SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Continuing to sweep up new partners across the nation, Instacart has seen a boom in growth since the start of the pandemic, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. The online grocery platform announced that it will be joining with grocery retailer Meijer to launch a nationwide partnership that will offer same-day delivery from almost all of its stores to its members. Customers will now have the ability to order grocery and household items, as well as products from a plethora of other categories, to be delivered in as fast as an hour.
"Instacart's mission is to give customers access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. In 2020, this commitment has taken on an entirely new meaning as we continue to serve as an essential, same-day delivery service for millions of people across North America. Customers rely on Instacart to get the groceries and goods they need from the retailers they love, and today we're proud to welcome Meijer to our marketplace so they can further connect with their customers online," said Nilam Ganenthiran, President of Instacart. "Meijer is an iconic, family-owned grocer that has served families across the Midwest for more than 85 years. Through our new partnership, we're bringing Meijer's incredible selection online for customers, giving Meijer customers access to everything they need from the comfort and safety of their home."
Meijer shoppers across Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan are now able to shop from Meijer via Instacart and have their products delivered in the same day, according to a press release.
For every order placed through the platform, an Instacart personal shopper will pick and deliver the products within the customer's designated time frame. Shoppers will be able to receive their orders same-day or can schedule their delivery in advance.
With the addition of Meijer, Instacart has more than 500 local, regional, and national retailer partners and delivers from almost 40,000 store locations across the U.S. and Canada. As of 2020, Instacart is available to 85 percent of households in the U.S. and 70 percent of the households in Canada and can be used in more than 5,500 cities in North America.
As Instacart's popularity continues to skyrocket, which company will be the next to sign on as a partner? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we keep our ears to the newswire to bring you the answers.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The category-building Envy™ apple gave local retailers and shoppers a unique opportunity to share the festive cheer. Together with radio personality Ellen K, Envy partnered with Gelson’s Markets, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, and Bristol Farms to raise money this holiday season for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
“Our retail partners are best in class, not only for the top-quality products and service they deliver their customers, but for their charitable support, especially during an incredibly challenging year,” said Ambar Rodriguez, Senior Business Development Manager for Envy's marketer Oppy. “Their willingness to partner with Envy to raise money for their community demonstrates the outstanding generosity of the companies and people within the produce industry, especially in SoCal. And we simply can’t say enough about Ellen K’s kindness and generosity to CHLA. Her broadcast on Giving Tuesday warmed hearts and gave hope to listeners across Los Angeles and the U.S.”
In conjunction with CHLA’s user-focused donation links and text messaging, Envy matched a portion of the retailers’ Envy sales during the promotional period and presented its combined contribution to CHLA on behalf of the participating retailers. Another Giving Tuesday sponsor, Blueair, matched Envy’s donation, bringing the total to $20,000.
According to the press release, the effort included customized in-store signage, social media, special Ellen K video endorsements, and promotions which took place throughout the month of November, leading up to Ellen K’s live annual broadcast on “Giving Tuesday” on December 1 on her top-rated KOST 103.5 “The Ellen K Morning Show.”
Ellen K’s KOST 103.5 Giving Tuesday/CHLA broadcast drew donations from corporate sponsors and individual donors alike, including such donor celebrities as Dolly Parton, Gwen Stefani, Michael Bublé, and Melanie Griffith.
Live from her Giving Tuesday broadcast, Ellen K recalled how she first became connected with Ambar and Envy as she presented the donation on behalf of Envy and its retail partners.
“It all started with your boyfriend hearing us talk about an apple (Envy), and now we’re partners. This is amazing,” Ellen K commented. “Envy apples and Ambar, thank you so much. Bite and believe.”
Retail partners and Envy will be featured throughout December on the “Ellen K Weekend Show,” Ellen K’s nationally syndicated program that broadcasts Saturday mornings from Los Angeles on KOST 103.5. Ellen K and Envy have a longstanding partnership, as Ellen K’s first-class, genuine approach—and incredible reach and following—is aligned with the Envy approach: the ultimate apple for everyone, every day.
As of November 21, Los Angeles Envy sales had jumped over 40 percent YOY, stated the press release. Envy volume jumped even higher, at over 46 percent YOY. This November charitable initiative undoubtedly contributed to increased momentum, as more than 20 percent of the Los Angeles market promoted Envy and the CHLA/Ellen K partnership.
Congratulations all around for an amazing event for a great cause. For more fresh updates from the industry, keep checking back to ANUK.
SALINAS, CA - Racking up new partners left and right, SmartWash Solutions® is taking the produce industry by storm and bringing its innovative offerings with it. Most recently, the company announced that HMC Farms would be using SmartWash’s technology at its Kingsburg, California, facility for its grape wash line.
"This is the first SmartWash installation in a plant dedicated to fruit processing, and we’re very excited to see the tight controls and efficiency we’ve been able to generate for HMC Farms," said Steven Swarts, Director of Business Development at SmartWash Solutions. "Key components to our system include our Automated SmartWash Analytical Platform (ASAP) that continually monitors and adjusts wash water chemistry levels so the minimal amount of chemicals are needed to maintain safety levels, and downtime is reduced. In addition, plant managers receive real-time information through our PPDL 2020 data management system."
SmartWash provides its partners with organic and conventional food wash enhancers, integrated package of process control equipment, customer service partnership, and data management in order to help control cross contamination. According to a press release, through its services, SmartWash improves not only wash line efficiency, but also saves its customers time and money.
"With the SmartWash equipment and new Process Pro Data Live (PPDL) 2020 in place, we now have increased visibility and management of our CCP process wash systems. Additionally, the system has maintained effectiveness and stability at all times, causing zero downtime for many months now," reports Maxwell Cawley, Chief Operating Officer at HMC Farms.
The new wash line at HMC includes an ultraviolet light disinfection system that enhances the SmartWash system to further reduce cross contamination.
At a time when food safety is a major focus for consumers everywhere, SmartWash's technology provides an added layer of reassurance.
As SmartWash continues to form new partnerships and unveil new innovations, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
FRESNO, CA - What is the happy medium between online shopping and being in the store to shop? This has been the space farmers markets have filled, a space that consumers miss for the spontaneous inspiration from sellers to the close-to-the-farm feel. Coming soon from Trinity Farms, a Season’s Harvest Box brings these to the West Coast as the company looks to inspire consumers.
“Our hope is to share the fruits of our labor with others and encourage healthy snacking! The Central Valley has so many fruit options and we are happy to deliver them safely to the doorsteps of consumers,” Angela Hernandez, Director of Marketing, shared.
Angela tells me how, with seasonal fruits consumers might not have thought to try and recipes to help familiarize them, she and the team hope to deepen its partnership with retailers by inspiring consumers to go into the store looking for new items they now know how to utilize.
Having launched this month, the pilot will initially serve California metropolitans, such as Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley, but with skyward potential once the rollout has found and smoothed any potential bumps.
Utilizing its established influencer network, Trinity Fruit is looking to inspire and diversify fruit consumption. Will this bloom into even more potential partnerships? The team assures me there is much to look out for as we bid 2020 farewell.
READING, PA - With operations across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, Penske Logistics is already a well-known name in transportation and across industries. To expand its reach even further, the company has revealed that it will be acquiring Chicago-based trucking company Black Horse Carriers. The anticipated closing of the deal is on December 31, 2020, however financial terms were not disclosed.
"The Penske organization has had a longstanding and valued relationship with Black Horse Carriers for many years," said Marc Althen, President, Penske Logistics. "This acquisition will be complementary to our existing portfolio of customers and industries within our dedicated contract carriage business. We look forward to working with the Black Horse Carriers team on this acquisition and the integration of our operations."
Black Horse Carriers is a privately held trucking company which focuses on serving the food and grocery, retail, bakery, dairy, CPG, manufacturing, and automotive industries, according to a press release.
With over 4,000 employees and a fleet of more than 2,000 transportation vehicles serving 90 terminals nationwide, Black Horse will help elevate Penske to new heights. And with grocery and fresh food as key categories for the company, ANUK suspects that this acquisition will expand Penske's prowess in those areas.
"We're very excited about joining the Penske organization," said Ken Landego, CEO of Black Horse Carriers. "The synergies created by the combination of both companies will benefit our customers from a service-level standpoint and elevate our technology capabilities. We look forward to this new journey together."
The transaction to acquire Black Horse is subject to customary closing conditions, which includes certain regulatory approvals. With the closing slated for the end of the year, how will this new acquisition impact the produce industry? Keep a tab open for ANUK to find out.
TEFEN, ISRAEL - When two innovative forces join together, the sky is the limit. This is the case as StePac L.A. has announced that it has been acquired by Nili Capital Partners. StePac, a fresh produce sustainable packaging specialist, will now form the central piece of Nili’s Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) platform, MAPfresh Holdings.
“This acquisition marks a major step toward StePac’s goal of becoming the leading global force in MAP packaging solutions for fresh produce,” said Asaf Shachnai, CEO of StePac and MAPfresh Holdings. “Our unwavering focus on product quality, innovation, and customer service drives our strong organic growth, and Nili will enable us to accelerate our inorganic growth as we seek additional acquisition opportunities in the industry.”
StePac is well known for its Xtend® brand of product packaging, which entails a broad portfolio of precisely engineered, functional packaging formats and solutions that help extend produce seasonality, enhance quality, reduce waste, and support long-haul shipments, according to a press release.
With such extensive insights into sustainable packaging solutions, StePac is the perfect choice to lead Nili’s new platform.
“Secular trends in the fresh produce industry, new post-COVID norms, and the push toward greater sustainability and environmentally friendly solutions attracted us to this category,” stated Josef Mandelbaum, General Partner with Nili. “StePac’s strong management team, with more than 25 years of experience in post-harvest science in the fresh produce industry and a history of strong innovation, secured our belief that it was the right company to anchor our MAP platform.”
As more companies across the fresh produce industry push forward sustainability and new packaging solutions, AndNowUKnow will be here to deliver important updates.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Innovation has been reimagined by Price Chopper Supermarkets and Market 32 this week. The retail powers have partnered with Manthan-RichRelevance to drive highly personalized customer engagement across the supply chain. Price Chopper will integrate the company's SaaS suite, which includes its Customer Data Platform, Advanced Customer Analytics, and Omnichannel Lifecycle Marketing for leveraging insights and improving personalization.
"We're proud of the product mix and shopping experience we provide in our stores and online. Personalization is an important strategic initiative in our continued endeavor to enhance customer experience across Digital and In-Store. We did a comprehensive evaluation of the market before selecting Manthan-RichRelevance. We're excited to announce the partnership and the comprehensive capabilities of the platform to help us execute our strategic vision with speed," said Glen Bradley, Price Chopper Supermarkets/Market 32's Group Vice President of Marketing.
The Golub Corporation, which owns Price Chopper and Market 32, serves customers across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. The company is passionate about providing its customers with an overall experience that earns their long-term loyalty, as stated in a press release.
Manthan-RichRelevance will apply its CDP service, which is purpose-built for customer-centric retail businesses, and its specialized recommendation engine to help Price Chopper develop a single view of its customer and personalize every single customer interaction across direct mail program, weekly flyer, and digital/email programs. The solution also provides the marketing team with key capabilities to run automated, on-demand, and journey-based campaigns; offer recommendations, test, and optimize campaigns; and improve engagement, conversion rate, and overall marketing ROI.
"The grocery industry has taken a decisive digital shift, and hyper-personalization is both critical and essential to provide shoppers with a frictionless, easy shopping experience no matter the channel of engagement. At Manthan-RichRelevance, we're incredibly proud to partner with a customer-obsessed brand such as Price Chopper Supermarkets and add to our marquee portfolio of grocery customers across the globe," said Sivakumar Hariharaiyer, Senior Vice President of the Americas at Manthan-RichRelevance.
A new era of innovation has begun at Price Chopper Supermarkets and Market 32, so keep an eye out for ANUK's latest reports as we wait to see what happens next.
THIBODAUX, LA - Rouses Markets is expanding its reach with the unveiling of a new store. To celebrate the opening of its new 44,000-square-foot store in South Lake Charles, Louisiana, Rouses is presenting $10,000 to local Feeding America® Food Banks, made possible through the recent Produce For Kids® produce-centric cause marketing campaign.
“We strive to make a difference in every community we serve,” said Donny Rouse, Rouses Markets CEO. “The Produce For Kids campaign is a great program, and we’re proud to be a part of it. We know this donation will help to improve the lives of our customers and employees, which is what we seek to do in every way we can.”
Now more than ever, local South Lake Charles Feeding America member food banks are in need of support as COVID-19 has affected unemployment rates and 2020 hurricane patterns put several storms directly over the Lake Charles region. Food banks that will benefit from this donation include Feeding the Gulf Coast, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, the press release states.
“Supporting grocer’s communities has always been at the core of the Produce For Kids’ cause marketing efforts, and this year more than ever, the local food banks need the extra funding,” said John Shuman, Founder of Produce For Kids and President at Shuman Farms. “We look forward to our continued partnership, knowing Rouses Markets is dedicated to giving back to their communities and educating shoppers on the benefits of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.”
In addition to in-store signage, campaign details were highlighted in the weekly circular and featured in My Rouses Everyday, a magazine distributed to more than 65 Rouses Markets stores. Rouses Markets’ registered dietitian, April Sins, hosted a series of Facebook Live streams highlighting partner products in recipe ideas for families throughout the campaign.
Produce brands who participated in the initiative include: Curation Foods, Dole®, Earth Greens, Mountain King, Pure Flavor®, Schraad Sales & Marketing, Shuman Farms, Sage Fruit®, Sunkist®, and Marzetti®. The campaign kicked off on September 9 when shoppers noticed signage near each of the produce partners as well as family-friendly recipes showcased in-store with scannable QR codes to obtain the recipes.
For the latest partnerships, updates, and fresh produce releases, keep checking back to ANUK.
LAREDO, TX - Criminals have once again attempted to use produce as a disguise for their illegal activities, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers have stepped in to protect the fruits and vegetables we hold dear.
“The trafficking and production of methamphetamine has increased substantially over the past year, causing drug traffickers to become more creative in their methods of smuggling their product into America,” said Acting Port Director Andrew Douglas, Laredo Port of Entry.
On October 28, officers uncovered a shipment containing 1049.84 pounds of alleged methamphetamine masquerading as a load of frozen vegetables. According to a press release, the seizure occurred at the World Trade Bridge when a tractor hauling the shipment was detained and referred for canine and non-intrusive imaging inspection.
Inspection of the vehicle discovered 352 packages of the alleged drug, which is estimated to have a street value of $20,996,610.
CBP officers seized the narcotics from the tractor-trailer and have turned them over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents who will continue to further investigate the incident.
With nefarious criminals once again apprehended and kept from exploiting fresh produce, we would like to thank all of the officers who continue to stop the illegal activities.
TERRYTOWN, NY - What could be a better gift this holiday season than the announcement that a new brand of table grapes will be hitting the market? Jac. Vandenberg is giving the ultimate gift as it has announced its newest addition to the grape category with the introduction of its SUNRAYS® branded grapes. The first containers of the grapes arrived this past weekend, making the international trip from Peru to Philadelphia.
“When we began planning for this expansion in January, we had no idea that a pandemic was going to hit. But here we are and to our team’s great credit, in spite of all the challenges of 2020, we have been able to develop a really amazing addition for the American and Canadian grape category,” said John Paap, Brand Manager. “It’s really quite fitting that out of the challenges and dark times of 2020 that SUNRAYS is making its entry into the grape category.”
Development and preparation for the introduction of SUNRAYS branded grapes started at the beginning of 2020, according to a press release. The original SUNRAYS launched in 2017 with the introduction of mandarin oranges, and has been on a mission to deliver not only premium quality, but focus on social and environmental issues as well.
To ensure premium quality grapes, Jac. Vandenberg partnered with grape growers in Peru, Chile, and Mexico to source its new SUNRAYS grapes and to give retailers and consumers a consistent supply from November through July.
SUNRAYS branded grapes will include proprietary varieties like Sweet Globes, Sweet Celebration, Jacks Salute, Timco, Allison, and Sweet Favors.
“Over the last 75 years, we have been fortunate as a company to have established amazing relationships with many top, quality grape growers around the world. In that time, we have learned a lot from those relationships and how to provide our retail partners with the very highest quality grapes. The introduction of SUNRAYS grapes is a testament to those quality relationships. SUNRAYS grapes represent the very best of what we have to offer,” explained Paap.
In addition to grower partnerships, through partnerships with foundations like Save the Children®, SUNRAYS has been successful in creating a “feel good” brand that truly does deliver new light into the world. The brand lives up to its tagline of Snack With Impact®, having donated over $225,000 to Save the Children since its inception in 2017.
Simultaneously, the brand has also delivered eco-friendly solutions to improve on the company’s environmental impact. In 2019, the brand introduced its eco-box and this past summer unveiled its bio-bag, both of which reduce plastic consumption and greenhouse emissions.
To support the brand’s retail partners, the company has created tools for success, which retailers can register online to gain access to. This includes exclusive crop updates providing details on grower feedback and pictures from the farm, volume outlook, market trends, best weeks to promote, and more.
“By providing this detailed, intimate level of information, we are giving all the tools possible to our retail partners so they can be as successful as they possibly can when it comes to planning, marketing, and understanding the product,” continued Paap. “It all comes down to making sure everyone is successful and happy from the retailer all the way back to the grower.”
With the SUNRAYS brand moving full steam ahead, what will be the next category that it will shine its light on? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we bring you the answers.