CORAL GABLES, FL - As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and product innovation, produce power player Fresh Del Monte Produce has welcomed an experienced leader to its ranks. Dr. Nizar Haddad will be stepping in to drive company growth as the new Director of Innovation and Business Development.

Haddad brings experience from a distinguished background in the agricultural and scientific communities to his new role. In this Director position, Haddad will explore new opportunities for Fresh Del Monte to continue evolving its agricultural practices, aiming to ensure the brand remains at the forefront of industry innovation, setting high standards for agricultural excellence and operational effectiveness.

Haddad previously served as Director General of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Jordan, where he helped evolve the agricultural sector by introducing cutting-edge digitalization and smart solutions. As a press release noted, his visionary leadership led to the creation of the region's first agricultural innovation incubator, the launch of the e-NARC platform, and the establishment of the National Seed Bank.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Haddad to the Fresh Del Monte family. His unparalleled expertise in agricultural innovation and his passion for sustainable development make him a valuable addition to our team,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Dr. Haddad embodies the innovative spirit that drives our organization, and I believe that under his leadership and with his expertise, we will continue to break new ground in sustainable agriculture.”

In addition to his role as Director of Innovation and Business Development, Haddad will also serve as General Manager of De l’Ora Bio, a Fresh Del Monte-led partnership with Vellsam Materias Bioactivas. As the release shared, De l’Ora Bio recently opened a groundbreaking biofertilizer plant in Kenya to maximize the use of Fresh Del Monte’s pineapple byproducts.

Backed by Haddad’s wealth of expertise, De l’Ora Bio will focus on converting pineapple byproducts from Fresh Del Monte's operations into high-quality biofertilizers, contributing to the company’s broader goals of reducing waste and improving resource utilization.

Standing at the forefront of the company’s innovation strategy, Haddad will ensure De l’Ora Bio sets new benchmarks in biofertilizer production while focusing on enhancing the supplier’s operational capabilities and innovative practices.

To read more about Haddad and his new role, click here.

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SANTA BARBARA, CA - A website is an essential landing page for anyone new to your company and is therefore one of the most important aspects of your business. Apeel Sciences knows this well, as it was recently recognized with a Best Website award at our annual Besties Awards event.

“We’re inspired by the beauty and innovation found in nature,” began Andi Georgiana, Apeel’s Senior Director of Brand Engagement and Experience, when I asked about the imagination that went into this site. “It’s what drives us as a company to develop solutions that extend the shelf-life of produce and make it accessible to more people. So, we set out to highlight the fruits and vegetables that are at the center of our mission and share them in a way that’s both delightful and new, adding an element of surprise to visitors coming to learn more about our products. In designing our site, our focus was on creating an immersive experience aligned to our core values, and delivering that in a modern and innovative way. We’re speaking to several different audiences, so we had to carefully consider a flow that enables anyone visiting the site to easily tailor their journey to the content they’re seeking.”

Andi noted that the website is one of the main opportunities to tell the company’s story and create an experience for its audience that feels aligned with the brand.

“As a global company, it’s a central place for people to seek out information and gain an understanding of what we’re all about,” she explained. “This is a key representation of what we value and how we support our customers and partners. With thousands of visitors each month, our site is an integral part of how we represent our brand and ensure our offering is clear.”

Over time, the website has developed to grow and evolve with Apeel.

“We’ve translated the site into several languages, updated imagery as our brand shifts and flows, and kept our storytelling fresh to best represent the state of our business at any given time. As with any growing business, we’re always evolving, and our site is reflective of that growth,” Andi concluded.

For the awards process, our team handles the initial nominations to ensure each nominee meets our stringent standards. We then share our nominees with our Besties committee.

The committee is composed of experienced retail buyers or individuals with substantial experience and knowledge in their respective fields. This year, they voted on every category except for one: Retailer of the Year. Each committee member received a ballot with three nominations for each award category. Based on their votes, we determine the winners of the Bestie Awards.

Congratulations once more to the Apeel team on this win!

BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - Many exciting products are coming to the Southern Innovations show floor this month. The event will be host to many leading produce providers, including Oppy. I recently got in touch with the grower-marketer-distributor’s Sydney Schutkowski, Senior Business Development Representative, to hear what’s in store for the show.

“As we head into the homestretch of 2024, we’re excited to showcase some of our fall- and winter-centric items like Ocean Spray cranberries, Divemex organic peppers, and Envy™ and JAZZ™ apples,” Sydney told me. “Additionally, we'll preview some exciting deals launching in Q1, such as our imported cherries, grapes, and stonefruit. Zespri green and SunGold™ kiwifruit will also be front and center as we wrap up another exciting New Zealand season.”

Southern Innovations provides many opportunities to connect with fellow industry members, and Sydney and her team will absolutely be taking advantage.

“I'm getting excited about attending the Southern Roots Women’s Luncheon,” she said. “Having recently completed my Enneagram test in preparation, I'm eager to engage in discussions on how to leverage this knowledge to advance my career professionally, as well as use it personally. With the luncheon and other educational sessions on the agenda, I’m looking forward to an insightful few days of learning from industry experts and staying updated on the ever-evolving industry.”

As a first-time attendee of the event, Sydney offers a unique perspective.

“I'm excited to connect with retailers in this dynamic environment and start planning for 2025 before the holiday season craziness begins. I’m eager to use this time in September to network with peers and industry professionals, gain insights into the latest trends and innovations, and explore new products. The Nashville backdrop adds an extra layer of excitement and creativity to the experience!” Sydney added.

With a dynamic few months ahead and several key deals on the horizon, Sydney hopes Oppy’s booth visitors walk away feeling inspired to partner on creative promotions during this pivotal period.

As we inch closer toward the show, keep up with the latest from ANUK.

AUSTIN, TX - There are few things worse than getting halfway through preparing a meal only to realize you are missing just a few key ingredients. H-E-B is making sure this is no longer a reality for its customers with the launch of H-E-B Now, an innovative, on-demand grocery delivery feature that allows shoppers to satisfy their last-minute grocery needs. The offering is available exclusively in the Favor Delivery app, H-E-B’s on-demand delivery app designed specifically for Texas shoppers.

"This new service strengthens our commitment to delivering Texas hospitality throughout our home state by offering Texans a quick and convenient way to tackle their last-minute grocery needs from their favorite grocery retailer—H-E-B," said Chris Rogge, Favor's Senior Director of Brand and Creative. "We are dedicated to delivering the best service and selection to Texans no matter what their delivery needs are, and there is no better way to showcase this than through our All in Favor campaign."

Shoppers on Favor can browse a variety of offerings with H-E-B Now’s search feature, including fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and eggs, meat and seafood, pantry items, and more. Customers can then have up to 15 items delivered in 45 minutes or less, according to Yahoo! Finance.

As part of this launch, H-E-B is highlighting its newest offering with the All in Favor campaign featuring a host of playful TV ads. As the source noted, the campaign will run throughout the state of Texas on connected and linear broadcast TV, as well as digital media and social media platforms. This is the latest installment in H-E-B’s growing "How Texas Orders In" platform, which launched in August 2023.

Keep reading ANUK for more launches straight from the retail sector.

SOUTH AFRICA - A recent update shared by Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) revealed key insights into the provider’s supply chain. Boet Mouton, Director at Mouton Citrus and Chairman of the SCSA Board of Directors, was highlighted in a video shared with the industry.

“For us, the important part is to be your reliable, high-quality, consistent citrus supplier for the complete summer season,” said Mouton. “By working together, we take a lot of risk out of the total supply chain, and we have the ability to 1) honor our commitments, and 2) make sure you have fresh fruit on your shelf every week.”

According to SCSA’s reporting, the supplier has now shipped almost 75 percent of its citrus volumes planned for the United States market. Maintaining a flexible mindset, the organization is ready to adapt to unforeseen supply chain delays and weather.

The announcement went on to note that SCSA attributes its success to its high-quality fruit, sophisticated supply chain, real-time communication to the trade, and trusted partners.

Check out the full video with Boet Mouton above, and keep reading ANUK for more industry updates.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - When it comes to customer service and taking care of its partners, Allen Lund Company (ALC) is always standing out as a powerful transportation and logistics ally. This unwavering company commitment is further highlighted by the transportation broker’s most recent recognition, earning the title of 2024 Customer Service Carrier of the Year from Coca-Cola.

“A heartfelt 'thank you' to everyone involved in the Carrier Conference this year,” Eddie Lund, President of ALC stated. “It was a productive format and a great venue, and we appreciated the accessibility that we were afforded from everyone at Coca-Cola.”

The award was presented to the transportation provider during Coca-Cola's recent Annual Carrier Conference, a press release shared.

“Winning the 'Customer Service Carrier of the Year' award was a huge highlight, and we are grateful for the recognition,” Lund added. “It means a great deal to us, and it validates the hard work of everyone at Coca-Cola and ALC. We strive to be a strategic partner and will continue to provide solutions.”

We at AndNowUKnow extend our congratulations to the company on this well-deserved recognition. Cheers to many more accolades to come!

WASCO, CA - The phrase “field day” brings excitement to most ears, and what this report shares is no different, as more than 250 grower licensees, retailers, and media partners joined Sun World International for its Mid- to Late-Season Table Grape Field Day. This annual event was hosted at Sun World’s Center for Innovation in Wasco, California, and gave licensed growers and marketers the opportunity to see mid- to late-season varieties in a setting similar to what they would see in its vineyards.

“Sun World’s Field Day was a milestone in the company’s history as we introduced the EPIC CRISP® and APPLAUSE™ brands. It was a privilege to showcase these brands to over 250 of our partners from around the globe,” said Jen Sanchez, Vice President of Marketing, Sun World. “We are excited to see these brands grow in prominence in the coming years as production volumes increase worldwide.”

Sun World shared a behind-the-scenes look at their commercial, semi-commercial, and pipeline grape varieties in commercial vineyards as well as at their test block at the Center for Innovation, a press release shared. The EPIC CRISP and APPLAUSE brands enables producers, marketers, and retailers to increase sales by delivering retailers and consumers a high-quality, delicious, and consistent eating experience.

“It was an honor to be part of the first audience to have exposure to the EPIC CRISP and APPLAUSE branding at Sun World’s Field Day,” said Mecia Petersen, Market Development and Communications Manager, South Africa Table Grape Industry. “Exciting developments are happening in the table grape space, and we look forward to seeing what's next.”

Here is a breakdown of the brand characteristics and flavor profiles of APPLAUSE and EPIC CRISP:

• APPLAUSE: Sugrafiftyfour variety, marketed under the APPLAUSE brand, is a mid-season green seedless variety that brings an unexpected twist with its sweet, tropical fruity flavor. APPLAUSE offers a unique series of limited-edition red, green, and black seedless grapes with different shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors
• EPIC CRISP: Sugrafiftysix variety, marketed under the EPIC CRISP brand, is a green seedless variety available during the mid-season that offers consumers a serious crunch with every bite, bursting with sweet, juicy goodness

In addition to exploring innovative varieties, attendees had the unique opportunity to witness Tortuga’s cutting-edge automated robots harvesting grapes in Sun World’s fields, which was a first-time experience for many. The field day also brought attention to the beloved AUTUMNCRISP® brand.

“We know and love AUTUMNCRISP grapes, and now it's time for consumers to experience and savor them by name,” said Kyle Hackett, President, Dayka & Hackett. “Sun World's AUTUMNCRISP® grape marketing campaign showcased how strong grower partnerships and a well-executed retail strategy can elevate an exceptional product from vineyard to the forefront of consumer demand.”

Certainly a field day to remember! AndNowUKnow keeps a pulse on all the latest happening in the industry, so keep clicking back for more.