SANTA PAULA, CA - Calavo Growers recently announced a transition of leadership, as it revealed Adriana G. Mendizabal will be joining its Board of Directors, effective December 1. Mendizabal will be serving as an Independent Director, following Scott Van Der Kar’s announcement that he will be stepping down.
Mendizabal has over 30 years of experience leading successful business turnarounds and transformations and igniting new businesses to achieve sustainable growth, according to a press release. Since 2019, she has served as Group President for Stanley Black & Decker Latin America. Prior to that, she worked with Nature’s Sunshine Products from 2012 to 2019, holding vital positions such as Business Unit President and Global Chief Marketing and Innovations Officer.
Before her work with Nature’s Sunshine Products, Mendizabal held multiple roles at companies like Visa USA, Herbalife, Johnson & Johnson, Kodak, PepsiCo-Mexico, and Procter & Gamble. The business expert was also named one of Mexico’s Top 10 most powerful women in business by CNN’s Expansion Business Magazine.
“Calavo is extremely fortunate to have someone of Adriana Mendizabal’s caliber and experience join our Board of Directors,” said Steven Hollister, Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Her track record as a leader who drives shareholder value will make her an integral member of our Board and a valued advisor to our leadership team.”
Mendizabal held the position of Independent Director and Member of the audit committee for the Bank of New York Mellon’s Mexico subsidiary from 2008 to 2015, and is currently an executive member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association.
Furthering her expertise, she holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business from Tecnologico de Estudio Superiores de Monterrey-UEM.
Mendizabal’s appointment follows the announcement that long-time Director Scott Van Der Kar has decided to retire from the Board, effective January 3.
“Scott has been a key member of our board, and we appreciate his many contributions that have guided Calavo over the years,” Hollister continued. “On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Scott for his 27 years of service and counsel.”
Following this transition, the company’s Board will consist of 11 Directors, seven of which qualify as Independent Directors under the independence standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market.
We here at ANUK send our biggest congratulations to Adriana G. Mendizabal, and to Calavo Growers on the growth of its leadership ring!
LOS ANGELES, CA - Sheldon is back! One of ANUK’s favorite little tortoises has returned to make Wonderful® Pistachios’ No Shells products the talk of the town. After nearly doubling its No Shells business over the past two years, the company is kicking off its biggest No Shells marketing investment yet. Wonderful’s very own Sheldon the tortoise is featured in new comedic commercials that introduce the No Shells flavor lineup for the first time.
“While Sheldon may disagree, consumers really do love Wonderful Pistachios No Shells,” said Diana Salsa, Senior Marketing Director. “In fact, the demand for flavored pistachios continues to see incremental growth as we introduce new flavors; Wonderful Pistachios No Shells flavors accounted for 85 percent of total flavored snack nuts growth this year according to IRI data.”
In the comical digital spots, Sheldon denounces Wonderful Pistachios’ anti-shell advertising. Throughout all the commercials, he confronts two Wonderful Pistachios brand managers at their office to air out his frustrations.
In the first spot, “Why Are You Dressed Like That,” Sheldon is offended by Wonderful Pistachios’ anti-shell advertising for Chili Roasted and Honey Roasted No Shells flavors, featuring the brand managers in outfits reflective of the flavors.
In “Storming Out,” a football-themed spot that will air during NFL prime-time games, Sheldon is unimpressed with the brand managers’ new football ads that include “Punt the Shells” and “Sack the Shells.” The spot reminds viewers that No Shells are a great game-watching snack, with one in three of the brand’s consumers enjoying Wonderful Pistachios while watching sports.
Additional spots include “We Understand,” “You Ditch YOUR Shells,” and launching later this season, “Flavor Party.”
The spots are airing now and will continue to air across syndication, digital streaming platforms, cable outlets, and on social media through summer of 2022. The campaign is supported through additional social and digital buys, FSIs, public relations, and cart-stopping in-store displays.
The campaign highlights nutrition benefits as well, such as six grams of plant protein per serving of No Shells pistachios. Since the debut of its new flavors, Wonderful Pistachios’ No Shells BBQ and Sea Salt & Vinegar have won numerous accolades.
Sheldon, we welcome you back with open arms. Stay tuned to see how the little tortoise turns chuckles into pocket change.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The main squeeze at retail this holiday season is, you guessed it, the produce department. Brimming with sales opportunities, cross-merchandising occasions, and promotional strategies for the taking, one stand-out category that continues to surface as a basket essential is the coveted citrus category. And, one key component of that citrus destination this winter is Meyer lemons.
“Now is a great time for retailers to get ahead on holiday planning, building merchandising programs, and creating a consistent message for Meyer lemons from now through the New Year. Quality is really good across our program with great color as well. Sizes are incredibly favorable and peaking on 140s, 115s, and 165s,” Alex Marriott, Category Citrus Lead–Domestic, Giumarra Companies, shares with me. “Their unique flavor makes them a great choice for holiday cooking and baking.”
As a traffic driver and a sure-fire way to increase the ring at the register, Meyer lemons appear to have just the partner they need in Giumarra Companies, with its consistent and quality supplies throughout the winter.
“We are currently harvesting District 1 Meyer lemons, with a majority shipping from California’s Porterville/Exeter area,” Alex continues. “We are just hitting peak harvest, and our Meyer lemons will be available into February for a constant presence on the shelves for customers. Additionally, Giumarra offers one-stop shopping with Navels, Mandarins, grapefruit, conventional lemons, and other citrus items all at one location.”
To ensure retailers have a variety of pack options for Meyer lemons the season, Giumarra is offering 12 x 1 lb bags, 18 x 1 lb bags, ½ cartons, as well as 10 lb and standard cartons. Offering a range of sizes ensures a pack size for every consumer demographic.
“We are pleased to be able to enter the domestic citrus season on such strong footing from a volume and quality standpoint. Our corporate team is eager to assist interested retailers with social media posts, POS materials, and other customized concepts to help drive sales on Meyers or any of our citrus offerings,” Kristina Lorusso, Regional Business Development Director, reveals to me.
Consumers will have their eyes peeled this winter for retailers who keep the standard high across their citrus programs. And finding a great partner can make that standard happen.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - While I definitely maintain my tried-and-true list of grocery items, I also expect a diverse selection of unique and local products to add to my basket. I know I am not alone in this, and Southeastern Grocers (SEG) is aiming to meet the demands of my fellow food-curious shoppers with its Local Supplier Connect program. SEG is hosting an event to collaborate with local businesses and provide its Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket, and Winn-Dixie banner stores with an expanded variety of local products.
“Our communities are our heart and soul, and we are committed to helping them thrive,” Dewayne Rabon, Senior Vice President and Chief Merchant, said. “The Local Supplier Connect program allows us to expand local offerings in our stores and source products from the very communities we serve. As a grocer in the Southeast, we are proud of our roots, and we strive to share and encourage the culture of our communities by highlighting local products in each of our stores.”
Like many other grocers with a similar strategy, SEG is partnering with ECRM and RangeMe to source, qualify, and connect suppliers with its buyers. During the virtual event in Spring 2022, participants will be able to engage with SEG buyers and category managers to share their company background, product information, and marketing plans.
This follows SEG’s successful Supplier Diversity Conference in May of this year when merchants met with 85 suppliers that were at least 51 percent owned, operated, and managed by women; Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, LGBTQ+ people; military veterans; or people with disabilities who sell grocery, general merchandise, and/or beauty and personal care products. These events are part of SEG’s continued commitment to being a catalyst for lasting change and inclusion in the industry.
Interested businesses in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, may apply to participate in SEG’s Local Supplier Connect program here by Monday, December 6.
We wish the best of luck to SEG’s applicants!
WATSONVILLE, CA - Whether added to a delicious, buttery blueberry pie, thrown into Thanksgiving stuffing for a sweet twist, or proudly displayed on a charcuterie board, the possibilities for blueberries and cross-merchandising for the category are endless during the holidays. Luckily, Driscoll’s has announced that its Sweetest Batch™ Blueberries are at peak availability, allowing retailers to stock up on the sought-after fruit to maximize register rings.
“Our Sweetest Batch product line was developed from a strategic commitment to provide consumers with an elevated flavor offering that will continue to push the flavor boundaries of the category,” said Grant Garbinski, Product Marketing Manager. “Driscoll’s has pioneered flavor innovation, and as the market leader we’ll continue to delight our consumers with the best tasting berries that the industry has to offer.”
Driscoll’s Sweetest Batch Blueberries come from a proprietary variety that was traditionally bred without GMOs by a dedicated team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant health scientists, and entomologists, just like Driscoll’s other berries, according to a press release. They are then grown by the supplier’s network of independent farmers for retail.
As one of the first companies to market a complete berry patch flavor offering across strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, the Sweetest Bach berries offer high-quality flavor that has led to market success. The grower has also seen repeated consumer interest in its Driscoll’s Rosé Berries™ for the third in-market season, giving buyers a multitude of products to keep berry basket shares up.
To boost merchandising opportunities and brand awareness, Driscoll’s will be extending on of its central campaigns this holiday season.
“To celebrate the availability of Sweetest Batch Blueberries along with all of Driscoll’s berries, we’ve extended our Sweetness Worth Sharing™ brand campaign to include creative holiday inspirations of grazing boards,” explained Evelyn Martinez, Digital Marketing Specialist. “From jarcuterie recipes to even dogcuterie creations for our furry friends, our consumers are finding the holiday sweet spot with berries.”
In addition to recipes and inspiration, a limited-time holiday sweepstakes will be held encouraging shoppers to create their own grazing board and share it with Driscoll’s through January 5, giving buyers even more chance to cross-merchandise in the produce aisle.
With shoppers already rearing for delicious fresh produce to add to their holiday recipes, now is a great time to get blueberries on display with baking ingredients, charcuterie board offerings, or by themselves to encourage consumers to fill their carts.
For more holiday merchandising opportunities and market insights, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SALISBURY, NC - As the demand for more diversity across supplier portfolios continues to rise, Ahold Delhaize banner Food Lion has made a $50 million investment to encourage minority-owned businesses. The retailer revealed that it made the deposit to support M&F Bank, the second-oldest minority-owned bank in the United States, providing the institution with greater financial opportunities for the communities it serves including loans to small businesses, investments in technology, and financial literacy programs.
“We are consistently working to nourish the towns and cities we serve, and many times that is with food and also with possibility,” said Food Lion President Meg Ham.“This deposit will infuse our shared communities with financial opportunities for economic development, job creation, racial equity, and social justice initiatives.”
M&F Bank currently operates branches in Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. According to a press release, this deposit from Food Lion will create a partnership that will build on each of the companies’ commitment to provide financial solutions to underserved communities.
Food Lion’s $50 million deposit is an extension of community work that started over 30 years ago, and is in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the business. This includes an integrated workforce, inclusive workplace, and inspirational marketplace.
“We are two regional organizations focused on the economic development of our communities,” said M&F Bank President and Chief Executive Officer James Sills. “This partnership with Food Lion provides momentum, allowing us to make real change for historically underserved communities. We thank Food Lion for their trust and commitment to M&F Bank.”
The funds will be managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management through its Empowering Change program, part of its commitment to bringing new economic opportunities to historically disadvantaged communities.
How will this new investment potentially impact diverse suppliers and growers in the North Carolina regions? Stick with AndNowUKnow to find out.
IMMOKALEE, FL - The team at Lipman Family Farms is tapping into the giving spirit for the second year in a row as it kicks off several initiatives to support the local communities that it serves. This year, the company’s employees rallied to celebrate its second annual Day of Good from the Ground Up®, through which associates collaborated with local organizations to host food drives and other key donations.
“These two days of company-wide community service are all about being ‘Good from the Ground Up’ and coming together as one family to give back to those in need,” said Director of Community Relations Jaime Weisinger. “This is a core part of who we are at Lipman, and in just our second year we were able to grow our volunteer efforts and help even more people. We are excited to continue to see the impact for years to come and make a difference in the communities that are so important to us.”
The yearly initiative represents the supplier’s unwavering commitment to giving back in the areas where Lipman employees live and work, a continued part of the company’s community-driven culture. As part of this commitment, Lipman aims to serve and improve local communities by providing services and goods that will create a lasting impact, with a focus on children, education, and hunger relief, according to a press release.
For this year’s Day of Good, over 450 Lipman associates volunteered over 140 hours to support local food banks and provide needed supplies to elderly homes and women’s shelters, in addition to donating to local schools and other philanthropic efforts. As a result, Lipman employees donated a total of approximately 5,000 pounds of produce, over 2,500 boxes and bags of non-perishable food, as well as 600 packages of assorted items including blankets, gift cards, hygiene kits, and other needed goods, impacting over 3,000 families and 1,000 children in North America.
“It’s incredible to see how our employees have joined together to support and nourish our communities,” said Weisinger. “'Day of Good' represents more than just a day of joining forces to make a large impact, it’s a representation of the company culture we have here at Lipman, and I couldn’t be prouder of these efforts across the country.”
This year’s Day of Good included 19 Lipman locations, where employees worked with local organizations to support their volunteer or donation projects. In North Carolina, employees Jeff Bennett and Jerry Harvell led a team of volunteers to support over 70 families in need through food drives, donation of supplies, and the presentation of gift cards to aid with living expenses.
Shout out to Lipman Family Farms for this admirable effort to support the communities it serves! ANUK will continue to report as more strategies like this one come to life.
MUNICH, GERMANY - As it works to eliminate waste from its operations completely, IFCO has rolled out a comprehensive new Environment Social Governance (ESG) 2025 strategy, outlining key objectives to combat climate change, embrace diversity and inclusion, and reduce food waste and single-use packaging. In addition to the ambitious long-term blueprint, the solutions provider has also published its first standalone ESG Report.
"We have already achieved considerable success with our measures to be more environmentally friendly. At the same time, we acknowledge that it is time for further action. Together with our partners, we are working every day to make our business model even more sustainable. Our new ESG strategy helps us to fulfill our purpose to make fresh grocery supply chains sustainable and have a meaningful positive impact on our planet and society," explained Michael Pooley, Chief Executive Officer.
In addition to working with food banks around the world to reduce food waste and support people in need, the industry ally has already taken several measures to optimize the sustainability of its business operations. According to a press release, materials are recycled and, at the end of their life cycle, reused to produce new IFCO RPCs, one of the reasons why the company has received Cradle to Cradle certification at Gold level in Material reutilization. IFCO also reduces CO2 emissions by using multimodal transport, and is improving technology in its washing centers to maximize water reuse and reduce energy consumption.
IFCO's has developed an extensive ESG strategy to thrive in the circular economy, which focuses on three main pillars:
- Thriving Business – IFCO aims to make fresh food supply chains resilient to the challenges of the future through circular economy, innovation, and best-in-class governance. Specifically, the company aims to double the environmental benefits it generates in its customers' supply chains as well as implementing adequate policies, training, and expanding customer collaboration programs
- Thriving Planet – In order to further protect and regenerate natural resources, IFCO is going beyond the benefits of its Share & Reuse model. For example, the company aims to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2025 and net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040. In addition, IFCO is working to eliminate waste completely
- Thriving Society – IFCO is a safe, diverse, and inclusive employer. The company has a target of 40 percent women in management positions and aims to achieve best-in-class employee satisfaction. In addition, IFCO is a pioneer in health and safety and works to reduce food waste through cooperation with food banks worldwide and innovative solutions
The company also recently became a signatory of the UN Global Compact reinforcing its commitment to human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption.
As outlined in the report, IFCO's 2025 goals directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and encompass its ambition to thrive in the circular economy with its partners.
ANUK will stay tuned to find out how this ambitious, long-term strategy will drive the company forward, so keep an eye out for our next report.
IRVINE, CA - Industry stalwart and Organic Produce Network (OPN) Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Tonya Antle recently took to the Voices of the Valley podcast hosted by Dennis Donohue, the Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology, and Candace Wilson, Vice President of Business Development at GreenVenus, to discuss the upcoming Organic Grower Summit (OGS). The anticipated event is presented by Western Growers and OPN and will take place on December 1–2 in Monterey, California.
The goal of the show will be to highlight that “organic does mean good business,” according to Antle.
“We have never pitted organic against conventional farmers,” Antle said. “I am a granddaughter and daughter and wife of a farmer, and let me tell you, there are no better, honest, hardworking folks than those on the farm. And the tools they are given is what they were taught, and so I think it’s an educational process to get to organic.”
During the most recent episode of the popular podcast, Antle discussed the fourth edition of OGS, and how the event has responded to grower feedback in developing its educational offerings, as noted in a press release.
“[Learning more about] soil health and plant health are always the biggest feedback we get from our show,” Antle said. “These are things that are immediate need that our farmers can take back and work on the ground.”
Vic Smith, Chief Executive Officer of JV Smith will be recognized as Grower of the Year during OGS, and a keynote presentation titled, “Net Gen: A Conversation with the Next Generation of Organic Leaders,” will be moderated by Western Growers President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Puglia and feature Keith Barnard, Senior Vice President of Sales and Sourcing at Mission Produce; Bianca Kaprielian, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Owner of Fruit World; and Mike Valpredo, President and Co-Founder of Country Sweet Produce.
To register for OGS 2021, click here.
And as the long-awaited event quickly approaches, keep reading ANUK for the latest updates.
MCLEAN, VA - Earlier this month, Gladstone Land Corporation launched a new program and committed over $100 million in cash to back farmers through several different types of transactions. Clearly attracting new partnerships through the announcement, the company most recently acquired roughly 230 gross acres of farmland near Homerville, Georgia, for around $2.9 million.
"High-quality farmland with access to plentiful water is becoming increasingly scarce," said David Gladstone, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased to continue our mission of securing the most productive farmland for our grower-partners, especially as we see rising inflation beginning to have a significant impact of the price of farmland and produce across the country."
The acquisition includes 175 acres of blueberry bushes and a fresh packing and shipping facility. In connection with the acquisition, Gladstone entered into a 15-year lease agreement with a regional farmer who is part of a national berry marketing group, a press release noted.
Gladstone acquires and owns farmland and farm-related properties located in major ag markets in the United States, leasing its properties to unrelated third-party farmers. The company currently owns 162 farms, comprised of approximately 109,000 acres in 15 different states.
"We are very excited to make our first acquisition in Georgia, which plays an integral role in supplying fresh blueberries across the eastern U.S. in the late spring and summer months," said Bill Frisbie, Executive Vice President for Gladstone Land. "We look forward to expanding in Georgia with additional fruit and vegetable farmland purchases."
What other transactions will follow this acquisition? Stay tuned as we report.