SALINAS, CA - As part of its continued commitment to sustainable packaging, Naturipe Farms is adding the How2Recycle® label to its packaging. This label educates consumers on proper recycling practices and where to go if they need to find information specific to their municipality. With this addition to its packaging, as well as its numerous other sustainable packaging initiatives, Naturipe Farms is steadfast in its commitment to educating and influencing consumers to engage in workable environmentally friendly practices, encouraging handlers and customers to recycle clamshells, and supporting manufacturers who buy into sustainable programs.
“These initiatives are progressing steps toward our goal of increasing sustainability from our farms to your tables,” said CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing. “We are also committed to educating and encouraging consumers to do their part by recycling clamshells.”
Implementing more sustainable packaging, as well as focusing on sustainable business practices at large, is not new to Naturipe Farms as it has been innovating on this front for years. It was first an adopter of heat seal technology for both fresh and value-added product lines, which reduces plastic by 33 percent.
According to a press release, on a single foodservice pack change, the new product removed almost 550 lbs of plastic per week from the waste stream. Last year, Naturipe increased its Heat Seal Program by 400 percent, resulting in 24 metric tons of plastic removed from its packaging. The company is now looking to remove 48 metric tons of plastic from its packaging in 2020, doubling last year’s goal.
“Naturipe Farms and our family of farmers have made it a priority to reduce the environmental footprint in all areas of the business particularly in packaging reduction and recyclability,” added Janis McIntosh, Director of Marketing Innovation and Sustainability. “Since I joined Naturipe I’ve made it my priority to focus my efforts on reducing our environmental footprint not just as a company but as an industry.”
Naturipe Farms is also joining major North American fresh berry producers in announcing its goal to using 100 percent recycle-ready packaging by 2025. They join many others in the industry in making this commitment, including California Strawberry Commission, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), Asociacion National de Exportadores de Berries (Aneberries, Mexico), the Chilean Blueberry Committee, Fruits from Chile, and members of the National Berry Crops Initiative, among others.
“This pledge perfectly coincides with Naturipe’s Cultivate with Care™ sustainability program,” stated Arias. “Naturipe Farms grower/owners, leadership, and employees are committed to making sustainability a priority, incorporated into every decision they make.”
McIntosh spoke this morning from 10 a.m.—11a.m. EST at this year’s United Fresh LIVE!, during its sustainable packaging Coffee Talk session. Janis explored innovative market concepts and the future of new packaging solutions.
Keep an eye on industry innovators like Naturipe Farms as we all work to build a more sustainable future.
CHILE - Summer is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for Citrus from Chile! The Chilean Citrus industry is forecasting an export volume of 347,000 tons across all categories, which represents a 4 percent increase over 2019.
“This season’s weather and growing conditions have been ideal for growing sweet fruit with good sizing,” commented Juan Enrique Ortúzar, President of the Chilean Citrus Committee. “Cool fall nights have given the clementines a brilliant orange color and very good brix.”
According to a press release, this growth will be driven mainly by mandarins and clementines, with navel volume slightly lower than last year and lemon volume about the same. Chile has been meeting strong market demand in regards to clementines, with exports through Week 23 an impressive 38 percent ahead of the same time last season. The clementine harvest is currently concentrated in the Coquimbo and Valparaíso regions (Oronules, Clemenules, and Orogrande varieties), with harvesting just starting in the O’Higgins region.
Promotable volumes of easy peelers will be available through October. Clementine shipments will wrap up around Week 30, but mandarin shipments will commence by Week 28, generating a solid stream of easy peelers throughout summer and into fall. Shoppers can expect to have an especially great eating experience when they pick up a Chilean clementine this summer.
“With its strong immune-boosting benefits, citrus is experiencing heavy consumer demand. We’ll give this an extra push through social media outreach and online contests during the Chilean citrus season,” stated Karen Brux, Managing Director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association. “We have more than 500,000 Facebook fans and more than 20,000 subscribers of our Fruits from Chile e-newsletter. These will be two key vehicles in communicating healthy, family-friendly ideas for using Chilean citrus throughout the day, whether easy peelers, lemons, or navels.”
In light of COVID-19, the Citrus Committee has moved primarily online with its consumer and trade marketing campaigns.
“As the country continues to open up, retail promotion formats will also continue to evolve,” Brux continued. “We envision primarily online programs, like digital coupons or online cooking classes, but as in-store opportunities increase, our merchandisers in the U.S. and Canada will be ready to support these programs.”
Weekly crop updates are now available, and the committee will be sending more detailed information on lemons, navels, and mandarins as shipments progress.
For more industry reports, keep an eye out in your inbox for ANUK.
ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods continues to give back to its community. Not only is it helping restaurateurs reopen their doors, but the distributor is also donating approximately $250,000 of food to help the Greater Chicago Food Depository bring pop-up food pantries to communities of color on Chicago’s South and West sides.
“In this unprecedented time, we know too many Chicago families are struggling to access fresh, healthy food,” said Pietro Satriano, US Foods Chairman and CEO.
According to news source Daily Herald, each pop-up food pantry aims to serve about 1,000 households weekly with boxes of nonperishable food weighing between 20 and 30 pounds, as well as fresh produce and frozen meat.
In addition to the donation, US Foods recently announced that it has donated more than $10 million in food and supplies to food banks and charitable organizations across the country since the beginning of March.
Kate Maehr, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, said the pop-up food pantries will provide “a critical lifeline to the community at a time when the soaring need for food assistance is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.”
This injection of essential nutrition is but one of the many great deeds US Foods and others in our industry perform every day. AndNowUKnow will continue to report as we navigate through these waters together.
CINCINNATI, OH - The retail landscape is a competitive one, and this fact has only been amplified by the recent shifts caused by the pandemic. Kroger is one company ever at the forefront of successful grocery strategies, investing more than $830 million to support and safeguard associates, customers, and communities during this time. Today the company reported its first quarter 2020 results, providing a Restock Kroger progress update on the three-year transformation plan in addition to an update to the COVID-19 response.
“Under Restock Kroger, we have made significant investments over the last several years to establish a seamless digital ecosystem, strengthen Our Brands and our personalization capabilities, and to enhance product freshness and quality. These investments helped Kroger deliver improved results in 2019, a strong start to the quarter, and very much came to the forefront as we provided our customers with the fresh food and essentials they have needed during the pandemic,” said Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen.
According to the report, Kroger significantly exceeded its sales expectations for the quarter, hitting $42 billion in the first quarter, compared to $37 billion for the same period last year. With a record sales increase of 92 percent, Kroger is poised to surpass big-name e-commerce competitors such as Amazon and Walmart.
Though extensive specifics of the company’s expectations were not spelt out, we at ANUK have reason to believe that this monumental sales update will open the doors for explosive growth.
“While we expect to exceed the outlook shared in our April 1 business update for identical sales without fuel, adjusted FIFO operating profit, adjusted EPS, and adjusted free cash flow, the company is not able to forecast the extent of such upside for the reasons mentioned above,” explained CFO Gary Millerchip. “Kroger's financial model has proven to be resilient throughout the economic cycle. We remain confident in our business model as well as our ability to generate strong free cash flow and achieve sustainable and attractive total shareholder returns.”
Hungry for more landmark sales data? Keep checking in on reports from AndNowUKnow.
SELAH, WA - This summer’s sales are sure to be sweet, especially with Rainier Fruit Company and the Zirkle family investing in improved genetics that produce even larger, crunchier, and more flavorful blueberries. With seasonal promotions just hitting their stride, I chatted with Tyler Johnson, Blueberry Commodity Manager, to find out everything that retailers need to know about Rainier’s current blueberry season.
“Rainier’s 100-percent organic blueberry harvest is about to begin. The crop is expected to have the same consistent, excellent quality as it has had in years past. On top of the proactive growing practices we have in place, Rainier began to invest in improved genetics over its short organic blueberry tenure. We protect these investments with an unbroken cold chain that spans from the field to the loading truck,” Tyler explained to me. “Rainier knows every minute counts to maintain longevity of shelf life, maximum quality for the consumer, and repeat purchases for the retailer.”
Rainier’s organic blueberry program is 100-percent owned and operated by the Zirkle family, with Mark Zirkle, fifth-generation family member and the current President of Zirkle Fruit Company, expanding upon his family’s legacy this season and beyond.
“Mark Zirkle has carried on the philosophy from his father that good, consistent quality has to start with the right varieties growing in the right fields. It is the reason why the Zirkle family is hyper-focused on analyzing micro-climates to determine the most optimal growing regions for each variety throughout Washington State,” Tyler continued. “Today, the Zirkle’s organic blueberry fields are planted from the Columbia Basin to North-Central Washington to avoid centralized weather events.”
The Zirkle’s organic blueberry fields are also 100 percent netted to protect the berries from various extreme weather damage. Tyler noted that while no grower can plan Mother Nature, Rainier has made it a point to invest in the right things in order to be proactive.
“Those investments are also a big reason why Rainier is able to keep its quality standards in place year after year,” Tyler said. “Organic blueberries have been one of the fastest-growing categories for several years and have only boasted this even more so during the recent consumer behavior shifts. Health-conscious consumers are looking for nutrient-dense convenient snacks and fresh ingredients and, during recent events, are leaning toward bigger pack sizes, which Rainier has been analyzing in apples, pears, and now cherries with the start of the season. Consumers are excited for a taste of summer, and Rainier is excited to help set our partners up for another successful season.”
Health-conscious consumers are also increasingly on the lookout for brands showcasing a commitment to sustainability and conservation. Rainier Fruit Company fits this bill after Zirkle Fruit partnered with the Xerces Society to earn the title of Bee Better Certified for its organic blueberry program.
Rainier will ship organic blueberries in clamshells from mid-June through September.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the latest crop updates, so stay tuned.
CHARLOTTE, NC - Salad kits have definitely maintained their hold on the packaged goods sector, and Dole is right there leading the charge. The global packaged salad and salad kits giant is extending its offerings with one new Chopped! and two new Premium salad kits, providing retailers, produce managers, and their salad-loving shoppers with innovative new salad ingredients and flavor combinations.
“Dole is committing to giving shoppers more reasons to buy more salads as part of our larger mission of motivating families toward healthier living and a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Bil Goldfield, Dole’s Director of Corporate Communications. “That means offering bold new flavors and ingredients like kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and blueberries that not only taste great but offer proven health and nutrient benefits.”
Dole started shipping the three new SKUs to retailers nationwide on June 3. Each kit serves 3-4 people for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $3.99. The lineup includes:
- DOLE® Sweet Kale Salad Kit (Premium Kit Category): DOLE® Green Cabbage, Kale, shredded Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Radicchio topped with pepitas, dried cranberries, and Dole’s Poppy Seed Dressing
- DOLE® Blueberry Bliss Salad Kit (Premium Kit Category): DOLE® Spinach, Baby Red Chard, and Carrots topped with almonds, dried blueberries, and Dole’s Blueberry Lemon Dressing
- DOLE® Chopped! Avocado Ranch Salad Kit (Chopped! Kit Category): Chopped DOLE® Cabbages, Green Leaf Lettuce, Kale, Carrots, and Green Onions topped with shredded cheddar cheese, crispy corn, and Dole’s Avocado Ranch Dressing
The new SKUs join 66 other Dole salad varieties, including the popular Chopped!, Slawesome!, and Premium salad kit lines, salad mixes, and slaws.
As one of the country’s most recognized brands of packaged salads and salad kits, Dole is also a sales leader in salad kits, one of the largest and fastest-growing salad segments. According to a press release, Dole’s Chopped! line is also a leader in the chopped salads segment, which has grown 81 percent since 2016.
As industry leaders continuously innovate and expand different avenues of fresh, ANUK will report on the latest.
SPRINGFIELD, MA - Following the retirement of William T. Mahoney, Theresa A. Jasmin will be stepping up into the role of Chief Financial Officer for Big Y Foods. The Board of Directors appointed Jasmin, who is the first woman to join Big Y’s C-suite team—a major milestone for the grocer.
Jasmin brings over 25 years of food industry experience to the CFO position, in which she will lead the company’s strategic planning, finance, accounting, treasury, and tax functions and report to President and CEO Charles L. D’Amour and the Board of Directors.
Her career began with Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, according to a press release obtained by local news source iBerkshires.com. While there, she held senior management positions in the Treasury and Accounting departments. Then, in 2005, she joined Big Y Foods and rose up the ranks through several positions of increasing responsibility in accounting and finance, including Controller (2010), Senior Director of Finance (2014), and Vice President of Finance (2016).
In addition to her role in the grocery retail industry, Jasmin also serves on the Executive Committee, as Treasurer for the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and on the finance committees for both the Massachusetts and Connecticut Food Associations.
She holds a BBA from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from Western New England University.
In addition to Jasmin, Big Y also recently welcomed Sarah Steven and Stephen M. Creed to its leadership team.
Congratulations to Theresa Jasmin on her new, exciting role!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Side Delights® continues to expand the ever-burgeoning category of microwave/steamables in the produce aisle simply by offering an outstanding Steamables™ product. According to data collected by various Nielsen studies, Side Delights continues to be a top-performing brand in the segment, with Steamables simply steaming the competition.
“The cumulative impact of these studies is impressive, as they show that Side Delights Steamables has been leading the segment since 2015,” explained Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Perhaps even more importantly, it confirms that retailers who carry Side Delights Steamables have a better performing potato category than retailers who carry the competition.”
Steamables are B-sized potatoes—spanning red, golden, fingerling, sweet, medley, and duo potatoes—in a 1.5 lb. microwavable pouch that are triple-washed and ready to eat in eight minutes. What really makes this one-of-a-kind product stand out is the fact that not only have studies conducted in 2015 and 2017 showcased how retailers can increase sales with Side Delights Steamables, but a recent 2019 study is the third to prove that the entire potato category performs better for retailers who carry Steamables.
The first study, conducted in 2015 by Nielsen Perishables Group on the microwaveable/steamable fresh potato segment, identified that Side Delights Steamables accounted for half of all dollar sales in the microwavable segment, with 54.4 percent of all microwaveable bag volume. The study also found that, when Steamables were in the shopping basket, it resulted in nearly twice the register ring of a basket with any produce item, and 28 percent more than the average shopping basket that included fresh potatoes, according to a press release.
In 2017, a Nielsen FreshFacts® study also showed that Steamables continued to dominate the category, with 62 percent of dollar share and 63 percent of volume share in the segment, with dollar velocity outpacing the competition.
Now, in 2019, a study conducted by IRI, confirmed that potatoes remain one of the #1 ranked vegetables based on volume sales, and Side Delights Steamables are but a cherry—neigh, a potato—on top for this best-selling category. Once again, Steamables nabbed the majority of dollar and volume share in the microwave/steamer segment of the potato category, with 58.7 percent dollar share and 61.1 percent volume.
First launched in 2008, the Steamables product line is definitely one to continue to watch—and stock up on—in the produce aisle. Where will it take the potato category next? AndNowUknow will continue to keep an eye on the fresh produce industry.
LAKELAND, FL - Major developments have been underway, and the time has finally come to unveil them. Today, GreenWise Market opened its first store in Georgia! Publix’s banner store has touched down in Marietta at 3460 Sandy Plains Road in the Sandy Plains Marketplace Shopping Center, bringing the banner's total store count to seven.
“At GreenWise Market, customers can find a space to explore new flavors and learn new techniques and recipes from our associates,” said Publix President Kevin Murphy. “We’re excited to share our unique atmosphere and foods with our Atlanta community.”
GreenWise Market is a specialty, natural, and organic store with a large selection of prepared foods made from organic and antibiotic-free ingredients. According to the release, the stores are divided into experience zones with simple names like:
- CARES — vitamins, nutritional supplements, natural soaps and shampoos, and more
- CUTS — meats raised with no antibiotics or added hormones and sustainably-sourced seafood
- EATS — made-to-order meals and grab-and-go foods like handcrafted gourmet sandwiches and freshly baked pizza
- FINDS — a curated selection of wines and imported cheeses
- POURS — a beverage area featuring locally roasted coffee or other selections to enjoy while shopping or relaxing at the bar
The first new-concept GreenWise Market opened in Tallahassee, Florida, in October 2018. Seven stores are now open, including the 25,089-square-foot Marietta location; new stores in Odessa, Florida, and Nocatee (Ponte Vedra), Florida, are set to open this week.
In addition to showcasing unique local products, each GreenWise Market location is home to a mural created by a local artist. The Marietta GreenWise Market features artwork by Lillian Blades. The large-scale mixed media piece was created with many different textiles and textures, including mirrors.
Will we see more GreenWise Markets outside of the Eastern Seaboard? AndNowUKnow will eagerly report.
YAKIMA, WA - United Fresh LIVE! has taken the industry by storm, and Superfresh Growers® is bringing its own brand of fun to the festivities. The company will host an Instagram Live video featuring blueberries or cherries in order connect with attendees and its own social audience. Each day at 12:15 p.m. PST, join Superfresh Growers to discuss the health benefits of these category strongholds.
“We are so excited for this first-ever virtual trade show,” noted Catherine Gipe-Stewart, Communications Manager. “We have designed this program to happen right after booth ‘power hours’ to further extend the booth experience by interacting with live video. We encourage our audience to ask our registered dietitian (RD) team and farm team questions as we answer them live.”
According to a press release, yesterday featured Nutrition by Mia with a recipe for a six-ingredient, gluten-free cherry crisp and dark chocolate cherry oatmeal cookie. Each registered dietitian will film live on their own Instagram channel and Superfresh Growers will post it later to its own Instagram and Facebook.
The schedule below reflects the rest of the week:
June 16: Superfresh Growers Cherry Orchard Tour with Dave Gleason
Dave Gleason, Horticulturist and Proprietary Variety Developer, and Gipe-Stewart will walk through a Yakima Valley, Washington, cherry orchard sharing how geography and elevation affect harvest timing, how cherries are hand-harvested, and answering questions from the audience.
June 17: Peaches to Pearls, Blueberry Nutrition, and Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins
Luisa Hammett, RD, holds a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition and is a pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) dietitian. She guides families on making smart and healthy decisions while grocery shopping. Hammett will be discussing blueberry nutrition while sharing an easy Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffin recipe, an ideal breakfast on the go because they are loaded with protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
June 18: The Nutrition Addiction, Drinking During Quarantine, Blueberry Coconut Smash
Megan Kober, RD, of The Nutrition Addiction, is also known as “the vodka loving registered dietitian.” She specializes in weight-loss programs that help her clients eat “like a normal person,” let go of food anxiety, and “feel f*cking amazing every day.” Megan will be talking about drinking during quarantine and how to prevent weight gain during stay-at-home orders. She will be sharing a recipe for a skinny Blueberry Coconut Smash.
June 19: Superfresh Growers Blueberry Field Tour with Norris Farms
Join multi-generational Norris Farms during the first weeks of Pacific Northwest blueberry harvest. They will be joined by Ellie Norris, Carrie Norris, ND, Paul Norris, MD, and Gage Thompson, JD, as they walk us through hand harvesting of blueberries, Umpqua River Valley geography, organic farming, and more. They will also discuss how being doctors and farmers give them a unique perspective.
Stick around for more United Fresh content as the week continues!