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GREAT BRITAIN - Lidl GB has announced plans to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion, as the discounter moves forward with plans to open more than 40 new stores across the country this financial year.
As part of its continued mission to provide all communities across the country with access to affordable, high-quality food, Lidl has published its 2025 site requirements brochure, outlining hundreds of potential locations for new stores – including high streets, retail parks, and mixed-use town centre sites.
The updated list features locations across England, Scotland and Wales – from Newton Mearns to Dawlish, and Builth Wells to Aylsham as well as the London Borough of Barnet – reflecting Lidl’s accelerated expansion plans to meet growing customer demand.
Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, said in a press release: “This level of investment is a clear sign of our ambition. As we enter our fourth decade in Great Britain and hurtle towards a thousand stores, there are still so many parts of the country crying out for convenient access to a Lidl store. That’s why we welcome the measures proposed in the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill – they recognise the urgent need to remove barriers to development and support the kind of growth we at Lidl are working towards.”
“Our latest site requirements brochure reinforces the scale of our ambition for the future. New Lidl stores mean new jobs, new opportunities for British suppliers, and continued investment into local economies. We’re proud to be one of the fastest-growing supermarkets in the country, and with this investment, we’re taking another big step in our journey.”
This year will see the completion of the expansion of Lidl’s Belvedere Regional Distribution Centre, which has more than doubled in size. To support its growing estate, the discounter is also set to start construction on a brand-new distribution centre in Leeds later in the year.
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WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). 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.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Farm Rock Produce Inc, operating out of Calexico, Calif., for failing to pay a $171,938 award in favor of an Idaho seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Fernando Prince and Eduardo Arturo Leal Anaya were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
- United Fruit Veg Corporation, Inc., operating out of Doral, Fla., for failing to pay a $51,483 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Richard Vega 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.
Wraparound
WATSONVILLE, CA - Driscoll’s announced the appointment of Gaëlle Le Meur as Chief People Officer. Reporting directly to Driscoll’s CEO, Soren Bjorn, Gaëlle will lead the company’s global People function, including talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and inclusion efforts. A proven global leader with more than 20 years of experience, Gaëlle brings deep expertise in organizational design, talent management, and driving cultural renewal - capabilities that are essential to Driscoll’s vision of investing in the people who power its growth around the world.
Gaëlle joins Driscoll’s from The Estée Lauder Companies, where she most recently served as Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner, Global Supply Chain. In this role, she led a team of 70 and spearheaded the people strategy for a complex global value chain - aligning talent, capability building, and organizational transformation with business priorities. She has consistently demonstrated an ability to lead through change while championing diverse leadership and cross-cultural collaboration.
Previously, as Regional Vice President, HR EMEA, Gaëlle oversaw a team of 100 supporting 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. There, she implemented a refreshed regional HR strategy focused on agility, succession planning, and the development of globally minded leaders. Her efforts strengthened workforce planning, modernized HR processes, and advanced cultural and inclusion initiatives across diverse markets.
“As the global leader in fresh berries, with talent that spans continents, we must continue our momentum by scaling our people capabilities with intentionality that aligns to our mission, vision, and values,” said Soren Bjorn, CEO of Driscoll’s. “Gaëlle’s appointment marks a significant milestone in our journey to build a world-class people function - one that reflects the scale and diversity of our global operations and helps cultivate the next generation of talent and leadership.”
Gaëlle began her career with LVMH, serving in HR leadership roles at Le Bon Marché and Sephora, before joining Estée Lauder in 2007. She is known for her ability to drive results through people, empower diverse teams, and build bridges across cultures and functions. A certified psychologist, she holds a master’s degree in human resources.
CHARLOTTE, NC - Dole Food Company is making it a mango-themed Cinco de Mayo and May in 2025 with 10 original recipes spotlighting the produce leader’s growing line of mangoes.
In 2024, Dole debuted a comprehensive DOLE® Mangoes line – encompassing Ataulfo, Tommy Atkins, Kent, Keitt, and Haden mango varieties – and then this year expanded its sourcing to include Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Dole’s 10 recipes released for Cinco de May and the month of May showcase its five mango varieties’ diverse flavors and textures ranging from low-fiber and extreme sweetness to high-fiber and milder, more complex flavors.
Dole is using its ten recipes on social media and with bloggers and influencers to stimulate mango trial and consumption in advance of the hot summer months.
CALIFORNIA & GEORGIA - With the summer months upon us, blackberries are a rising category on consumers’ shopping lists. As retailers look to satisfy this demand, our most recent dive into the fresh produce pricing landscape revealed slightly lower volumes and elevated pricing in the sector.
The market remains tight, with demand exceeding supply, according to a recent The Source report from PRO*ACT. These conditions are expected to continue through early May. California will ramp up production as temperatures rise in the middle of the month, followed by Georgia a couple of weeks later.
Both the Los Angeles Terminal Market and San Francisco Terminal Market reported a steady to about-steady market with light to very light offerings.
The National Berry Report, generated from data compiled by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, reported the following in terms of pricing:
- Imports through South Florida/Tampa: Flats 12 6-oz cups with lids Medium $16-$18 few $20 occasional higher
- Mexico: Flats 12 6-oz cups with lids $16-$18 occasional higher and lower
Overall, California is experiencing good quality on its blackberry crop, with more opportunities expected to open up as the season gains steam over the next couple of months.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report the latest market dynamics and pricing info, so stay tuned for more updates.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - GrubMarket, the AI-powered technology enabler and digital transformer of the American food supply chain industry, as well as one of the largest private food eCommerce companies globally, announced that it was named "Inventory Management Solution Provider of the Year" for 2025 by RetailTech Breakthrough Awards. This award recognizes GrubMarket's leadership as an AI and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution provider with an innovative approach to inventory management for companies operating in the food supply chain industry.
The RetailTech Breakthrough Awards is an independent, annual program that evaluates and recognizes standout technology companies, products, and services around the globe driving transformation in the retail sector with cutting-edge technology and solutions. The program regularly attracts thousands of nominations from over a dozen countries, a press release stated. Nominees are evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts based on key criteria: Innovation, Performance, User Experience, Functionality, Market Impact, and Value.
This award recognizes the innovative technologies and features that GrubMarket has invested in for WholesaleWare, its flagship, proprietary AI-powered ERP platform, to power next-generation inventory management for food wholesalers and distributors. These features include custom label editing with barcode and QR code scanning capabilities; multi-warehouse management with forward-looking stock-level projections; repacking and fully automated work orders; and support for multiple units of measure, including advanced catchweight scenarios. As a comprehensive ERP, WholesaleWare additionally delivers end-to-end capabilities for sales, purchasing, bookkeeping, financial reporting, grower accounting, pricing, logistics, and reporting.
Furthermore, WholesaleWare is fully integrated into GrubMarket's software ecosystem. It connects to the GrubAssist AI suite, which provides deep insights, intelligent analysis, and automated workflows through AI agents, including the AI Orders agent, which automatically transforms unstructured PDFs, emails, and voicemails into accurate digital orders. WholesaleWare also seamlessly integrates with GrubMarket's eCommerce solution, Orders IO, which enables food suppliers to easily add online and mobile ordering channels with marketing features like push notifications and promotions, as well as digital payments. GrubMarket's full suite of integrated, AI-powered solutions empowers its customers to drive sales while streamlining operations with real-time inventory visibility. Customers can focus on growth, knowing that they are optimizing stock levels and limiting waste.
"We are humbled and honored to receive the RetailTech Breakthrough Award for Inventory Management Solution Provider of the Year," said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket. "This accolade is a testament to our team's relentless commitment to technological innovation for the food supply chain industry. At GrubMarket, we believe that advanced AI solutions can fundamentally transform the food supply chain by driving greater efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability in inventory management. We will continue to pioneer cutting-edge tools that help our customers thrive in a rapidly evolving market."
Winning the Inventory Management Solution Provider of the Year title places GrubMarket among an elite group of innovators driving the future of retail technology and transformation. GrubMarket's achievement highlights the broad impact of its technology and the company's status as a frontrunner in retail and supply chain digitalization.
MONTREAL, CANADA - Greenscale, an agricultural technology company focused on nutrition enhancements in growing, is partnering with Sollum Technologies to implement advanced dynamic LED lighting in its next-generation greenhouse production facility. The collaboration integrates Sollum’s SF-ONE™ lighting fixtures, powered by the SUN as a Service® cloud platform, into Greenscale’s highly controlled growing system, ensuring optimal crop conditions with minimal environmental impact.
Greenscale specializes in optimizing plant growing conditions with the objective of creating a zero-pesticide, zero-industrial-fertilizer growing system that is highly controlled, traceable, and designed to produce nutritionally enhanced vegetables and vegetable-derivative products. With Sollum’s dynamic lighting technology, Greenscale takes a data-driven approach to maximize crop quality, yield, and sustainability, a press release stated.
Advanced AI-Driven Lighting for Precision Agriculture
Greenscale selected Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting solution to provide customized light recipes tailored to each stage of lettuce growth. Thanks to real-time data monitoring and adaptive spectral control, Sollum’s lighting system increases plant productivity while reducing energy consumption compared to traditional lighting solutions.
"At Greenscale, we are focused on technology and operations to create differentiated products," said Scott Meikle, CEO of Greenscale. "Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting is a critical component of our controlled growing system, allowing us to fine-tune environmental conditions with precision. This ensures that our crops receive the optimal light spectrum at every stage, improving both quality and nutritional value."
A Dynamic LED Lighting Solution That Adapts to Plants in Real Time
Sollum’s AI-powered SUN as a Service® platform continuously adjusts lighting conditions in response to plant needs and environmental factors. This enables Greenscale to:
- Optimize growth conditions by delivering the right light at the right time
- Promote sustainability by using only the necessary energy
- Improve production efficiency through better control over crop development, resource utilization, and environmental impact
"Greenscale is at the forefront of agricultural innovation, and we are proud to collaborate with them to push the boundaries of what’s possible in controlled environment agriculture (CEA)," said Matthew Bonavita, Vice President of US Sales at Sollum Technologies. "Their commitment to using technology to drive sustainability and food quality aligns perfectly with our mission of providing the most advanced and adaptable LED lighting solution on the market."
Setting a New Standard for High-Tech Sustainable Agriculture
This partnership represents a significant advancement in CEA, combining intelligent lighting with cutting-edge greenhouse technology. Greenscale’s adoption of Sollum’s AI-driven lighting system positions them as an industry leader in technology-driven, environmentally responsible food production.