CHICAGO - Save A Lot is thrilled to celebrate the Grand Reopening of its West 63rd store. This marks the sixth store in Chicago to be remodeled and reopened, bringing fresh, affordable groceries back to Chicago neighborhoods. Community leaders, including Alderman Marty Quinn and Commissioner Ciere Boatright, are planning to attend and participate in the opening ceremony.

To celebrate, Save A Lot is offering special deals and giveaways for the first 100 customers, starting with a free bag of groceries on Wednesday, April 9. Additional giveaways include a free 2-liter of Jarritos soda on Thursday, a free bag of Takis on Friday, $10 gift card on Saturday, and a free bag of corn masa flour on Sunday.

To further support the surrounding community, Save A Lot is partnering with Alderman Marty Quinn to provide a $1,000 donation to the West Lawn Little League.

What:

Grand Reopening of Save A Lot’s Newly-Remodeled West 63rd Street Store

When:

• Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 9am
• 8:00am: Doors open to the public
• 8:45am: Press arrivals
• 9:00am: Remarks, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and customer giveaway
• 9:30am: Interview opportunities with Yellow Banana

Where:

4439 West 63rd Street, Chicago, IL 60629

Media Opportunities Include:

• Interviews: Representatives from Yellow Banana will be available to discuss the reopening and its impact on the neighborhood
• Photos/Video: Visuals of the remodeled store, customer giveaways, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store Tours: Guided tours showcasing the store's updates and improvements

YAKIMA, WA - As cherry season approaches, we are unveiling key consumer insights to help retailers boost cherry sales and drive repeat purchases throughout the summer. Understanding how different demographics shop is critical to a successful season, and the latest data reveals both opportunities and challenges.

Shoppers aged 55 and older remain one of the most reliable consumer groups for cherries. Despite fixed incomes, they’re willing to spend more for premium fruit and often prioritize quality over price, especially early in the season.

Meanwhile, Millennials (ages 30-45) also love cherries but are driven by value. They tend to gravitate toward retailers with everyday low pricing and respond better to unit pricing over price-per-pound. Simplifying the purchasing experience – like removing the mental math – can be the key to unlocking this group’s purchasing power in-store.

Consumers under 30 aren’t buying cherries at the same rate as other age groups, even during peak-season price drops. While lower overall spending power plays a role, there's still an opportunity to position cherries as a fun and seasonal treat for this demographic. To capture their attention, cherries need to be positioned where they can be seen as often as possible, such as on social media platforms. Campaigns on these platforms, influencer partnerships, and more recipe-driven content that is easy to create could help bridge that gap.

“Cherries have broad appeal across most ages, incomes, and ethnicities—when they’re visible,” said Trisha Casper, Customer Insights Manager at Superfresh Growers, in a recent press release. “The shopping experience early in the season often determines whether consumers continue to buy cherries. A sweet, fresh experience in May and June builds loyalty. But a poor first impression can lose a customer for the rest of the season.”

Convenience is also a critical factor. Many online shoppers miss cherries entirely—not because they don’t want them, but because they don’t see them. With limited in-store visibility, cherries need to be consistently visible on digital grocery platforms. Weekly reminders, recipes, and seasonal spotlights can help keep them top-of-mind. Some shoppers also skip cherries because they’re seen as inconvenient. Retailers can reframe cherries as a grab-and-go snack or simple dessert to appeal to busy customers looking for quick, wholesome options.

“Every cherry season is unique—shaped by weather, crop timing, and consumer demand,” said Destiny Nash, Assistant Director of Cherries at Superfresh Growers. “That’s why intentional merchandising, high-visibility displays, competitive pricing, and an omnichannel strategy are key to success. To win this summer, cherries must be both visible and irresistible.”

As the season kicks off, we encourage retailers to lean into data-driven strategies that connect with every type of shopper. From nostalgic appeal to value messaging and digital engagement, cherries have the potential to be the standout star of summer produce.

MURRIETA, CA - As Cinco de Mayo approaches, West Pak Avocado's AVO360 program and category expertise highlight the holiday's growing popularity and impact on sales during the second quarter. During this celebration, many Americans enjoy Mexican-inspired dishes, making avocados a staple ingredient in festive menus across the United States. The preparation and consumption of these dishes mark the increasing popularity of Cinco de Mayo, which continues to drive significant sales, making it one of the key holidays in the U.S. for avocado volume, second only to the Big Game in February.

Leading up to the vibrant holiday, shoppers spend 1.9x more on groceries with avocados in the basket than without, according to 2024 Numerator Shopper Metrics. Cinco de Mayo avocado shoppers also make 10.6 more yearly trips than the average avocado buyer. These statistics highlight the popularity of avocados during this occasion and their potential impact on overall grocery sales.

AVO360, West Pak's full-service experience, ensures a year-round supply of fruit and offers personalized avocado experiences and customer-focused insights for retailers throughout the United States. For Cinco de Mayo 2025, the global grower, packer, and distributor of premium avocados is partnering with Avocados From Mexico (AFM) to help customers drive more green at the register. "This Cinco de Mayo, we're getting this fiesta started with thematic avocado bags and a full 360° marketing plan, including in-store bins, digital support, and more," mentioned Avocados From Mexico in a recent promotion announcement.

According to the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) Avocado Holiday Retail Recap Q2 2024, Cinco de Mayo promotions saw the greatest actual volume lift of the second-quarter holidays. Avocado unit sales reached 59.8M during the 2024 holiday, up +2% from 2023 and the highest level in four years. Q2 dollar sales were highest during the week of Cinco de Mayo at $68.5M. The festive holiday also saw the highest year-over-year dollar growth rate (+22%) of any other 2024 holiday.

In 2024, the total U.S. avocado sales were up nearly 1.0M units compared to the prior year, while retail dollars soared by $12.3M. The Southeast region drove unit growth, adding +0.7M units to the category, while the West drove dollars, contributing $2.8M.

"Cinco de Mayo is a significant occasion, and avocados are an essential part of the culinary experience," said West Pak Avocado CEO Mario Pacheco in a recent press release. "We want to help our retail partners capitalize on this opportunity by promoting avocados as a must-have ingredient for celebrations, from guacamole to main dishes and more."

West Pak Avocado's AVO360 program includes custom and commission-branded promotional opportunities, recipe ideas, merchandising strategies, and educational materials to encourage consumers to embrace avocados in their Cinco de Mayo festivities. This material is available through West Pak's AVO360 Resource Center—an online portal that offers exclusive content and insights as well as marketing and merchandising support for West Pak's customers.

REIDSVILLE, GA - Healthy Family Project is proud to kick off its 2025 Produce for Kids campaign in Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) Springfield and Gulf Coast divisions, marking a milestone nine-year partnership dedicated to promoting healthier families and supporting communities in need.

Through this year’s campaign, participating produce partners are coming together to make a powerful impact by collectively donating 170,000 meals to local Feeding America® food banks.

Shoppers will see in-store signage featuring QR codes that lead to Healthy Family Project’s library of registered dietitian-approved recipes, helping families make easy, nutritious choices.

“Over the past 15 years, our partnership with AWG has inspired healthier eating habits while also helping fight hunger at the local level,” said Trish James, Vice President of Healthy Family Project, in a recent press release. “This campaign is about community, and we’re incredibly grateful to our produce partners and retail teams who help bring it all to life.”

To celebrate the launch, Healthy Family Project hosted an Instagram Live event on April 9, featuring their junior chef sharing tips for combating the afterschool slump. Viewers learned how to build a quick and healthful snack board using products from participating partners.

“At Harps, we believe in doing more than just feeding families - we believe in nourishing communities,” said Mike Roberts, Vice President of Produce at Harps Food Stores. “The Produce for Kids campaign aligns perfectly with our values, and that’s why we’ve proudly supported it for so many years. It gives us a unique opportunity to promote healthy choices in our stores while also giving back to families in need through Feeding America. It’s a win for our customers and our communities.”

This year’s campaign is supported by an all-star lineup of produce partners including Chelan Fresh, DOLE Fresh Vegetables, Farmer’s Promise, Greenridge Fruit Inc., Litehouse®, Red Sun Farms™, RPE, Shuman Farms, Suja Life, Sunkist®, T. Marzetti, Westfalia Fruit, ¡Yo Quiero! Brands, and Schraad Sales and Marketing.

To learn more and explore nutritious, family-friendly recipes, visit www.healthyfamilyproject.com.

MISSION, TX - Viva Fresh may be over, but the conversations that matter are still continuing. The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) invites produce professionals across North America to a free, live webinar this Thursday, April 17 at 12:00 PM CST for a deep dive into the reality of “on time and in full” in the face of changing trade and tariffs.

The webinar, “OTIF 2.0 – From KPI to Culture: Strengthening North America’s Fresh Supply Chain Through Trust, Digital Readiness & Cultural Relevance” will be presented by Manolo Reyes, a seasoned retail produce executive with senior leadership experience at Walmart, Costco, NatureSweet and Fresh Del Monte. With fresh insights following the tariff-focused discussion at Viva Fresh Expo in Houston, Reyes will break down how the fresh supply chain must evolve—not only to meet demand, but to build resilient, transparent partnerships in a time of geopolitical uncertainty, shifting consumer habits, and logistical strain.

“This is more than a logistics conversation—it’s a leadership conversation,” said Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of TIPA, in a recent press release. “We’re at a pivotal point in our industry where communication, trust, and cultural relevance matter just as much as product quality and price. Manolo has walked the walk at the highest level, and he brings real clarity to what buyers want, and how suppliers can deliver in today’s environment.”

• When: Thursday, April 17
• Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
• Registration: Zoom

The webinar will show how OTIF is no longer just a metric but a mindset covering communication as the currency of trust, how to build better win-win relationships and how to strengthen OTIF alignment and supply chain collaboration.

Growers, marketers, importers and retailers will all gain critical insights for navigating the road ahead—together. Registration is now open at Register Now:  Zoom

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Grimmway Farms, one of the world’s largest suppliers of carrots, is launching its newest innovation, Carrot Fries Air Fryer Kits. The new product line is the first carrot air fryer product on the market and will include two delicious flavors that perfectly complement the sweet, earthy flavor of carrots: Mediterranean Herb and Chipotle Maple.

In 2024, Circana estimated that roughly two-thirds of households own an air fryer and ranked the device as the fourth most popular cooking appliance behind the stove top, microwave, and oven. As the popularity of the air fryer continues to rise, Grimmway recognized the opportunity to create the new retail kit to offer a convenient, healthy, and delicious way to help shoppers increase their household’s vegetable consumption.

Designed with the time-strapped consumer in mind, each kit is complete with fresh double-crinkle carrot sticks, pre-portioned oil, cornstarch, and seasoning packets to create crispy, golden carrot fries in the air fryer in under 20 minutes.

The 13-ounce retail kit provides four servings per package, and with only 60 calories per serving, the crispy carrot fries are ideal for an easy, healthy side dish or snack.

David Bright, Vice President of Marketing for Grimmway Farms, explained the inspiration for the Carrot Fries Air Fryer Kits in a recent press release: “Everyone loves French fries, so crispy on the outside and tender inside, but generally recognized as a guilty pleasure laden with fat and sodium. Our new Carrot Fries are a new take on this classic favorite, combining the subtle sweetness of carrots with our bold Chipotle Maple spice or zesty Mediterranean Herb spice. Both kits quickly and simply produce delicious and crispy, healthy fries with minimal fat from fresh carrots. Grimmway’s Carrot Fries are a great way to add another serving of vegetables that everyone in the household will enjoy.”

ORLANDO, FL - Fresh Express®, the brand leader in value-added salads, has launched its most expressive campaign yet with Express Yourself—a national, multi-platform brand initiative designed to celebrate individuality, spark creativity, and reimagine salads as a personal canvas for self-expression.

The campaign rollout kicks off this spring across streaming TV, paid social, and digital. Through a series of colorful videos and creator partnerships, Fresh Express is encouraging consumers to see salad not just as food, but as a form of self-expression.

"With Express Yourself, we're inviting consumers to rediscover the joy of creating in the kitchen," said Fabian Pereira, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Fresh Express, in a recent press release. "Our salads are more than fresh and convenient—they're a way for people to showcase their personality through flavor. Whether it's a classic Caesar or a bold Southwest, every bite becomes a creative act."

Campaign Overview

The Express Yourself campaign is a multi-phased campaign unfolding throughout the spring and beyond. Creative phases include:

• Social Media Advertisements – vibrant, animated posts that capture attention and spark curiosity will feature colorful emojis and letters crafted from fresh greens, each uniquely representing an aspect of the Express Yourself story.
• Video Series –
  • Anthem video: The campaign teased with a visually rich Anthem Video celebrating creativity, connection, and individuality through food. The video brings to life the spirit of self-expression with Fresh Express salads as the centerpiece—where every meal becomes an opportunity to showcase your personality, tastes, and preferences.
• Engaging Culinary Content Creators – The brand will spotlight some of the most creative and inspiring recipes, showcasing how salad greens can be a true reflection of individuality. Fresh Express will harness the talent of culinary creators and skilled Registered Dietitians to push boundaries to craft bold and delicious recipes throughout the year.
• Consumer Activation - To celebrate innovation and further fuel excitement for the new campaign, Fresh Express is hosting the Express Yourself Recipe Contest. Now through June 1, fans are challenged to craft their most unique and expressive recipes using Fresh Express salads and share their creations HERE. One Grand Prize winner will receive a year's worth of Fresh Express Salads, plus other great prizes!

As the campaign continues through April and beyond, Fresh Express will keep the movement alive with fresh new content across its digital and social channels, showcasing influencer-driven recipes and seasonal challenges.

See the full release here.

LAS VEGAS, NV - As bridges continue to build around the store's perimeter, Sun World International recently shined a spotlight on its AUTUMNCRISP® grape variety—a sweet addition to the gourmet snacking space—for the specialty side of the industry at the Specialty Food Association's Winter Fancy Food Show.

“AUTUMNCRISP® is one of our varieties launched by Sun World,” Elena Hernandez, Director of Global Marketing Insights, shared exclusively with AndNowUKnow's sister publication, Deli Market News. “We have over 3,000 growers globally growing in 17 different countries, so we're able to offer year-round global supply.”

Drawing consumers in with quality and flavor, AUTUMNCRISP® grapes are sweet and juicy with a great crisp texture. As Elena shared, they go really well with savory options like different cheeses and meats for charcuterie boards, serving as a staple for gourmet snacking. If you’re looking for a way to promote specialty sales with a standout offering, look no further!

“Chefs really love having that flavor profile go with savory options,” Elena added. “We're open to talk to anyone that would like to have fruit in a fresh offering that would be a great bonus to options like meats and cheeses.”

Check out our exclusive video above to learn more!

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - This April, Chiquita is taking bananas to the next level with the launch of its national Chiquita Day campaign, rallying fans across the country to Be Bananas in the boldest, brightest, most joyful way possible. Rooted in the brand’s global Pop by Nature platform, the multi-channel campaign reimagines National Banana Day as a full-blown cultural moment—one that encourages people to embrace their silly side, celebrate color and creativity, and share feel-good energy with the world.

“Be Bananas is more than just a theme—it’s a mindset,” said Juliana Furlan, Director of Marketing at Chiquita North America, in a recent press release. “From surprise giveaways, art collaborations and feel-good moments, we’re inviting fans everywhere to tap into the vibrant spirit of Chiquita. It’s about showing up as your most joyful self—and having a little fun while you’re at it.”

At the heart of the campaign is the four-day Chiquita Day activation in Miami, a free, interactive pop-up that transforms the Aventura Mall into a Be Bananas zone of delight and discovery. Running April 16–19, the experience brings Chiquita’s iconic blue sticker to life through immersive art, technology and plenty of unexpected moments. This year’s activation is part of Chiquita’s global Pop by Nature campaign, a vibrant celebration of the brand’s bold personality and creative spirit, designed to connect with fans through color, movement and moments of delight.

Be Bananas: What to Expect

The National Chiquita Day campaign and activation at Aventura Mall features:

• Artist Meet & Greet Press Conference + Ribbon Cutting: Special media moment with artist Sebastián Curi, the creative force behind the 2025 Pop by Nature campaign. The event in Miami will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Curi and attendees will get an exclusive look at the inspiration behind his vibrant work.
• UGC Moments & Nationwide Giveaway: Fans across the U.S. are encouraged to show us how to Be Bananas on social with #ChiquitaDaySweepstakes and tagging @ChiquitaBanana on Instagram or @ChiquitaBananaOfficial on TikTok for a chance to win fun surprises, including one of 50 instant cameras customized with Curi’s artwork.*
  Immersive Kinect® Experience: Event visitors become the banana in an interactive, body-tracking digital game.
• Colorful Instagrammable Zones: Because Chiquita knows a banana day isn’t complete without a few shareable snaps in the banana-inspired backdrops.
• Creator Campaign: Dynamic creators will amplify the Be Bananas spirit, posting high-energy content, encouraging their audiences to join the fun, generate user content and enter the nationwide giveaway.
• Back Pack Social Giveaway: In continued celebration of Chiquita Day, the brand is hosting a social promotion to give away 1,000 “Pop by Nature” backpacks now through April 27. Visit @chiquitabanana on Instagram for more details!

Fans can visit the Aventura Mall in Miami to experience the Chiquita Day activation from April 16 to 19, 2025, running daily from the mall’s opening to closing. The event is completely free and open to the public, so whether you're swinging by for a quick selfie in front of the banana-inspired backdrops or planning to stay and dance like a digital banana in our Kinect® zone, there's something for everyone. Expect bold colors, big energy, surprise moments and a whole lot of bananas. Don’t forget to join the fun online using #ChiquitaDay and #ChiquitaDaySweepstakes—because this is one celebration that’s too a-peel-ing to miss.

Chiquita Day aims to spotlight the banana as the most joyful fruit on the planet—and no brand is better suited to lead that charge than Chiquita. The brand will also be providing exclusive behind-the-scenes access, event photography, and video content for press use. Additional amplifications and internal events are planned worldwide to extend the celebration even further.