DALLAS, TX - A company is only as strong as its workforce, and Schnuck Markets is looking to cement its strong position in the retail market. Bolstering its labor strategy, the grocer has announced a new partnership with Logile to implement its Workforce Management solution suite company-wide.
“Logile was an excellent partner in helping us to integrate their workforce management solution with our human resource and other business systems,” said Schnucks Chief Data Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer Tom Henry. “When challenges arose, as they usually do during large-scale enterprise implementations, Logile supported our team, even when the issue did not relate directly to the Logile service. Their sole focus was to ensure a successful implementation and to support us so that we could achieve the benefits we committed to our stakeholders. They have done all of this while meeting our exacting standards for reliability, data security and business continuity.”
Currently, St. Louis-based Schnucks operates 111 stores across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, according to a press release. With such a large number of locations throughout several states, the need for a successful workforce management system is vital.
“Logile’s technology and ability to address today’s retail challenges has been impressive,” shared Scott Russo, Schnucks Director of Workforce Management. “Even through these most unpredictable of times, including all the impacts of the pandemic, their artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning forecasting algorithms adapted to produce accurate sales and item level forecasts across all our stores and departments. Their forecasting accuracy enables us to more accurately schedule our teammates to meet our customers’ needs. Their flexibility and commitment to our partnership were also vitally important to our success. During our rollout, Logile responded to our requested enhancements to scheduling and dashboard reporting in order to help customize the technology for our company’s use.”
The Logile modules implemented by Schucks include enterprise labor modeling, engineered labor standards, staffing, employee scheduling, forecasting, time and attendance, and dashboard reporting. Overall, all of these modules help leaders in each store map out daily labor needs while keeping important data and information organized and ready to use.
“Logile’s complete workforce management solution supports our store managers by handling the complexity of labor planning and scheduling," said Kim Anderson, Vice President of Store Operations for Schnucks.
Following the effective introduction of Logile’s Workforce Management solution, Schnucks has selected the company to provide its Store Execution—or Task Management—solution. The rollout is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022.
“We are very appreciative of having the opportunity to partner with and provide our solutions and services to a retailer of Schnucks’ quality and leadership. Enabling their very high standards and retail thought leadership also gave Logile a chance to learn and improve. The experience with Schnucks has made us better and I am grateful for the confidence and trust they had in our team,” said Purna Mishra, Logile Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We remain committed to bringing the retail industry ground-breaking technology that addresses total store planning, scheduling and execution management based on one unified forecast.”
As Schnucks builds on its workforce strategy, AndNowUKnow will be here to share the latest updates.
MEXICO - Winter is hands down my favorite season, in part because of the beautiful varieties of squash awaiting me in the produce department. As other like-minded consumers hit the aisles, they are certain to be satisfied when they discover Bridges Produce’s assortment of high-quality squash greeting them, due in part to favorable weather conditions across the supplier’s Mexico growing regions.
“Almost everything we are packing is #1 grade this season,” says Jacobo Yanes, Operations Manager, Rico Farms. “We had very good weather from planting until the last week of December and rains the first week of January with the potential for more light rain in Guaymas and Los Mochis, but nothing out of the ordinary. Overall, this has led to production yields being strong so far.”
Despite seeing crops on time and producing as planned or earlier, demand from consumers and retailers is pushing production for the grower as its works to fill needs.
“We are just keeping up with demand for now,” Oscar Trujillo, Category Manager of Mexican Sales, imparts. “Our farm crew is established, steady, and performing well. Therefore, we are on schedule and will adjust pricing depending on any further changes in demand as we do not anticipate volume to fluctuate much.”
Turning to volume, Oscar explains that it has remained steady for the category year to year with several crop plantings spread through the winter and spring. This year, the grower is not planning on processing Butternut squash, however, as it has done in past seasons. This will lead to a very tight or non-existent season for the popular variety.
“We could potentially see something opening up in late February for processing Butternut squash,” Oscar adds. “Meanwhile, we are trying to keep up with retail carton commitments, although we could see a short gap in late March. There are opportunities for short-term Kabocha volume through January, and other varieties will remain firm and rise through the winter months. For our Acorn squash, we expect more limited supplies and higher prices now through mid-March.”
Complementing both quality and availability, Bridges further appeals to shoppers through the Fair Trade certification of several of its operations and its Delicata squash variety. Through this certification, the grower is working to meet consumers’ desire for ethically sourced products that not only taste good but make them feel good about opening their wallets.
“Both Rico Farms locations are Fair Trade certified, allowing employee chosen and executed quality of life projects to take place both on the farm and in workers’ home communities,” explains Sydney Fairchild, Marketing and Compliance. “All of our Delicata variety squash shipping this season is packed under the Fair Trade label, and other varieties can also be pre-ordered as Fair Trade. This recognizable marker provides additional promotional opportunities setting our hard squash apart, especially with the socially conscious and engaged demographics.”
With quality, volume, and ethos behind its products, Bridges’ squash will be a great addition to any produce department. So, reach out to a sales rep today to stock your shelves and have shoppers happily opening their wallets.
MONTE VISTA, CO - Continuing the industry-wide trend of leadership changes, Farm Fresh Direct has tapped a new Chief Executive Officer. The potato purveyor recently revealed that Mike Hulett will be taking over the role, coming to the company from Walmart, where he most recently served as Merchandising Director for apples, pears, and cherries.
“This is a terrific opportunity with a great organization,” said Hulett. “Farm Fresh is well-established, a strong player in conventional potatoes, and is widely recognized in the industry as a market leader in organic potatoes. I see this as great timing to leverage my retail and supplier knowledge to enhance Farm Fresh’s customer service, business mix, and ultimately to improve grower and shareholder sustainability.”
Bringing 22 years of experience in the produce industry to the table, according to a press release, Hulett spent the last 11 of those years at Walmart. He began working at the big-box chain’s Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters in 2014, and prior to that was Director of Sourcing for Walmart US and International.
Hulett is already familiar with the Farm Fresh Direct company, having worked as the organization’s Director of Sales and Business Development from 2003–2010. Stepping into this new role as CEO, he looks forward to taking what he learned in retail and applying it at Farm Fresh Direct.
“Retail is detail,” Hulett explained. “Managing multi-billion dollar produce categories down to the niche categories teaches you a tremendous amount about process, discipline, financials, supply chain, and the importance of teamwork. Serving the customer is key to success in any industry, but especially in produce.”
Wielding his years of expertise, he went on to express his excitement for this new opportunity to lead Farm Fresh Direct.
“I am passionate about produce and ready to get started building on the solid Farm Fresh team to serve our customers,” added Hulett. “I have been fortunate to work for a number of exceptional leaders who taught me to stretch for goals and believe in a culture that supports its people to take risks and learn together.”
Hulett is stepping into the CEO position after his predecessor Jamey Higham accepted a position as CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission late last year. He will be based out of the Farm Fresh Direct headquarters in Monte Vista, Colorado, and those at the company are already anticipating his arrival.
“The Board believes it is a big win for our growers and company to get Mike back after his stint at Walmart. We are excited to see Mike’s leadership style, integrity, and insights influence our future growth,” said Virgil Valdez, Chairman of the Board.
Congratulations to Mike Hulett on his new leadership role!
CORAL GABLES, FL - A changing of the guards is taking place at Fresh Del Monte Produce, as a new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer is stepping up to the helm. In a recent 8-K filing released on January 14, 2022, the supplier announced that Mohammed Abbas has been promoted to the role.
Abbas previously served as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific and Middle East Region from October 2019 to now. Prior to that, he served as the company’s Vice President, Middle East and North Africa from January 2016 to October 2019 and as Vice President Fresh Produce from April to December 2015. According to the filing, Abbas also served as the General Manager of Del Monte Saudi Arabia from June 2009 to March 2015. Before entering that role, he served as General Manager of Del Monte Foods UAE, working in that capacity since the inception of the first unit in the MENA Region in January 2007.
The filing stated that Abbas will be relocating to Coral Gables, Florida, to work at the company’s headquarters.
In addition to this announcement, the filing disclosed that Youssef Zakharia will be stepping down from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 31, 2022. We look forward to seeing where Zakharia's career will take him next!
As these Fresh Del Monte leaders take the next steps in their journey, we wish each of them the best of luck.
BENTONVILLE, AR - January has been a month of executive appointments, and Walmart is continuing the trend with its latest announcement. The company recently unveiled that its current Chief Merchandising Officer overseeing its United States unit, Scott McCall, will be retiring.
Taking over the role immediately is Charles Redfield, a retail expert who has led the U.S. grocery business for the past six years. Prior to working with Walmart, Redfield held Chief Merchandising roles at U.K.-based grocer ASDA and its warehouse club Sam’s Club.
The executive shift follows an upward trajectory for the retailer, as the company recently reported better third-quarter sales in the United States than market expectations.
These impressive fiscal results also guided the grocer’s decision to raise its annual sales and profit forecasts.
McCall, who has been with Walmart for nearly 30 years, will work with U.S. operations head Chris Nicholas to further drive inventory management before he retires, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters.
In addition to Redfield’s appointment, Walmart also revealed further changes to its executive team.
The retailer announced that Janey Whiteside, Chief Customer Officer, will be leaving in March to start her next chapter. Appointed to the position in 2018, Whiteside served as the retailer’s first-ever Chief Customer Officer.
As the retailer continues to implement changes to fortify its executive team, AndNowUKnow will keep a close watch. In the meantime, congratulations to all of these leaders on their successful careers and the next step in their industry journey.
DALLAS, TX - With the Big Game not far away, guacamole and other delicious, avocado-based snacks are readying to take the stage—during half-time and beyond. Elevating the category, Avocados From Mexico (AFM) has launched a new digital campaign and announced a new partnership with e-commerce acceleration platform MikMak.
“We’ve built the AFM brand on a foundation of innovation—now, we’re back in the Big Game with not only an ad but another innovative, fully integrated campaign,” Alvaro Luque, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFM, said in a statement to AdWeek. “We’re leading into the future by combining best-in-class brand building with data- and technology-enabled shopper and digital strategies that will make the 2022 Big Game campaign the most effective we’ve had to date.”
The innovative new experience, titled House of Goodness, is hosted by former NFL quarterback Drew Brees. Giving consumers an inside look at the world of avocados, the virtual campaign features several unique interactions, including taking a selfie with Brees, watching the brand’s Big Game TV spot, discovering new guacamole recipes, and purchasing avocados directly from the platform.
In addition, the avocado brand has also released a one-minute spot featuring Brees, providing in-store QR codes that redirect shoppers directly to the brand’s website.
“This past year, the industry went through one of the fastest transformations that we have seen in decades,” Ivonne Kinser, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation, told the source. “We’re headed into this Big Game with a more modern view of marketing that aims to fuse our branding and performance efforts into a novel approach that we have defined as ‘Brandformance’—taking our innovation to the next level in both territories: branding and marketing-driven sales.”
The unique digital campaign will run across key social platforms, and a physical extension of the digital “House of Goodness” will also be available to consumers in New York, who will be able to visit a limited time pop-up “Store of Goodness” from February 8–13.
For the latest produce-centric launches, keep following along with AndNowUKnow.
FRESO, CA - The table grape industry is receiving a literary boost through the announcement of a new health-focused book. Dietitian and author Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN, has written From Burnout to Balance: 60+ Healing Recipes & Simple Strategies to Boost Mood, Immunity, Focus & Sleep to educate consumers on the top foods that contribute to different aspects of their health.
“Grapes are my go-to ingredient for color, hydration, and nutrition. As a snack or recipe ingredient, grapes are an easy, healthy choice for wellness. Studies show that grapes are linked to benefits in multiple areas of health, including support for brain and immune health,” said Bannan. “Three of my favorite recipes with grapes in From Burnout to Balance are my Simple Salmon Burgers with Grape Salsa, Lemony Farro and Lentil Bowls with Shrimp and Grapes, and my Kale, Sweet Potato & Grape Salad with Walnuts. Not only are these recipes delicious, they are packed with nutrients to support both brain and immune health.”
As stated in a press release from the California Table Grape Commission, the upcoming book lists top foods in several health categories, among them brain and immune wellness, with table grapes on the list for both. In addition to the recipes highlighted, Bannan includes table grapes in her “Nearly No-Cook Meal Ideas” section of the book.
Helping to give the category a seasonal boost, Bannan plans to promote her new book throughout the upcoming California table grape season.
New findings on the relationship between food and health will continue to surface, and ANUK will be here to report every time.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - January 24 is one day of note on SpartanNash’s proverbial retail calendar, as a new executive will be joining the team on that date. The chain recently appointed Bennett Morgan as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, who will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Sarsam.
Morgan previously worked for Amazon, where he helped launch the company’s fast-growing grocery business, including opening physical stores across the country. According to a press release, he most recently served as the Amazon Fresh Category Leader, overseeing produce and protein products. Morgan also previously managed center store products, adding to his diverse experience.
Also on Morgan’s resume is the role of Vice President, Merchandising for Walmart China and Japan. There, he managed all non-buying portions of the merchandising organization. He focused on cost negotiations and advanced data-led capabilities in assortment, pricing, and promotions.
Morgan also spent several years at H-E-B leading store operations, supply chain manufacturing, and merchandising, as well as at the Boston Consulting Group and Citibank. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Business Administration from Dartmouth College.
“SpartanNash continues to recruit top talent as part of our People First strategy, and we are thrilled to welcome Bennett to the team,” Sarsam said. “Bennett will play a critical role in driving innovation for our customers and excellence with our in-store experience.”
The press release went on to note that Morgan is the seventh addition to the SpartanNash executive leadership team since Sarsam joined the company in September 2020. His announcement follows last week’s promotion of Amy McClellan to Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.
Congratulations to Bennett Morgan on this exciting appointment!
LAS VEGAS, NV - Iconic lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart is hitting The City That Never Sleeps in a new venture—foodservice. This spring, Stewart is bringing her celebrated Martha Stewart lifestyle brand to life with The Bedford by Martha Stewart, a fully immersive restaurant concept designed to bring Stewart’s famed country farmhouse in Bedford, New York, to Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Caesars Entertainment has been an extremely hardworking, professional, and excellent partner to work with on the planning and building of the first-ever Martha Stewart restaurant. It will be in the Paris Las Vegas and will very accurately portray the important aesthetic and taste of the Martha Stewart Brand,” stated Stewart. “Our menu will be delicious, depicting the very same kinds of foods I serve my friends and family. The architecture and decoration of the spaces cleverly exemplify the beauty and atmosphere you might find at my beautiful farm in Bedford, New York. Dining at The Bedford will be immersive, fun, unexpected, and utterly delectable.”
Stewart and her team of culinary experts are developing delicious seasonal dinner, weekend brunch, and holiday menus that feature exceptional quality and creativity. Signature menu items will be created from sourcing seasonal, high-quality ingredients from various and local purveyors and some of Stewart’s personal favorites. According to the release, the Las Vegas Farmers Market, Dartagnan, Urbani Truffles, Roe Caviar, Frog Hollow Farm, Jasper Hill Farm, and Vermont Creamery, are among some of the suppliers bringing this concept to life.
Designed by Stewart herself, The Bedford draws inspiration from her country farmhouse, where she brings the outdoors in. With 194 seats, the intimate restaurant will offer guests an authentic glimpse of how she lives and entertains in her own home.
“Martha Stewart is one of the most celebrated voices in hospitality, and we are truly honored that she’s chosen Paris Las Vegas as the home for her very first restaurant,” said Jason Gregorec, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Paris Las Vegas. “Martha and her whole team have been incredible partners. When we open the doors, The Bedford by Martha Stewart will be a dining experience you simply can’t get elsewhere.”
For a deeper dive from the entertainment mogul herself, click here.
Excitement abounds for this new foodservice force. We here at ANUK will keep an eye out for industry firsts and releases, so stay tuned.
FRESNO, CA - Just as clothes tailored to fit your body make for the best possible outfit, a partner tailored to fit your company needs leads to the most successful business outcome. Enter Baloian Farms, using meticulous attention to detail and its highly driven team to create unique programs for each of its customers.
“It’s important for us to get to know our customers, their particular packs, timetables, desired loading locations, loading frequencies, and their weekly usages,” explains Jay Angulo, Sales. “We take all that information and design a service level tailored for each customer that involves detailed forecasting and advanced planning to overcome the difficult supply positions, freight situations, holidays, and any other curveball that can and will present themselves for a produce company any given day.”
But that’s not all Baloian does.
The supplier’s team monitors everything from the ground up, and with several different strategically located operations, Baloian is able to offer a wide variety of products, ranging from Romaine lettuce to daikon.
Florencio Cruz, Ranch and Harvest Manager, oversees the company’s Fresno, California, operation that plays a key role in Baloian’s fall program, which stretches down to Coachella, California.
“I’ve been working for Baloian for the last five years,” he explains. “I’m in charge of all the wet veg and leaf lettuce. I specialize in all the growing, I watch over all the irrigations, water testing, product testing, trying to keep all of the [sic] E.colites out of the system for all of our customers and services.”
Backed by a dedicated team that keeps all parts of the system running smoothly, Baloian Farms is positioned to offer its partners a custom experience to meet their specific needs.
To see what else the grower has to offer, watch the exclusive video above.