ENCINO, CA - Have you ever seen an artichoke Christmas tree? Or a shopper reaching for some apples with a pie recipe in-hand? These are just a couple signs that the holidays are alive and well in the produce department. As buyers and suppliers alike ramp up for the holiday rush, I got in touch with John Savidan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral at Gelson’s Markets.
“It’s really no surprise that our number one holiday category is what we label as ‘cooking vegetables.’ So many of our customers are foodies and enjoy cooking fresh, quality meals at home,” John explained. “This category does very well all year long, but really thrives during the holidays when customers want to cook at home and impress their guests. The cooking vegetable category is followed in order by salads, hard fruit (we group citrus, apples, and pears here), cut fruit, and then berries.”
Gelson’s makes every shopping experience a glorious event, building large, impactful displays in high-traffic areas that show extreme levels of detail and craftsmanship. According to John, these impeccably manicured displays are what customers have grown to love and cherish when shopping the grocer’s produce departments.
“We pride ourselves on making sure everything is perfectly hand stacked and that we touch every item that makes its way onto the sales floor,” he continued. “Our wet racks with all of the different vibrant colors are very hard to ignore and resist when shopping for the holidays. It’s important to note that especially during the holidays, you will find some form of thematic merchandising, whether it’s a Christmas tree made out of artichokes or asparagus, or even a fresh cranberry bog.”
Gelson’s is selective with its POS signage in an effort to let the quality of the products speak for themselves. Instead, the retailer utilizes grower boxes, which help communicate and create freshness when building large displays.
“A lot of the time, the boxes act like silent salesmen and help us tell the story, especially when locally sourced,” John said. “Over the years, these grower boxes end up representing seasonality, and when our customers see them they know they can expect the very best.”
That quality remains a central focus for Gelson’s produce department, and its supplier partners are an integral piece of the puzzle.
“All of our suppliers know quality is king when making it into our stores, and they know we will not settle for anything less than the very best,” John noted. “The holidays are a great time for suppliers to showcase their top items and show retailers as well as customers what they have to offer. It’s no secret the holidays are the busiest time of the year for everyone, and getting quality products out in front of customers when the foot traffic is at its highest is very beneficial.”
Take it from John: This is one time of year when sales are not to be taken for granted. ANUK will continue bringing you the industry’s strongest holiday strategies, so keep a tab open for us.
CALIFORNIA - On Wednesday of last week, we received word that heavy precipitation would be hitting regions across Northern California over this past weekend. With those weather events seemingly behind us here in the upper half of the state, we turned to our industry friends down south to hear how they are faring.
“We are rained out of most items today (Monday) and expect harvest to be slow tomorrow when we anticipate being able to get back in the field,” said Joe Angelo, Director of Sales at Ocean Mist® Farms, in a statement to ANUK. “Warmer temperatures and dryer weather is expected mid to late week, which will help, but we do expect quality to be impacted. To what extent remains to be seen.”
According to a report from Weather Mission, heavy rain is expected to continue today for Southern Californians. Total levels of precipitation are expected to be one to three inches of rain, with levels reaching as high as five inches on southwest-facing slopes.
Following the downpour, growing regions in California should see clearer skies as the week progresses. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 30s to 40s, with high pressure returning to the region.
"We don’t think there will be flooding but we’ve seen about one inch of rain in King City and up to 2.5 inches in Salinas," Church Brothers Farms' Vice President of Ag Operations, Josh Ruiz, told us. "The fields are wet and muddy, so it will be a challenge to get out into the fields and harvest over the next few days. However, with no more rain on the forecast for the rest of the week, we’re hoping the fields will dry up by late Wednesday afternoon/early Thursday morning."
Other growers we checked in with report similar weather patterns, with the heaviest rain touching down today, meaning we will be checking in once again tomorrow when the showers have subsided.
To all of our industry friends experiencing an influx of wet weather this month, we wish the very best outcome for you and your crops.
FRESNO, CA - Celebratory bells are ringing out for Baloian Farms, as the provider has received an incredibly prestigious agricultural award. The Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno County Farm Bureau have named the recipients of their 2021 Ag Awards, recognizing the irreplaceable role produce plays in the region.
“I am humbled to receive this prestigious award and graciously accept it on behalf of all those involved in our daily operations at Baloian Farms,” Chief Executive Officer Tim Baloian said to ANUK. “We are family-owned and operated and have been blessed through the years to work alongside the most dedicated, talented, and innovative people in the produce industry. In accepting this award, I want to acknowledge all of those involved in our success, but above all, I must give glory to God who has blessed us over the 104 years and generations we have been in business.”
Baloian was awarded with the Moss Adams Agribusiness of the Year Award, which will be officially distributed at the Ag Awards Celebration on November 10. The farm-to-table dinner event celebrates the contributions of the agricultural industry and honors those who uphold the region’s high caliber.
A release stated that the Agribusiness of the Year Award was created in 1996. Other awards in the series include the Agriculturist of the Year Award, Advocate of the Year Award, and Agricultural Employee of the Year.
Congratulations to Baloian Farms on this well-deserved recognition!
REEDLEY, CA - With holiday recipes calling for tons of delicious citrus varieties, consumers are in luck, as Fruit World is reporting a robust citrus season, with promotable volumes of its organic lemons anticipated through early March, in addition to its diverse lineup of conventional Mandarins, organic oranges, and organic specialty citrus. As it brings these beloved varieties to produce aisle displays, the citrus maven is also teasing an organic expansion to meet the heightened needs of consumers.
“This year’s organic lemon crop is looking very strong—both in terms of volume and quality—and we’re seeing exceptional taste, appearance, and juiciness,” shared Bianca Kaprielian, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s desert volume makes for great ad opportunities through March, with our Central Valley ranches filling out availability through May.”
In addition to an abundant supply of high-quality lemons, Fruit World is also expecting a strong organic specialty citrus program this year, as noted in a press release.
“This is our second year offering organic sweet limes, and we are already delivering promotable volumes which should last into December,” added Kaprielian. “This variety pairs the classic fresh lime flavor with exceptional sweetness, making them perfect for juicing, as a salad topping, or even cut into wedges as a snack because they are so sweet.”
Fruit World will kick off its Mandarin program in early November, beginning with stem and leaf Satsumas and the company’s proprietary Early Dulce Mandarin variety. Organic Satsumas and Clementines will start in November, with additional varieties available into April. The supplier is expecting a lighter-than-typical Mandarin season this year, with excessive heat in May and June and last year’s large crop set affecting this year’s bloom industry-wide.
“To establish high flavor and exceptional color right from the start of the season, we plan to start shipping Mandarins and Navels about two weeks later than usual and have a slightly earlier end to the season,” noted CJ Buxman, Co-Founder and Organic Citrus Grower. “This shift also allows us to ensure an uninterrupted supply of high-quality fruit throughout the season.”
Navel oranges will begin shipping at the end of this month, followed by Minneola Tangelos in early December, with the season rounding out with Cara Caras and Blood oranges in January.
Complementing its diverse lineup of citrus varieties, Fruit World has already begun shipping its popular organic Rio Red grapefruit variety.
“Our California-grown Rio Reds are top-notch quality and have beautiful interior color. We’ve seen strong demand, partly due to last season’s freeze in Mexico and Texas which affected the overall grapefruit supply,” said Buxman.
As the company looks ahead to the future, Fruit World will be expanding its specialty citrus program by planting organic Mandarinquats, Kumquats, Lemonade lemons, and more, which will be available in upcoming seasons.
In addition, the grower is transitioning a significant amount of Mandarin and Navel acreage from conventional to organic, including Heirloom Navels, which are in their second year of transition.
AndNowUKnow will keep an eye on Fruit World as it furthers its expansion strategy to continue bringing high-quality citrus varieties to market, so stay tuned.
MIAMI, FL - Operational growth is underway as WP Produce works to take its Desbry® Tropical Avocado brand to new heights with new strategies and investments. In its latest move to boost the sustainability of its operations, the supplier has implemented solar power at its Bonao, Dominican Republic, facility to increase sustainability in the Caribbean region.
"Our packing and shipping compound in the province of Bonao, which is the largest, state-of-the-art tropical avocado facility in the region, is now energy independent. Since June 2021, our new 20,000-kilowatt, renewable solar power installation has been producing more than 100 percent of the electricity needed to power the facility," said Christopher Gonzalez, Vice President of Sales. "During peak solar production, our excess power generation is going back to the power grid to support the local community."
As a premium distributor of tropical avocados in the U.S. and a distinguished packer and shipper in the Dominican Republic, WP Produce is on a mission to improve sustainability throughout the Caribbean nation, as noted in a press release. The implementation of solar panels at its facility marks a major milestone toward the company’s initiatives to boost sustainability in the Dominican Republic, as well as supporting its employees.
"In addition to moving toward energy independence and reducing our carbon footprint throughout our supply chain, we have a focus on improving the lives of our workers,” Gonzalez added. “We have significant worker welfare initiatives including increased wages, supporting community medical clinics, and providing our workers and their families with food and water.”
Tropical avocados are a staple in the Caribbean and tropical regions around the globe and have been gaining traction across the country, driving demand in the U.S. and increasing the need for WP Produce’s energy-saving strategies as it supplies consumers with bright green, high-quality Desbry Tropical Avocados.
Stay tuned with AndNowUKnow, as we promise to report on the latest moves and strategies in the fresh produce industry.
BERLIN, GERMANY - The grocery delivery sector is growing as Gorillas, a leader in instant on-demand grocery delivery in Europe, has raised nearly $1 billion in a recent Series C funding round. This pivotal investment comes just seven months after the grocery innovator successfully raised $290 million in its Series B funding in March 2021. As it continues to expand, Gorillas has recently bolstered its global senior leadership team, appointing strong operators to facilitate the company’s future sustainable growth.
According to a press release, the Series C funding round was led by European delivery champion Delivery Hero, and included further investments by its existing investors Coatue Management, DST Global, Tencent, Atlantic Food Labs, Fifth Wall, Greenoaks, A*, and new investors G Squared, Alanda Capital, Macquarie Capital, MSA Capital, and Thrive Capital.
“The size of today’s funding round by an extraordinary investment consortium underscores the tremendous market potential that lies ahead of us,” said Kağan Sümer, Chief Executive Officer and Founder. “With Delivery Hero, we have chosen strong strategic support that is deeply rooted in the global delivery market and is renowned for having a unique experience in sustainably scaling a German company internationally. We have the best team in our sector, leading partners, and financial resources to strengthen our market-leading position in Europe and beyond.”
Since its inception in June 2020, Gorillas has seen rapid growth, expanding to over 180 warehouses in nine international markets and delivering over 4.5 million orders in the past six months alone.
Now, the company is building on this recent success with its next phase of development, generating a scalable and robust business infrastructure while accelerating future growth. With this recent investment, the company will work to reinforce its footprint in existing markets while investing more deeply in its operations, people, technology, marketing, and finance infrastructures to help it continuously deliver an excellent customer experience.
“Gorillas has been setting new standards for the delivery industry by offering an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional grocers,” said Niklas Östberg, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Delivery Hero. “We have been following their stellar growth over the past few months, and we are beyond excited to be now part of their journey. Both of our companies place a lot of value on creating a strong sense of community, and we are convinced that our investment will positively impact employees, consumers, as well as our industry.”
This investment also raises questions about Gorillas’ upcoming growth in the North American market, as the company announced its expansion into the U.S. back in May. As grocery delivery becomes increasingly popular, the company’s ambitious growth strategy will also increase access to fresh produce in the communities it serves.
AndNowUKnow promises to keep you up to date on all sectors in the fresh produce industry, so keep clicking back.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Happy National Nut Day, ANUK readers! Like many consumers, this trade news writer will be celebrating with a handful of delicious pistachios. Wonderful® Pistachios is taking part in the festivities as well, as Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) data shows that the category experienced a +14 percent change from the previous year, with the pistachio purveyor alone contributing 96 percent of that revenue growth.
“We’re so excited to see Wonderful Pistachios as the leading snack nut brand in America, and we’re doubling down to continue this momentum,” shared Adam Cooper, Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Consumers are investing more in premium, healthier snacks, so we’re investing more in the category with a multi-million-dollar integrated marketing campaign.”
To highlight not only the growth of the category, but Wonderful Pistachios’ impressive success in the sector, the supplier has launched a giveaway on Instagram. Today only, any Instagram user who both follows @wonderfulpistachios and comments on its National Nut Day post with their favorite flavor of Wonderful Pistachios In-Shell or No Shells variety will be automatically entered to win a complimentary package of their favorite Wonderful Pistachios variety along with one bag of each of the four Wonderful Pistachios No Shells flavors of Sea Salt & Vinegar, BBQ, Honey Roasted, and Chili Roasted. According to a press release, twenty-two winners will be selected at random during the giveaway.
This campaign will build on the category’s current upward trajectory, as Wonderful Pistachios No Shells flavors generated 85 percent of total flavored snack nuts category growth this past year. After the company’s initial launch of Roasted & Salted and Lightly Salted, and then subsequent flavor unveilings of Honey Roasted and Chili Roasted in 2019, and Sea Salt & Vinegar and BBQ in March of this year, Wonderful Pistachios has seen record weekly growth and a consistently growing demand for healthy and high-quality snacks.
“After being stuck at home for so long, people demanded more variety and availability from their favorite premium snacks, and so we’ve made decisive efforts to tackle just that. As we look ahead, our priorities are to continue the plant protein conversation, focus on pistachios as a better-for-you snack, especially throughout football season as a key snacking occasion, highlight the diverse In-Shell and No Shells flavors, and ensure availability of our product to retailers and consumers,” said Cooper. “We are supporting all of this with a fully integrated marketing strategy that includes our popular No Shells campaign, featuring Sheldon the turtle, returning to TV in addition to our ‘Greener Source’ plant protein TV campaign, digital and social media, FSIs, PR, and in-store POS.”
As consumers continue to seek out healthy snacking options, pistachios present themselves as a smart snack option, known for plant protein power, fiber, and better-for-you unsaturated fats.
Don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate this mouthwatering holiday, and happy National Nut Day to all!
NORTH AMERICA - What better way to enjoy the Northern Hemisphere’s chilly fall weather than by curling up with the October issue of The Snack Magazine? We may be a bit biased, but something about reading these stories has us in the mood for a seasonal celebration of sorts. So, grab your magnifying glass and maybe a coffee (or two) and get searching for the ANUK logo hidden on the cover of our October issue.
Don’t have the physical copy? Click here to view the digital version on our site.
Once you’ve tracked down that little apple logo, send your selfie over to us at [email protected] with the subject line “FOUND the Apple Logo” to join the running for the $100 cash prize.
As a reminder, the contest only begins once we have officially announced it on ANUK, and the criteria for winning is as follows:
- Your FOUND the Apple Logo photo must include your face
- And your finger must be pointing to the AndNowUKnow apple logo
If your photo lands in our inbox ahead of everyone else’s, you could join the winners’ circle, along with some other quick produce pros, including:
- Dani Loustalot, of Jacobs Farm del Cabo (reigning supply-side champion)
- Joseph Parziale of Bozzuto’s (reigning buy-side champion)
- Rachelle Schulken of Renaissance Food Group
- Betty Tomao of The Save Mart Companies
- Dustin Meloche of Nature Fresh Farms
- Danny Ortiz of Sysco
The fun doesn’t stop at the cover. Make this Friday a relaxing one by jumping into your favorite chair and getting lost in this issue. Whether you track down the apple logo or not, we know you will find joy within these pages, and hopefully some inspiration, too.
To subscribe to The Snack, valued at $129 per year, please click here. We hope to see you in our inboxes very soon!
AMES, IA - As more suppliers in the fresh produce industry make the strategic move to year-round production, the need to partner with growers in countries south of the border is essential. Furthering the agricultural relationship between the United States and Mexico, the United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos recently concluded a bilateral meeting in Ames, Iowa, and have released a joint statement.
“We reaffirm the importance of our two nations’ exceptional agricultural trading relationship and its role in supporting rural prosperity; creating good jobs; and providing nutritious, safe, and affordable food to consumers in both countries,” said the leaders. “Thanks to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and our hard-working farmers and ranchers, our nations enjoy the world’s largest two-way trade in food and agricultural goods.”
The statement continued, noting how these two governments have a responsibility to protect the agricultural supply chain.
“The integrated nature of our two agricultural sectors serves as a driving force for this enduring trading partnership, linking farmers, ranchers, and consumers on both sides of the border,” they stated. “Our discussions in Iowa highlighted the importance of continuing to work together to advance rural prosperity and to fulfill our shared responsibility to protect our agricultural systems and producers. This includes collaborative efforts to prevent the spread of African swine fever and other animal and plant diseases and pests.”
The Secretaries of Agriculture added, “From excessive drought to more extreme fires, our farmers, ranchers, and producers are on the front lines dealing with the increasingly urgent challenges of climate change. Agriculture faces the daunting task of producing more food to meet the nutritional needs of a growing world population while at the same time coping with climate change and ever-tightening natural resource constraints. We are confident that our agricultural sectors will be a key part of the solution, with a focus on a more inclusive rural development and continuing to provide good incomes to rural workers and plentiful supplies of high-quality agricultural products to consumers worldwide.”
Vilsack and Villalobos concluded with a forward-looking statement.
“We share a commitment to keeping our markets open and transparent so that trade can continue to grow. That mutual commitment was reaffirmed in our discussions today. We remain proud of our shared successes and equally steadfast in meeting common challenges together,” they said.
What will this strengthened alliance entail for the agriculture industries in both the U.S. and Mexico going forward? AndNowUKnow will keep you apprised of the latest information.
CINCINNATI, OH - As the retail space becomes more and more competitive, the need for powerful marketing tools is essential. In an effort to help agencies and brands reach target audiences, Kroger’s retail media business, Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) powered by 84.51º, has launched a new private programmatic advertising marketplace that allows users to apply Kroger audience data to campaigns within their preferred ad-buying platforms.
“We built The Kroger Private Marketplace to be flexible for agencies—while protecting the privacy of our shoppers,” said Cara Pratt, Senior Vice President, Kroger Precision Marketing at 84.51°. “You design the audience, choose the measurement criteria, set the safety standards, and activate in your tech stack. We’re setting the bar for the future of programmatic media.”
Serving over 60 million households annually, Kroger is one of the country’s largest retailers, providing access to a wide consumer base. According to a press release, the Kroger Private Marketplace will make buying easier while offering advertisers flexibility, speed, and control of their campaigns. Through the service, brands can now reach the most relevant shoppers across the web, using their own DSP of choice and optimizing performance against actual retail sales.
Through the platform, advertisers will be able to tailor their audiences to match their campaign objectives using targeting science that is exclusive to Kroger Precision Marketing. In effect, the platform pre-optimizes audiences to achieve business outcomes.
The Kroger Private Marketplace offers advertisers access to:
- Targeting solutions and audience science to reach relevant households
- Retail performance metrics such as sales lift, new buyers, and household penetration
- Quality controls including verification and brand safety tagging
An example provided in the release states that when aiming for conversions, the targeting science of Kroger Precision Marketing will enable brands to reach relevant households that will offer the strongest sales impact. These activations have resulted in household penetration gains from new and lapsed households, with at least three times more sales than the average consumer.
“We’re still in the early days of seeing e-commerce disrupt shopping habits,” continued Pratt. “This is an important time for brands to leverage retail insights to influence new shopping behaviors. Kroger’s private marketplace reaches relevant households and empowers teams to optimize campaign performance against actual business outcomes.”
The new platform furthers Kroger Precision Marketing’s commitment to safeguarding consumer data by utilizing a deal ID which enables appropriate programmatic use while still giving agencies the flexibility to activate across several platforms.
Publicis Groupe was the first holding company to participate in the alpha tests for the product, helping to shape the offering for not only its clients but the broader industry.
“Brands are looking for ways to tap first-party retail data and reduce ad waste,” says Helen Lin, Chief Digital Officer, Publicis Groupe. “The Kroger Private Marketplace uses retail sales data to unlock new optimization levers for programmatic buyers—while still giving them the flexibility to manage the campaign in our existing tech stack.”
As Kroger continues to expand in the marketing and advertising sector, AndNowUKnow will share the latest updates.