WATSONVILLE, CA - The California Strawberry Commission (CSC) has released new research into retail sales drivers and the strawberry shopper's path to purchase. The 2025 Strawberry Shopper Playbook provides marketers and industry professionals with actionable data and strategic recommendations to optimize strawberry merchandising and drive category growth.

Based on in-depth syndicated retail sales data and quantitative Path-to-Purchase research, the new guide provides a comprehensive view of the strawberry purchase journey. From pre-store preferences to post-purchase behaviors, it highlights retail sales insights, the drivers that inspire purchases, and the barriers that prevent them, helping retailers engage with today's strawberry shopper.

"Strawberries remain a powerhouse in the produce department, driving both volume and dollar growth in the berry category," said Chris Christian, Vice President, Market Insights at the California Strawberry Commission, in the recent release. "Our new merchandising research offers a clear view of what's driving category growth and offers strategies retailers can use to inspire more purchases year-round."

Key findings from the research include:

• Strawberries Lead Berry Category Growth: Volume rose +8% year-over-year, representing 60% of total berry category volume and driving 61% of incremental growth (+123 million lbs.).
• Dollar Sales Soar: Category dollars grew +10%, adding nearly $500 million in incremental sales.
• Strong Promotional Impact: During the 52-week period, about 52% of strawberry volume was sold on promotion, generating a +36% volume lift on an average discount of -22%.
• 32 oz. Pack Drives Category Expansion: The 32 oz. package accounted for 68% of incremental sales and delivered +20% dollar growth, adding $332 million in revenue.

The 2025 Strawberry Shopper Playbook also highlights shopper motivations, purchase drivers and opportunities to close the gaps between today's rising shopper expectations and the in-store experience, helping the industry strengthen execution and maintain shopper confidence.

"This playbook provides retailers, shippers, and industry partners with the data-backed insights needed to optimize their strategies and capitalize on the momentum of the strawberry category," said Christian in the recent release.

The 2025 Strawberry Shopper Playbook is now available for download on the California Strawberry Commission's retail resource page at https://www.californiastrawberries.com/retail.

CHESAPEAKE, VA - Dollar Tree, Inc. announced that Daniel Delrosario has been named Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer.

In this role, Mr. Delrosario will serve as a senior leader in the company’s finance organization, overseeing investor relations and treasury, including capital markets strategy, liquidity management, and engagement with the investment community. He will report to Stewart Glendinning, Chief Financial Officer of Dollar Tree.

“Following our Investor Day this past fall, we are focused on maintaining momentum and executing against our commitments as we deliver on our next phase of value creation,” said Stewart Glendinning, Chief Financial Officer, Dollar Tree, in the recent release. “Daniel brings a strong combination of investor perspective, corporate finance expertise, and leadership experience that will be instrumental in supporting our financial strategy and ongoing engagement with the investment community.”

Most recently, Mr. Delrosario served as Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasury at Burlington Stores, Inc., where he partnered with senior leadership on investor communications, financial planning, and capital structure strategy.

Prior to this, he held senior investment roles at Polar Asset Management Partners, contributed to the launch and growth of Harvard Management Company’s internal global public equity platform, and began his career at Wellington Management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance and accounting from Bentley University and is a CFA Charterholder.

CINCINNATI, OH & SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Uber Technologies, Inc. and The Kroger Co. announced the launch of nearly 2,700 Kroger Family of Companies stores on the Uber Eats, Uber, and Postmates apps. Customers nationwide can now shop their local Kroger banner for fresh groceries, Kroger's Our Brands favorites, household essentials, and more with the convenience of on-demand and same day delivery via Uber's apps.

This rollout delivers on the companies' previously announced plan to broaden access, choice, and value for millions of households. In addition to Kroger's floral and sushi shops already available on Uber Eats, customers can browse full store assortments from Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Mariano's, and additional Kroger banners, then schedule delivery at the time that works best for them.

To mark the launch, Uber is offering customers discounts of up to 50% off their first order from a variety of Kroger banners.† Additionally, Uber One members enjoy $0 Delivery Fee†† everyday on eligible orders in addition to other benefits designed to make everyday shopping even more convenient.

"Customers' needs evolve constantly, and at Kroger, we're committed to meeting them with solutions that fit every moment with the understanding that what is convenient changes day-to-day," said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger Digital Experience and eCommerce Group Vice President, in the recent release. "Collaborating with Uber enables us to deliver even more convenience and flexibility, helping more families access the food they love with ease and reliability."

"Making Kroger's banners available across Uber's apps gives shoppers a simple, reliable way to get their weekly groceries or last minute items whenever they need them," said Hashim Amin Uber's North American Head of Grocery and Retail. "We're excited to begin working on our shared vision for convenience and to give households even more flexibility in the months ahead."

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO - The Mushroom Council has launched the newly updated MushroomCouncil.com, designed to captivate the interest and meet the needs of its target audience: Millennial and Gen Z consumers. This strategic brand update aligns with the Council's new marketing platform, "It's Not Magic. It's Mushrooms.," reflecting the everyday convenience and functional nutrition benefits that mushrooms offer, attributes highly valued by younger generations.

Averaging 100,000 monthly views, MushroomCouncil.com presents an on-trend, visually engaging and user-friendly experience, enhancing its role as a go-to resource for mushroom shoppers. The most frequented pages, including the home page, an array of recipes led by the ever-popular Easy Mushroom Soup, as well as the comprehensive Mushroom 101 section, have undergone eye-catching and interactive design upgrades to encourage visitors to explore the range of content on the website. The goal is to engage and educate consumers so it’s even easier for them to seamlessly incorporate mushrooms into their daily diets.

Cristie Mather, Vice President of Marketing at the Mushroom Council, noted in the recent release, “In reimagining our brand and campaign platform, our vision for MushroomCouncil.com was to create a digital experience that speaks directly to the lifestyle and preferences of Millennials and Gen Z. With 'It's Not Magic. It's Mushrooms.' We highlight not only the culinary versatility and health benefits of mushrooms but also the ease with which they can be integrated into everyday meals. Our brand update is designed to resonate with these younger generations, making mushrooms a go-to choice for convenient meal options that help support their nutrition goals.”

Visit MushroomCouncil.com for a self-guided tour of the dynamic new website.

CORAL GABLES, FL - Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. announced that it has been named the successful bidder to acquire select assets of California-based Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc. [and its affiliates] for a purchase price of $285M, plus assumption of certain liabilities—through a court-supervised sale under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The transaction remains subject to court approval and applicable regulatory clearances, including Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance. The sale hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2026, with closing expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026, subject to necessary approvals.

The transaction brings the Del Monte brand under a single owner for the first time in nearly four decades, aligning fresh and shelf-stable foods under one integrated strategy. By pairing established pantry brands with Fresh Del Monte’s global fresh-produce supply chain, operational capabilities, and innovation engine, the company expects to strengthen brand consistency, expand consumer reach across more occasions and channels, enhance efficiency, and support long-term value creation.

“Bringing the Del Monte brand back together reflects a long-held conviction of mine,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in the recent release. “By uniting fresh and shelf-stable food under one strategy, we are honoring the brand’s legacy while supporting it for continued relevance and growth. It allows us to show up more consistently for consumers and to build a stronger, more flexible platform focused on efficiency, innovation, and long-term value creation.”

The transaction positions Fresh Del Monte to carry forward one of the food industry’s most enduring brands—nearly 140 years old—across categories under a single, globally integrated strategy.

Under the bid, Fresh Del Monte would acquire:

• Prepared and packaged foods businesses comprising vegetable, tomato, and refrigerated fruit business assets, including Del Monte® and S&W® packaged vegetable brands, Del Monte®, Contadina®, and Take Root Organics® packaged tomato brands, the Del Monte® refrigerated fruit brand, and the JOYBA® beverage brand.
• An operational footprint including selected U.S. facilities in Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington, two facilities in Mexico, and one operation in Venezuela.
• Material customer and supplier contracts and inventory at closing to support uninterrupted service.
• Global ownership of the Del Monte® brand, subject to existing licensing arrangements across different regions and categories, including all U.S. rights to the Del Monte®, S&W®, Contadina®, and Joyba® trademarks, as well as certain operating assets and employees in the United States, Mexico, and Venezuela.
• Excluded from the transaction are the canned fruit, and other ambient packaged fruit and fruit sauce products for the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico markets, under the Del Monte® and S&W® brands, along with physical assets associated with these businesses in those countries, as well as the broth and stock businesses under the College Inn® and Kitchen Basics® brands.

Following closing, Fresh Del Monte plans to steward the acquired brands through a dedicated business unit, ensuring continuity for retailers, foodservice partners, suppliers, and consumers, with no immediate changes expected to products on shelf.

Fresh Del Monte intends to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and availability under its revolving credit facility. Rabobank served as exclusive financial advisor to Fresh Del Monte, with Greenberg Traurig and Dickinson Wright acting as legal advisors.

ORLANDO, FL - After a near-decade of trending upward, employee engagement in the workplace fell in 2024, sliding from 23% to 21%. In the State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report, Gallup attributes the decline largely to a drop in manager engagement, which fell from 30% to 27% during the same period.

“Since the pandemic, managers have been asked to square the circle of new executive demands and employee expectations. We are starting to see the toll,” states Gallup in the recent release.

Gallup estimates that approximately 70% of the variance in employee engagement depends on the manager. Researchers note, “The manager is either an engagement-creating coach or an engagement-destroying boss—and both relationships directly affect employee behavior.”

Alarmingly, it’s younger managers who are experiencing a steeper decline in engagement. Among managers under age thirty-five, engagement fell five percentage points.

This raises an important question: Are young managers getting the support they need to show up to the workplace engaged and ready to foster engagement in their team?

The Pain Point for Newer Managers

Leadership coach Wendy McManus works with newer managers every year in her flagship program, Thriving Leaders Circle. She sees a recurring theme with the managers she works with; they want to be engaged leaders, but they’ve never learned how.

“Even when there are leadership development programs in place, most newer leaders struggle during the critical transition from individual performer to leading a team,” says Wendy. “Most managers want to lead well, but lack support.”

The transition from contributor to manager is often the toughest change in a person’s career path. Newer managers find themselves needing a whole new set of skills that may be unrelated to the work they excelled at in their previous roles. At the same time, they may lack the confidence to ask for help or admit that they are struggling.

Thriving Leaders Circle Addresses the Engagement Gap

Wendy McManus designed Thriving Leaders Circle to give emerging leaders the training and support they need to stay engaged and excel in their new role.

Participants learn how to delegate effectively, give constructive feedback, bring out the best in their team, and develop the leadership capabilities required to increase engagement and efficiency. They build both the skillset and the mindset to lead with intention and impact.

“Thriving Leaders Circle is designed to nurture coach-like leadership, arming participants with the skills and confidence needed to ascend the professional ladder and leave an enduring legacy,” says Wendy McManus.

Applications are currently being accepted for the next Thriving Leaders Circle cohort, which begins February 3. This is expected to be the only cohort offered in 2026. To learn more about this five-month leadership program or recommend a manager in your corporation, contact Wendy McManus at [email protected].

UNION CITY, CA - Emerald Packaging, the largest supplier of retail flexible packaging for the produce industry, announced that it has become a member of the U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI), a nonprofit initiative and industry coalition dedicated to building a scalable, circular system for recycling flexible plastic packaging in the United States. Emerald Packaging is the first associate member and first flexible manufacturer to join.

Flexible packaging like bags, wraps and pouches is a fast-growing segment of the plastics industry, but these items face recycling challenges. The coalition, comprised of major consumer companies including Mars, PepsiCo, Nestlé, General Mills, Mondelēz, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, will provide funding to material recovery facilities (MRFs) and other recyclers to launch film and flexible plastic packaging recycling initiatives, with the initial focus being California. Unlike past efforts by industry, this one will provide subsidies to bridge the gap between the cost of recycling plastics, and the price companies can profitably sell it at.

USFFI aims to scale recycling systems and move toward a model where flexible films are intentionally collected alongside other recyclables, especially at the curbside. The initiative seeks to establish reliable markets for flexible materials as California implements its extended producer responsibility program under SB 54, which requires all single-use packaging and plastic food ware to be 100% recyclable or compostable by 2032.

“Joining USFFI aligns with Emerald’s belief that circularity is achievable when recyclers can sell the material at a profit,” said Kevin Kelly, CEO, Emerald Packaging, in the recent release. “Flexible packaging has long been the missing piece in the U.S. recycling system. By demonstrating that recyclers will process post-consumer flexible films when it’s economically viable, USFFI is helping to create a system that finally brings flexibles into the circular economy. We hope by proving the concept, that the Circular Action Alliance will direct EPR funds to bridge this critical gap.”

Laurie Hansen, a long-time consultant to the flexible industry and government affairs advisor to Emerald, noted that this is the very first major effort by a manufacturer to get their packaging recycled. “Emerald has for years been a leader and joining USFFI with a major financial contribution shows their leadership is serious about recycling flexible packaging. Other manufacturers should be following in their footsteps before it’s too late to act”.

"USFFI is proud to welcome Emerald Packaging as an associate member,” says Maite Quinn-Richards, executive director of USFFI. We invite other brands, retailers, and packaging converters to join and add their resources and leadership to this effort. Expanding our membership strengthens the funding pool and accelerates market development.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Stater Bros. Markets announced an expanded partnership with Afresh, advancing plans to extend AI-driven fresh replenishment beyond produce into additional fresh departments and upstream into distribution center (DC) forecasting. The move creates a more unified approach to managing fresh inventory across the supply chain—from store ordering through DC buying.

Following the successful deployment of Afresh’s Fresh Replenishment in produce in 2025, Stater Bros. will scale the platform to additional fresh departments, while implementing Afresh’s DC Forecast to guide upstream procurement. Together, these deployments enhance existing business processes with a connected system that links real store demand directly to buying decisions, supporting the company’s commitment to delivering fresh, affordable food.

Produce results drive Stater Bros.’ expansion

The expansion follows strong results from the company’s initial Fresh Replenishment deployment in produce, which achieved:

• Sustained improvements in product availability and ordering accuracy through AI-powered replenishment
• Significant reductions in food waste, setting a performance benchmark across fresh categories
• Improved inventory efficiency, optimizing on-hand levels, and freeing up working capital
• Strong store-level adoption of Afresh’s AI order recommendations, underscoring operational trust and ease of use

“We’ve been impressed with Afresh’s partnership with our teams,” said Bertha Luna, Executive Vice President, Store Operations, Stater Bros. Markets, in the recent release. “They took the time to earn trust, and the results speak for themselves—produce shrink is down, shelves are full, and our customers notice the difference. When teammates see a solution that supports their work, adoption follows naturally.”

Extending intelligence upstream with DC Forecast

For decades, produce buying at Stater Bros. has been guided by deep expertise and hands-on merchandising practices. As the company modernized its fresh operations, it adopted traditional forecasting tools commonly used in center-store categories. While effective for more stable items, these technologies struggled to keep pace with the complexity and variability of fresh products.

Fresh categories require frequent ordering, rapid response to changing conditions, and close alignment between stores and distribution centers. In contrast, center-store forecasting tools treat demand as static, relying on weekly snapshots and historical averages.

These limitations became more pronounced during promotions and for commodity items such as bulk and catch-weight products, often resulting in store shortages, excess aging inventory, or missed sales. As a result, much of Stater Bros.’ produce procurement remained manual—despite the presence of center-store technology—with buyers spending hours synthesizing data across tools and spreadsheets to answer fundamental questions, such as how many strawberries to order two weeks in advance.

To address these challenges, Stater Bros. sought a more dynamic fresh solution—one capable of adapting to promotions, seasonality, and the natural variability inherent in fresh and commodity items.

Afresh’s DC Forecast met those needs by providing an AI platform purpose-built for fresh buying nuances, including SKU mismatches, multiple vendors, and frequent delivery schedules. Built on real store demand and an understanding of how inventory flows, turns, and ages across the network, the system enables teams to plan proactively, align decisions upstream, and respond more effectively to change across the supply chain.

“Fresh operations don’t follow a single, predictable path—signals change, conditions shift, and outcomes vary,” said Matt Schwartz, CEO at Afresh. “By extending the same intelligence from store ordering into DC procurement, Stater Bros. is aligning decisions across the supply chain on a system built to operate under that uncertainty. When inventory decisions learn from each other instead of operating in silos, retailers can reduce waste, improve service levels, and deliver the freshness customers expect.”

With a unified system connecting stores and the distribution center, Stater Bros. is strengthening service to stores while supporting fresher products, more efficient inventory flow, and continued operational excellence.

Reconnecting buyers to the business

By reducing manual calculations and data mining across multiple tools, Afresh is fundamentally changing how Stater Bros.’ buyers spend their time. Instead of reconciling numbers from behind a screen, buyers can now focus their energy on the warehouse floor—observing product condition, validating expectations, and building stronger relationships with suppliers and warehouse teammates. This shift enables procurement teams to improve fill rates, ensure better in-stock conditions in stores, and deliver a more consistent customer shopping experience.

“Having spent my career in fresh produce, in both retail and sales and merchandising, I know firsthand the hours consumed by synthesizing data and relying on guesswork for critical fresh decisions,” said Jacob Cadwallader, Director of Produce, Stater Bros. Markets. “Afresh’s interconnected system—coordinating decisions from the store to the DC—is the breakthrough we’ve needed to improve accuracy and efficiency. Automating forecasting allows our buying teams to stay laser-focused on supporting our stores, sharpen long-term purchasing decisions, and strengthen our commitment to delivering the quality our customers expect from us.”

OXNARD, CA - More opportunities to boost the mango category have arrived as Freska Produce International launches its Mexican mango season in Southern Mexico this week. The grower is reporting strong availability on Honey mangos (Ataulfos) with a solid mix of large and small sizes, supporting a program designed for promotions and steady weekly movement.

“Freska’s mango program is built for seamless transitions, so our retail partners’ programs stay in stock,” shares Gary Clevenger, Managing Partner, Freska Produce International. “Peru Kents will continue through mid-March to bridge supply as Mexico ramps up. Mexico Tommy Atkins (Reds) will begin with limited volume in the second week of February, building into mid-to-late March, with sizing peaking large to medium.”

Two major hallmarks of Freska’s robust mango program are supply security and market intelligence. Through a partnership with Freska Produce International, retailers gain:

• Year-round availability across key categories—fewer suppliers, more consistency
• Proactive market guidance—sizing trends, supply shifts, promotional timing, and pricing strategy shared ahead of the market
• Reliable execution—clear communication, consistent specs, and dependable weekly service

“Freska also offers Fair Trade certified and organic options to support responsible sourcing and clean-label programs, along with our dried mango offering, which is made out of 100 percent organic mangos with no additives or preservatives—just natural organic mango slices,” Gary notes.

Freska Produce International delivers year-round, multi-category strength with its mango, avocado, and dried fruit programs. The supplier offers a year-round Mexican avocado supply from Nogales, Arizona, complemented by California avocados out of its Oxnard, California, packing house. Bridging produce’s reach into the snacking space, Freska also offers dried mango and dragonfruit year-round.

With these advantageous programs expertly designed to maximize reliability and avoid supply gaps, the mango maven is helping retailers build a strong, consistent mango program that performs well all year.

For more category updates and insights, leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.