing high-quality fresh produce to its customers. One essential item on the list is to continue improving its environmental footprint by expanding the company’s sustainability programs.
The supplier also plans to grow and diversify its product line and invest in innovation, infrastructure, and automation.
This dedication and attention to meeting the industry's needs make Crystal Valley a strong partner.
“We pride ourselves on being agile and reactive to the market and trends, as well as anticipating our customers' needs and demands. If a customer is looking for a special product, if they are looking for something new and innovative, or even if they need a special pack or size, we go above and beyond to make it happen,” adds Katiana. “Our recent expansions, diversification, and acquisitions all play into our goal of being that one-stop shop. We have many resources, capabilities, a seasoned team, and high-quality long-term suppliers.”
Cheers to Crystal Valley Foods and the future of this ever-evolving company!
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WASHINGTON, DC - Another advantageous produce industry event is on the horizon as the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) prepares to host its annual Retail Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 1–2. As the event nears, the organization has announced one micro-view advocacy-oriented session that will show produce marketers how to measure sales by Congressional district to inform internal decisions and communicate with legislators.
“From education sessions built for our industry's needs to productive networking, we’re providing plenty of opportunities to connect attendees with the people and ideas they need to help drive more fresh produce sales,” said IFPA Vice President of Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale Joe Watson.
With Congress recently passing legislation that preserves the $1.2 billion cash-value fruit and vegetable benefit in the Women, Infants, and Children program due to the collaborative advocacy efforts of International Fresh Produce Association and its members, the power of the fresh produce industry’s voice in positively influencing an issue that impacts the retail and supplier communities has never been more relevant, the organization stated in a release.
In addition to this educational session, attendees of the event will also enjoy a day of buyer-seller networking.
“We’ll welcome dozens of retail buyers from these banners: Food Lion, Walmart, Albertsons, Bashas’, The Fresh Market, Meijer, Target, Sobeys, and Kwik Trip,” Watson said, noting that the conference has ample networking time during meals, breaks, receptions, and a golf tournament.
Show attendees will also gain insights into what’s new—such as new products, new organics rules, and business in the age of AI—as well as a macro view of IFPA’s global perspective and the state of retail in 2024.
“Taking a business to the next level is not a solo sport. The retail supply chain counts on insights to inform strategic decisions as well as connections to drive sales,” said Watson. “Every year, we bring together the entire retail ecosystem for two days of learning, relationship building, and golf. This year is sure to be another one for the books. I encourage people to register early as the conference and golf tournament do sell out.”
The Retail Conference immediately follows The Consumer Connection Conference from IFPA’s Foundation for Fresh Produce. Be sure not to miss this insightful event!
KEASBEY, NJ - Proving itself to be a supportive industry partner, Wakefern Food Corp. has launched Wakefern Media Exchange, an innovative omnichannel retail media network that helps consumer brands maximize their advertising investments. Through planning, activation, and measurement controls, the platform aims to enhance the shopping experience while creating more advertising opportunities for brands.
"We're excited to unveil our new omnichannel retail media network powered by Inmar Intelligence," said Ranjana Choudhry, Vice President of Advertising at Wakefern Food Corp. "Our focus is always on understanding and exceeding our customers’ expectations, and Wakefern Media Exchange enables us to connect advertisers with customers in a way that enhances their shopping experience. With Inmar Intelligence's self-service ad technology, we're also streamlining the advertiser experience and unlocking opportunities for brands of all sizes to connect with shoppers in a controlled and transparent way. We look forward to continuing to innovate new ways to fulfill the needs of our advertising partners and shoppers."
Wakefern Media Exchange offers advertisers the opportunity to showcase products and messaging tailored to the needs and preferences of shoppers, a release explained. Users can optimize their advertising investment across both onsite and offsite media channels through the platform using tools for in-store marketing and onsite and offsite media buying.
This new platform provides easy management and flexible investment options for retail brand advertisers. It also facilitates seamless interactions with Wakefern advertisers through Managed Service or Self-Service buying models. The Self-Service platform powered by Inmar Intelligence includes user-friendly features like Smart Mode and creative templates for simplified campaign setup and launch.
By consolidating onsite and offsite media into one platform, Wakefern Media Exchange and Inmar help brands build integrated advertising strategies across channels, increasing efficiency and ensuring impactful reach to Wakefern's highly engaged and loyal shopper base. Automated reporting features provide comprehensive and custom insights into campaign performance against key performance indicators.
To read more about this platform, click here.
Stay tuned to ANUK for insights into how retailers are boosting omnichannel engagement and services.
OXNARD, CA - “It appears as if spring might actually be arriving in Southern California,” stated the first line of Bobablu’s most recent crop update. This is welcome news following a series of incredibly wet storms that created hurdles for California growers. Luckily, the supplier is seeing its fields pick up in volume and yields improve.
“Now, we look forward to our trading partners kicking off spring promotions and putting our strawberries front and center in the produce department,” the update went on to say. “As the weather across the country improves, consumers also shift their shopping behavior and include more spring strawberries into their carts every week. We look forward to repeat purchases all season long.”
Along with yields per acre increasing in Bobalu’s Oxnard, California, growing region, the provider is seeing excellent size, color, and flavor.
The region's daytime temperatures are in the high 60s to low 70s, and nighttime temperatures are optimal in the high 40s and low 50s. If everything stays on track, Bobalu should have promotable volumes for Easter through spring.
Bobalu’s operations in Santa Maria are also looking good, with some ranches harvesting now. Its west-side ranches will be ready by the end of this month to add to its daily volume and demand.
Stick with AndNowUKnow to see what the rest of the spring season will hold for Bobalu and other growers.
UNITED STATES - New stores, new stores, and more new stores! Just this week alone, Trader Joe’s has unveiled plans to open six new stores across the United States.
It seems the grocer has set its focus on the Southeastern market, announcing new locations to soon pop up in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Texas.
“We've consulted our maps and compass and have found a terrific location for a store in Clearwater, Florida,” the grocer said in a recent release. “We are proud to be joining the neighborhood, and to continue our commitment to providing nourishment to the surrounding communities through our Neighborhood Shares program. Our Crew is working hard so we can open our doors in 2024.”
The new stores joining the Trader Joe’s network include:
- Clearwater, FL
- West Springfield, VA
- Raleigh, NC
- Leesburg, VA
- Mount Pleasant, SC
- Sugar Land, TX
This expansion shortly follows the planned extension of the chain’s California footprint, as the company also announced new stores in South Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Sherman Oaks, Santee, and Poway, California, earlier this month.
To keep track of this growing retail network, keep a tab open to ANUK.
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SUNBURY, PA - At AndNowUKnow, our eyes and ears are always tuned to the retail sector for word of leadership appointments. The latest promotion to cross our desks is Weis Markets’ Jack O’Hara, who is officially taking on the role of Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and Real Estate.
In his new position, O’Hara will be responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of the retailer’s Real Estate and Legal teams’ day-to-day operations. He will report to the company’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Weis.
O’Hara first joined Weis Markets in 2006 as a Real Estate Manager before being promoted to Director of Real Estate. In 2012, he took over his most recent role as Vice President of Legal Affairs and Real Estate.
O’Hara brings a wealth of experience to this role. According to a press release, he also worked in real estate and development positions for Citi Trends, Variety Wholesalers, and Woolworth Corporation earlier in his career.
ANUK congratulates Jack O’Hara on his new role as SVP! For more retail industry updates, look out for our little apple logo.