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WENATCHEE, WA - The gift of Christmas cheer is priceless, and Stemilt and Hansen Fruit are spreading this and more in Washington state. For the program's ninth year, the two have joined forces to donate gifts to foster children, distributing presents to a total of 146 foster kids in the Wenatchee and Yakima communities.
“We are very grateful for the team members at Stemilt and Hansen Fruit to provide gifts to the area’s foster children,” said Stemilt President, West Mathison. “The gift drive has become a beloved Christmas tradition between our two companies and demonstrates our aligned values around supporting our communities. The stories we hear from social workers are incredibly heartwarming and inspiring.”
Those receiving the donations are all under the care of Washington State’s Department of Youth and Family Services, Fostering Solutions, K Connections, and Foster First.
This is the fourth year that Hansen Fruit has joined Stemilt to help make Christmas morning a memorable experience. Stemilt donated gifts to a total of 113 children while Hansen Fruit supported 33 kids at the Foster First agency in Yakima.
Kathryn Bolyard, organizer of the donation at Stemilt, took charge of the program in 2014, a press release explained. Prior to partnering with Hansen Fruit, Stemilt supported its highest number of foster children in 2017, reaching a total of 188 kids. In 2018, Bolyard connected with Kyler Hansen, Operations Manager at Hansen Fruit in Yakima, who gladly accepted the partnership.
“Our Stemilters strive to alleviate the expenses of Christmas by gifting anything from bicycles to barbie dolls,” said Bolyard. “The holidays are an expensive time for everyone, and many of these foster homes have multiple children. I’m overwhelmed by the astounding generosity I see every year from my fellow co-workers. Our staff looks forward to donating each year, and I usually have several eager individuals come to me for the list of foster children before I even receive it.”
Hansen also commented on this meaningful partnership and the donations made as a result.
“It will be five years in May that Stemilt and Hansen Fruit have been partners,” explained Hansen. “The compassion that Stemilt has shown their community has rubbed off on us, and our goal is to put a smile on every kid’s face on Christmas morning. It’s great to be able to help these kids who have struggled in their upbringing. We started receiving letters last year from foster children expressing their gratitude, and it was really special to hear how much it means to them.”
As the holiday season can be an uncertain time for many foster children, this partnership ventures to help kids build a healthier relationship with Christmas. Venus Lomeli, Director of Community Engagement at Foster First, and Director of Thrift Leah Hilaire, shared their experiences as they picked up the gifts provided by Hansen Fruit on December 16.
Click here to read their thoughts and reactions to Stemilt’s contribution.
Looking toward the 10th year of the program, I am sure that Stemilt and Hansen Fruit will achieve even more holiday success.
COMMERCE, CA - With strategic changes taking place under its roof, Smart & Final is preparing for transformation across its leadership team. The retailer recently announced that current Chief Operating Officer, Scott Drew, will take on the role as President as Dave Hirz, current President and Chief Executive Officer, prepares to retire on February 1, 2022.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead our exceptional team of associates and build upon Smart & Final’s 150-year-old history,” said Drew. “Our differentiated offering, which attracts both business and household customers, put us in a unique position to grow the business and capitalize on our momentum during the past few years.”
Drew joined Smart & Final in March 2010, and has occupied the role of COO since June 2020. In 1977, the retail expert began his career as a courtesy clerk. With almost 45 years clocked in the grocery industry, Drew also served as Vice President of Store Operations for The Kroger Company in Indianapolis, where he managed more than 150 stores across five states, according to a press release.
Drew’s appointment follows the recent announcement that the company’s current President and CEO, Dave Hirz, will be stepping down after almost 12 years.
Hirz began his work in the food industry at the age of 16, and has had a successful career occupying positions such as President at both Ralphs and Food For Less. Hirz joined Smart & Final as President and COO in 2010, and was promoted to CEO in 2012.
“I’m proud to have led such a successful and storied brand,” said Hirz. “The grocery industry has changed completely since I joined Smart & Final almost 12 years ago, and it’s a testament to our leadership team and our amazing associates that we have weathered these changes and become the strong brand that we are today. Scott is a remarkable leader, and I’m delighted to be leaving Smart & Final in his hands."
Honored for his distinguished career, Hirz was recognized as the 2015 Food Industry Executive of the Year by the University of Southern California, and is a past recipient of numerous awards, including Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America Good Scout Award, California State University, Fullerton’s Vision and Visionary award, Olive Crest’s Founders Award, and the National Conference for Community and Justices’ Humanitarian of the Year Award.
“Dave Hirz is a legend in the grocery industry, and we are grateful for his leadership during his many years of service,” said Carlos Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chedraui USA, formerly known as Bodega Latina, which comprises the organization's United States-based store banners Smart & Final, El Super, and Fiesta Mart. “He led this business through the expansion of our Extra! store format, the introduction of e-commerce and delivery, and the challenges of a worldwide pandemic. He has left an indelible mark on Smart & Final, and his numerous contributions will not be forgotten.”
As Drew steps into the role of President following Hirz’s retirement, he will utilize his experience in the retail industry to forge new opportunities for the Smart & Final brand.
“Smart & Final’s unique go-to-market strategy and 150-year-old legacy truly resonates with consumers,” Smith added. “We are pleased to announce Scott’s promotion as President of Smart & Final. His deep industry experience and years of operational leadership at Smart & Final will drive the brand’s continued success.”
Congratulations to Scott Drew on this recent appointment, and to Dave Hirz on his upcoming retirement! We here at ANUK wish you both nothing but success!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Jingle bells won’t be the only things rocking around the house this year, as consumers will be dancing their socks off when they hear that Kroger delivery is coming to the Indianapolis, Indiana, area. The retailer is growing its fulfilment network with a new facility that will extend its delivery “spoke” and bring fresh food to more doorsteps.
“We’re proud to welcome the Kroger fulfillment network to Indiana,” said Colleen Juergensen, President of Kroger’s Central Division. “The new service is a wonderful addition to the expanding digital experience available to Kroger customers. The network’s delivery spoke will provide unmatched customer service and improve access to fresh food in areas eager for the variety and value offered by Kroger.”
The 48,000-square-foot facility will collaborate with the “hub” in Monroe, Ohio, to connect customers with fresh food. At launch, Hoosiers in 35 Central Indiana ZIP codes can experience Kroger Delivery. The delivery network will also continue to leverage stores and third-party partners to deliver certain orders.
“This fulfillment center is another example of how Kroger is transforming e-commerce in the grocery industry using a vertically integrated network to provide a reliable and consistent delivery service that repeatedly receives favorable customer feedback like a best-in-class Net Promoter Score. Our expansion in Indiana represents our commitment to delivering fresh, affordable food in both existing and new geographies,” said Bill Bennett, Vice President and Head of E-commerce. “As our e-commerce business accelerates, we’re excited to continue expanding our reach and loyalty by delivering our customers an exceptional service for as little as $6.95 powered by high-tech facilities.”
Kroger’s expansion in Indianapolis represents an extension of a partnership between Kroger and Ocado, a press release noted. The delivery network relies on highly automated fulfillment centers. At the “hub” sites, more than 1,000 bots whizz around giant 3D grids, orchestrated by proprietary air-traffic control systems in the unlicensed spectrum.
To learn more about the new facility, click here.
AndNowUKnow will keep you informed of all happenings in the grocery retail world, so don’t go anywhere.
WASHINGTON, DC - Here at ANUK, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the supply chain hurdles and the actions the United States government has taken to alleviate the challenges. As we reported last month, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their administration announced a set of concrete steps to help the U.S. ports, waterways, and freight networks. The government is continuing to focus on these issues as the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted a roundtable discussion last week. In response, the United Fresh Produce Association voiced its support of the initiatives.
“United Fresh supports continued efforts by the Biden Administration to address the challenges impacting our West Coast ports that are vital to the fresh produce supply chain,” commented United Fresh in the release. “As Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg and [Tom] Vilsack say clearly in their letter, ‘The poor service and refusal to serve customers when the empty containers are clearly available is unacceptable.’ For both those engaged in imports or exports, the current situation is untenable. That is why United Fresh has also lent its support to the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which recently passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.”
In the letter, Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg and Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack urged the world’s leading ocean carriers to help mitigate disruptions to agricultural shippers of U.S. exports and relieve supply chain disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic by restoring reciprocal treatment of imports and exports and improving service.
To address the issues being faced on land, Buttigieg, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and White House National Economic Director Brian Deese met with trucking industry leaders at the White House on December 16. The discussion focused on efforts to retain and recruit new drivers and address other longstanding workforce challenges.
“In addition, United Fresh is encouraged by Secretary Buttigieg’s collaboration with the trucking industry to find solutions to help address labor challenges to ensure we have a workforce to feed our country and ensure that American consumers have access to our industry’s bounty of fresh produce,” continued the association. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and Congress to address these challenges throughout our supply chain.”
Keep an eye out for ANUK as we report on the latest development concerning all things fresh.
WASHINGTON, DC - Multiple companies in the fresh produce industry recently had sanctions imposed on them by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The three companies were sanctioned for allegedly failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards totaling $50,869.
These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Promised Land Farms, operating out of Corona, California, for failing to pay a $22,269 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Juan Carlos Torres was listed as a member of the business
- Los Traviesos Produce, operating out of Los Angeles, California, for failing to pay a $21,600 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Laura Villegas was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
- Fresh by Nature, operating out of Norco, California, for failing to pay a $7,000 award in favor of a Missouri seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Manuel Pinon was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
For contact information, and to read the release in full, click here.
NORTH AMERICA - ’Tis the season to give—in hope, in gratitude, and in merriment. And we can’t think of anything much merrier than a contest and yearbook to see what the produce industry might have hidden in its holiday closet. Yes, we are hosting an Ugly Sweater Contest!
Of the submissions, two will ultimately be selected, one each from the buy-side and supply-side of our industry, for $100 cash. While the more festive the better, if you are lacking in tinsel and bows, a sweater that you think might be worthy of an Urkel costume will certainly suffice. The more variety, the more we all come out winners.
No lumps of coal here, all photos will be displayed in our Holiday Yearbook, so get to trimming, hot-gluing, and strike a pose.
Please send your yearbook photo submissions to [email protected] by Friday, December 24, at 3 p.m. PST, and the final winners will be selected before we ring in the New Year.
We cannot wait to see what we are about to be served by this unique industry that always puts the “play” in work hard, play harder!
EMERYVILLE, CA - Fortifying your leadership is one of the best ways to advance your growth strategies. This is precisely what Grocery Outlet has done, as the company recently announced that Pamela Burke will become its new Chief Stores Officer, which is a newly created position.
Burke previously served as Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. According to a press release, she will enter her new role as of January 1, 2022, and will report to RJ Sheedy, President. In this role, she will be responsible for the support of and relations with independent operators and their stores across all geographies.
The new Chief is a proven leader who has deep experience with the company’s independent operator model and understands the importance of promoting independent operator autonomy and maintaining a strong, collaborative relationship.
Concurrently, Heather Mayo, Chief Sales and Merchandising Officer - East, has made the decision to leave Grocery Outlet in early March 2022. Mayo will be transitioning her responsibilities to functional leaders at the local and corporate level.
These changes are expected to support the company’s growing team of independent operators and the expansion of its store base nationally.
Through the use of enterprise-wide resources, combined with the ongoing commitment to localized decision-making, Grocery Outlet will continue to be well-positioned to drive sustained growth and profitability.
Chief Executive Officer Eric Lindberg commented on these operational shifts.
"2021 marks Grocery Outlet’s 75th year in business and at the heart of our success has been the knowledge, skill, and autonomy of our independent operators," said Lindberg. "As we look ahead toward our next 75 years of growth, this new organizational structure allows us to more effectively support our operators in growing their businesses while facilitating local decision-making and independent operator independence. Pam has done an exceptional job leading several business functions and coordinating support to our independent operators. As such, I am confident she will make valuable contributions in her new role. I also want to thank Heather for her efforts during her tenure at Grocery Outlet and wish her the best in her future endeavors."
We wish the best of luck to these two Grocery Outlet executives!
WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA - Working to better provide the industry with sustainable solutions, LABELPAC uses all paper label materials for its PLU labels. The Canadian-based company wants to offer growers a solid solution in the wake of ever-changing anti-waste laws at home and abroad.
“Most companies either use plastic for labels and waste liners and others use paper for labels, but also use a plastic waste liner which is not environmentally safe,” stated Sam Sleiman, President. “LABELPAC has managed to keep both materials paper, which offers an environmentally safe solution.”
The company noted France’s passage of a law that becomes effective January 2022, which will ban all plastic stickers unless said stickers have been manufactured with home compostable materials or paper.
According to a release, LABELPAC is successfully eliminating all plastic in its PLU label manufacturing.
“Our waste liners are also paper—we use ZERO PLASTIC! We have been offering this for many years anticipating what the future has now proven to us. Any plastic is inferior to a long-term solution and cannot be compared to using paper,” continued Sleiman.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest updates across the industry.
WASHINGTON, DC - Several companies in the fresh produce industry recently had sanctions imposed on them by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The four companies were sanctioned for allegedly failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards totaling $113,870.
These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- JB Produce, operating out of Denver, Colorado, for failing to pay a $16,999 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Daniel Perez-Perez was listed as the member and/or major stockholder of the business
- UMV Foods Corporation, operating out of Doral, Florida, for failing to pay a $17,215 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Damian Vega was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
- Fong Shing International Corp., operating out of Maspeth, New York, for failing to pay a $53,540 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Minh Thai was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
- Mercatropic Corp., operating out of Mission, Texas, for failing to pay a $26,116 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Roberto De La Torre was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
For contact information, and to read the release in full, click here.