PHOENIX, AZ & NEW YORK - Whole Foods Market has sights set on two advantageous U.S. regions as it initiates its most recent expansion plan. First up on the list of growth moves is a new store in Upper East Side New York, bringing the retailer's first smaller format store—Whole Foods Market Daily Shop—to the region. Complementing this strategic expansion is another new location being introduced in the grocer’s hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.

Whole Foods’ Market Daily Shop banner is strategically designed to bring the freshest, high-quality ingredients to customers with a convenience that fits their fast-paced urban lifestyles, a press release explained. The chain pulled back the curtain on the innovative new format in March 2024 with a goal of providing convenient options for grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials, and a quick, easy destination to pick up ingredients to complete a meal. The smaller format stores will range between 7,000–14,000 square feet, about a quarter to half the footprint of an average 40,000-square-foot store.

The Lenox Hill location will feature a wide variety of products, all adhering to Whole Foods’ rigorous quality standards. This includes:

• An ample selection of fresh, seasonal produce, meat and seafood, prepared foods like sandwiches and pre-packed meals, breads, and more
• More than 400 local products, from 100+ Northeast-based suppliers
• First Juice & Java venue in New York City, offering coffee, tea, juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and various desserts
• New ready-to-heat sous vide entrees and sides from the Whole Foods Market Kitchens brand
• Single-serve hot bowls and meals

The grocer is also announcing plans to open another Whole Foods Market Daily Shop location in the East Village’s StuyTown development.

Along with the expansion of its Daily Shop banner, Whole Foods is also bringing its newest store to Phoenix, Arizona, opening a 50,358-square-foot location in the new Paradise Valley Mall. The store is scheduled to open on October 16 and will feature a vast product assortment. A key fixture of the store will be its robust selection of certified organic, conventional, and Sourced for Good produce, including local herbs, shishito peppers, and hard squash from Duncan Family Farms, outdoor herbs from Dream With Colors, and Kandy Melons from Martori Farms. Read more about the Phoenix expansion here.

For more retail news, stay on the pages of ANUK!

CAROLINAS - Meteorologists are keeping an eye on a disturbance that could become Tropical or Subtropical Storm Helene before it moves inland later this evening. This weather disturbance has prompted tropical storm warnings along part of the coastal Carolinas and will produce flooding rain and strong winds regardless of if it turns into a named storm.

According to Weather.com, the system is currently labeled a Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight and is located 70 miles south-southwest of Cape Fear, North Carolina.

As the source noted, this procedure is typical for the National Hurricane Center so it may issue advisories, watches, and warnings for a system that hasn't yet developed, but that poses a threat of tropical storm-force winds to land areas within 48 hours.

For this weather disturbance, a tropical storm warning has been issued from South Santee River, South Carolina, northward to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina. Tropical storm conditions with winds ranging from 39—73 mph will continue to affect this area into later this evening. The area of low pressure is also producing rain and windy conditions in North Carolina and northern South Carolina.

As the source went on to explain, this system has a medium chance of becoming Tropical Storm Helene or Subtropical Storm Helene before it moves inland late Monday. No intensification is forecasted before it tracks into the Carolinas.

Some rainfall, gusty winds, and coastal flooding will be expected from northeastern South Carolina to North Carolina and Virginia.

We’ll keep an eye on this storm and others like it, so stay tuned to ANUK.

CHELSEA, MA - Apples and pears are gearing up for a fall craze, with seasonal demand driving consumers to the two staple fruit categories. Helping its retail partners tap into this fall frenzy, Morning Kiss Organic is offering a wide selection of organic apple and pear varieties packaged in a convenient 2 lb bag and bulk.

​​"Apples and pears are loved across the board, and we're thrilled to spotlight these family-favorite products in our fall lineup," said Nelly Czajkowski, Organic Category Manager at DiSilva Fruit. "The resealable 2 lb bags offer great convenience for consumers, while the packaging size and competitive pricing make it a win for our retail partners."

As a press release shared, Morning Kiss Organic’s 2 lb bag format is designed to meet the needs of both consumers and retailers, integrating seamlessly into existing Northeast conventional apple programs and allowing retailers to offer a high-quality organic product alongside their conventional fruit offerings. Catering to consumer demands, the bags are perfect for families seeking convenient and healthy snack options offered at a competitive price point with smaller fruit sizes.

In addition to the popular 2 lb bag format, the brand is also offering its apple and pear portfolio in bulk, as well as full cartons and half cartons, thus maximizing opportunities for retailers and consumers alike.

This season, the supplier’s organic apple varieties include Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Honeycrisp. Morning Kiss’ year-round apple program is supported by partnerships with distinguished growers in Washington, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. As the company release added, program and promotional pricing opportunities are available, and the versatile apples are a perfect option to promote during the fall and winter.

Organic pears are also available in the provider’s 2 lb bags and bulk packaging, offered in 12/2 lb or 18/2 lb configurations. Retailers can also opt to include an organic band around each piece of fruit, boosting organic sales and making checkout easier.

Upholding a commitment to maximum freshness, Morning Kiss Organic packs produce fresh to order and employs just-in-time inventory management, reducing product spoilage and enhancing retailer profitability.

Stay in the know about the latest category opportunities as ANUK brings you more industry insights.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - GrubMarket continues to innovate within the tech space after announcing another launch. The company recently debuted GrubAssist Charts, a data visualization tool powered by AI that is designed to bring real-time business insights to users across the food industry.

“GrubAssist Charts revolutionizes the way food supply chain businesses interact with their data,” said Mike Xu, Chief Executive Officer of GrubMarket. “In today's fast-paced environment, companies need tools that can convert vast amounts of data into actionable insights in real time. Our new AI-powered charts feature makes it simple for users to generate the exact visuals they need, with no prior setup or technical knowledge required.”

This latest addition allows users to transform complex data into dynamic, easy-to-understand charts and graphs using natural language commands. This helps businesses visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) graphically, making it easier for decision-makers to interpret large volumes of data.

“We've built GrubAssist Charts to be the most accessible, flexible, and powerful data visualization tool in the food industry. With this feature, even non-technical users can access complex insights with ease. It's all about empowering our customers with the right tools, at the right time, to make smarter, faster decisions,” continued Xu.

According to a press release, key features include:

• Enhanced AI-Powered Charts
• AI-Powered Visual Reports
• User-Friendly Interface
• Data Visualization Storage
• Real-Time Data Updates
• Downloadable Visuals and Seamless Sharing
• Multi-Platform Access
• Security and Reliability

One of the ways in which GrubAssist Charts stands out from traditional business intelligence (BI) tools is due to its flexibility and ease of use. GrubAssist Charts adapts to the user's unique requests in real-time, and there’s no need to pre-configure dashboards or do time-consuming data setup.

GrubAssist leverages AI to generate the exact queries, datasets, and visual representations needed for each prompt, based on the user's input, within seconds.

For more information, click here.

AndNowKnow will continue to keep track of the latest in produce, so stay tuned.