NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA - It’s been over two years since we reported on Empire Company’s plans to convert its Sobeys and Safeway stores in Western Canada into the new FreshCo banner. Since then, FreshCo has managed to make some significant waves in the Canadian market. This week, Empire released more news on its banner expansion, teasing the first FreshCo locations in Alberta and four new stores in Manitoba.
“Breaking ground in Alberta is a significant milestone in our Western Canadian expansion. We have now opened or planned locations in every province in Western Canada,” said Mike Venton, General Manager of FreshCo. “Our FreshCo expansion into Western Canada is more relevant than ever before, as economic realities continue to shift. We are seeing a strong appetite for discount grocery options as the brand continues to resonate with the Western Canadian shopper.”
Since the first FreshCo opened in April 2019, the company has opened 14 FreshCo stores in British Columbia (BC) and two in Manitoba. By the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the company plans to open two additional FreshCo stores in BC and four in Saskatchewan, according to a press release.
The company will work with the union that represents impacted employees in Manitoba to ensure that all terms of the collective agreements are met. Options will be provided, including the opportunity to work at Safeway stores within the network or the new FreshCo locations.
The two Alberta FreshCo store locations announced today are both located in Edmonton, in Heritage, and Tamarack. The Tamarack location is a new construction site and the store is planned to open in Spring 2021.
The Sobeys store in Heritage will close for renovation in fall of 2020 with plans to open as FreshCo in spring of 2021. The four future Manitoba FreshCo store locations announced today are: Sargent, Niakwa Village, Pembina and McGillivray, and Henderson and Bronx. The Safeway locations will all close in fall of 2020 with plans to open as FreshCo in spring of 2021.
Keep your eye out for more of these monumental expansions as we continue to report at AndNowUKnow.
CHARLOTTE, NC - As animation experts continue to advance their skills and enrich the lives of children and adults alike, companies like Pixar Animation Studios tend to lead the pack. Leveraging Pixar’s iconic storytelling in its latest campaign, Dole recently kicked off an eight-month-long celebration of healthy living as well as the very real stories behind the millions of parents, grandparents, and others now building healthier, happier families at home.
“The filmmakers at Pixar have always done a masterful job telling incredibly moving human stories, even when the heroes are toys, cars, or fish. They remind us of the unbreakable bonds of families and friends, and our ability to achieve great things when we put our minds to it,” said Bil Goldfield, Dole’s Director of Communications. “We’re seeing this with all that is going on in 2020. Real courage, bravery, and strength are found everywhere and in everyday routines, and those of us at Dole can think of no better inspiration for the families and essential employees who continue to rise up to face challenges and strive for a healthier future.”
Calling upon the everyday triumphs of Pixar characters like Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, Carl from Up, and the Parr Family from The Incredibles, Dole is encouraging North Americans to make their own “healthy-at-home” success stories with original, character-inspired recipes, family-friendly activities, digital downloads, fun social activations, and nutritional tips from Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s Health and Nutrition Communications Manager.
The in-store and at-home promotion continues through December 2020 and is part of Dole’s long-term nutritional alliance with The Walt Disney Company to make healthy eating and a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables more fun and accessible to busy parents, as noted in a press release.
The collaboration launched May 4 with images of beloved characters from 15 Disney and Pixar films on millions of DOLE® Bananas and Pineapples in U.S. and Canadian supermarkets. Representing the first time that Dole has simultaneously featured multiple films from the same studio, the collectible banana stickers and pineapple tags celebrate Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL•E, Up, Brave, Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, Coco, and the new 2020 releases Onward and Soul.
Dole also created DOLE® Banana Sticker Peel and Play activity sheets to make it more engaging for kids and families to collect all 25 stickers featuring Disney and Pixar films and characters. The fun continues with the summer launch of a special Dole initiative themed to Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., and intended to take the scare out of adding more exotic fruits and vegetables to the mealtime routine. Come this fall, Disney and Pixar’s Ratatouille becomes the inspiration for a unique Dole campaign designed to prove that there can never be too many cooks in the kitchen.
Highlights of each initiative include original, character-inspired Dole recipes, including entrees, side dishes, salads, soups, sandwiches, smoothies, and desserts made with fresh fruits and vegetables; family-friendly serving suggestions and healthy eating and living tips from Marcus; fun social, digital, and influencer executions; blogger and influencer partnerships; and many other surprises.
For more ideas on how to keep the fresh produce magic alive, keep a tab open for ANUK.
UNITED STATES - If we were to speculate the soundtrack of Costco’s expansion plans, the High School Musical franchise’s iconic “Bop to the Top” has to be a contender. The wholesale giant always seems to be expanding its footprint around the world, literally bopping to the top of the global retail sector.
Last month, we reported that Costco is making plans for new store facilities in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Belleville, Canada. This week, we’re reporting that Costco is opening new locations in ANUK’s backyard and in Verona, Wisconsin.
Sacramento, California, recently welcomed a new Costco warehouse on June 4, 2020, according to CBS Sacramento. But, unlike other recent openings, this Costco is one of 19 in the country that specifically services restaurant businesses.
Over in Verona, Wisconsin, city leaders confirmed that the big-box behemoth will be opening a brand-new, 161,000-square-foot store under its traditional format. According to a report by Fox 47, pending approval, construction will kick off in the fall of 2021 or 2022.
Where will Costco bop to the top of the retail market next? AndNowUKnow will continue moving and grooving until the fresh produce news stops.
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) is appointing a special new subcommittee to investigate the role land adjacent to leafy greens farms plays in contributing to foodborne illness outbreaks.
“The role of the LGMA’s Adjacent Lands Subcommittee is to review current LGMA standards related to grazing lands and adjacent properties, gather all relevant research done by CPS or other entities and consult with stakeholders for additional input,” said Sharan Lanini, Pacific International Marketing, who serves as the Chair of the LGMA’s Technical Committee and will be leading this important effort. “As part of this effort, the subcommittee plans to look at a number of factors including distance; slope and other physical properties; the impact of weather; potential barriers such as berms, diversion ditches, or vegetative strips; and ‘good neighbor’ policies as they relate to properties located near leafy greens farming operations.”
According to a press release, the LGMA’s new committee is part of a comprehensive review of all existing food safety practices required under the LGMA program and is in direct response to findings from a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report issued last week. This FDA report detailed the FDA’s investigation of the three distinct outbreaks that occurred in the fall of 2019.
In the report, the e. coli strain linked to one of these outbreaks, along with other STEC strains, was detected in samples taken from cattle grazing land in proximity to where romaine lettuce crops were grown. The FDA has stated it believes ruminants, most likely cattle, are the source of contamination in these outbreaks. However, exactly how the pathogens end up on leafy greens remains a mystery.
“Current requirements under the LGMA call for assessments of environmental conditions in and around leafy greens fields,” said Scott Horsfall, CEO of the LGMA. “But it’s clear more can be done to keep pathogens out of our farms. Leafy greens farmers work hard every day to implement the best-known food safety practices. Ultimately, the LGMA is the entity charged with updating and improving these standards to better protect consumers. The input provided by the FDA report and the work being done by our subcommittees, researchers, and other stakeholders is critical to prevent future outbreaks.”
Dan Sutton, General Manager for Pismo-Oceano Vegetable Exchange and Chairman of the LGMA, added, “As leafy greens farmers, we are committed to doing everything possible to make sure our products are safe. If we knew what additional precautions could keep pathogens out of our fields, we would immediately make changes to our food safety program.”
The Subcommittee on Adjacent Lands is comprised of industry experts from LGMA member companies who will work closely with university and government researches in order to meticulously examine past and current studies from the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) and other relevant scientific research. In addition, the subcommittee will also engage with landowners of properties located near leafy greens farms. The subcommittee’s research, as with all areas of the LGMA’s required food safety practices, will provide recommendations as part of an open, collaborative process now underway for improving the safety of leafy greens—a process that is being facilitated by Western Growers.
Currently, this process is considering new standards for water used to grow leafy greens and for soil amendments and other crop inputs.
For more fresh produce news from around our industry, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
IDAHO FALLS, ID - The key to success is to always plan ahead. For Eagle Eye Produce, that strategic planning is paying off. Major investments in new storage technology over the past few years have allowed the grower to stand out against other potato suppliers. This is due to the fact that it can supply premium Idaho-Grown Red Potatoes at the local level.
“Historically, the storage crop Idaho-Grown Red Potatoes during this time of year see pressure bruising and the quality dips below strict guidelines to where suppliers look to pull from other regions,” said Jared Neville, Commodity Director. “This new proprietary storage method has allowed us to better control our quality to where we can continue to sell our local product. We are proud to be able to continue to supply our customers directly with product grown, packed, and shipped by us.”
As the industry trends toward better traceability and higher quality product, Eagle Eye Produce sees this as a major stepping-stone in achieving that balance. According to a press release, Eagle Eye Produce’s red potato crops are fully integrated with its other year-round potato programs. This industry-leading structure allows for one-stop loading of russet, red, yellow, and value-added products from its facilities in Idaho.
Eagle Eye Produce offers a wide array of retail and foodservice pack styles under several proven brands with the option for private labels and a national sales and marketing team to support its global customer base.
Keep a tab open as AndNowUKnow continues to bring updates from the fresh produce world.
WASHINGTON, DC - Great Lakes Packers Inc., which operates out of Bellevue, Ohio, has posted a $90,000 surety bond with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The company posted the bond to employ Andrew Weingart, as required by the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
In September 2018 the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) found that Forest City Weingart Produce Co., Cleveland, Ohio, committed repeated and flagrant violations of the PACA. Andrew Weingart was the President and a stockholder of the company during the violation period.
Any PACA licensee wishing to employ individuals who have failed to pay a reparation award, or have been subject to a USDA disciplinary action, must post a USDA-approved surety bond. The USDA will hold the $90,000 bond for four years and nine months, providing assurance to the industry that the firm will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct its business according to PACA rules.
The PACA Division, which is a part of AMS’ Fair Trade Practices Program, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to the PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contacts, and to read the press release in its entirety, please click the link here.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - United Fresh LIVE! is the show on every industry members' lips this week, with the show kicking off in mere days. Renaissance Food Group (RFG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calavo Growers, is one of many suppliers taking part in the virtual expo with a series of videos highlighting the company and all its innovative facets.
“As a company who prides itself on innovation, RFG is thrilled with the opportunity to showcase our products and company at United Fresh LIVE!,” said Raina Nelson, EVP of Business Development, who will start the series off on June 15 with a video detailing the exciting plans RFG has in store to navigate the future of its business. “United Fresh has placed careful and thoughtful consideration into this expo to create rich value for exhibitors and attendees alike. This is a pioneering moment for the trade show industry and United Fresh LIVE! is shaping the future in their ability to pivot to a unique, virtual platform. It is truly cutting edge.”
The video series will also highlight RFG’s company framework, chef product demonstrations, updates on the company’s nationwide production facilities, and its comprehensive food safety and quality program, according to a press release.
As part of the chef product demonstrations, RFG’s team of certified culinary chefs will host demos featuring some of the value-added innovator’s newest product lines, including Grab & Go, Summer Grilling, Organics, Foodservice, and Premium Trays.
The Grab & Go product line in particular is one worthy of its upcoming spotlight. Featuring an assortment of pre-cut fruit, snacks, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and parfaits designed for today’s consumer, the line complements any retail or foodservice program by offering fresh convenience and an alternative to in-store cutting and build-your-own stations.
In addition, RFG’s evolved Summer Grilling product line showcases the versatility, seasonality, and dynamic uses of items such as grilling kits, pre-made kabobs, and grill-ready vegetable blends.
If you’re intrigued, then Renaissance Food Group’s virtual booth should be your first destination as soon as the trade show opens its virtual doors! Be sure to register for the event if you haven't already!
And, who knows, maybe the ANUK will virtually see you there.
LUBBOCK, TX - United Supermarkets, a subsidiary of Albertsons and doing business as The United Family, has partnered with Radius Networks, a leading location-based technology company in grocery, restaurant, and retail. This new partnership will expand The United Family’s STREETside pickup program with new technology in the form of FlyBuy.
“As you can imagine, we are currently working on all cylinders to service our in-store, curbside, and delivery guests,” said Chris Farr, Director of E-Commerce at United Supermarkets. “Being able to reduce the guest wait time by preparing their order before they arrive is a game-changer. FlyBuy will be integrated with both our e-commerce and picking applications to streamline operations so there is very little disruption to the way our team members currently operate. This allows us to prioritize order fulfillment while creating a frictionless and personalized experience for our guests.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, curbside orders have more than tripled, and this new technology will help The United Family maximize efficiency. According to a press release, FlyBuy uses proprietary machine-learning technology to accurately calculate the guest’s arrival time. The guest places an e-commerce order and is notified when their order is ready for pickup.
Some notable features include receiving an accurate ETA, gaining visibility into the guest’s journey, and receiving timely alerts, which give team members time to fulfill the order and meet the guest as soon as they pull up.
“In light of current events, helping retailers with the significant increase in online orders is essential, and creating a smooth curbside or doorside pickup experience is more important than ever,” said Jeff Baskin, EVP of Global Partnerships at Radius Networks. “Associates inside of the store are working hard to keep food on the shelves, and we can help them maximize their efficiencies while creating a seamless experience for the customer at the curb. We are excited to partner with Chris and the innovative team at United Supermarkets to bring this technology to their associates and especially their customers.”
The real-time location updates are extremely helpful for team members, enabling them to prioritize orders based on guest arrival times and deliver the orders as soon as guests arrive in the STREETside pickup zone. Guests are provided with a fast and easy curbside experience and significantly decreased wait times, which is a crucial part of the pickup program.
To learn more about FlyBuy Pickup, click here.
For more fresh updates in the retail and produce industry, keep checking back to ANUK.
PORTLAND, OR - Highly sought-after fresh produce categories from Mexico have been a staple of the spring season, making their way to the produce aisles across the country. As Mexico winds down for companies like Bridges Produce, I got in touch with Sydney Fairchild, Marketing, Sustainability, and Compliance, to learn more about the grower’s successful Mexican harvest that has allowed it to meet its retail partners’ demands during a tight market.
“Mexico provides an essential fresh produce component on the world stage, and this spring we provided our customers with a wide range of organic items including zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, melons, hard squash, chili peppers, bell peppers, and cucumbers,” Sydney says. “Our ability to handle logistics, sales, and customer relationships is even more important than ever during these unprecedented times. With the constantly changing and evolving market, our focus on long term relationships allows more consistent sales for our grower partners as well as better service for our customers.”
With trade shows on hold and in-person meetings out of the question, for the time being, having a strong customer base with relationships built on trust also proves immensely beneficial to grower partners.
Bridges’ Mexican produce program will ramp back up in late September, and while that might seem like an entire season away, we all know how time flies in fresh produce.
“Come September, we will be shipping from the state of Sonora in Northern Mexico,” Sydney tells me. “Once the temperatures in Sonora begin to fall, we transition south to Sinaloa and finally move back to Sonora for the spring season.”
Limited supplies of melons, chilies, and a few other items will be available in the upcoming weeks but Bridges will have butternut squash available through June. Bridges’ organic Mexican cucumber program will also extend through the summer and merge with its fall program, making the grower’s Mexican cucumber program year-round.
“It is our first item out of Mexico to be year-round, and it adds to our year-round offerings which also include hard squash, apples, pears, potatoes, onions, and blueberries,” Sydney continues.
Most of Bridges’ Mexican partners are Fair Trade certified. Fair Trade is also available on all items by pre-order, so plan ahead and plan soon!
During the winter and spring months, Mexico offers great land and optimal weather to produce the volume of fresh produce needed to stock grocery store shelves with items such as squash, cucumbers, and peppers. The great variance in weather conditions across the country’s different regions of Mexico allows Bridges to take full advantage of its organic programs from early fall through late spring.
It sounds to me like a harmony of categories ready to put on a show for Bridges’ retail customers. Keep checking back as ANUK brings the latest in fresh produce.
MCLEAN, VA - Plant-based diets continue to dominate today’s consumer habits. A big part of that diet consists of nut proteins, making Gladstone Land Corporation’s latest acquisition a strategic power move. The company recently announced it acquired 590 gross acres of pecan farmland in Kern County, California, for approximately $14.2 million.
“The acquisition of this pecan orchard adds a new permanent crop type to our portfolio and should result in another good, long-term investment for us,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO. “In addition, in connection with this transaction, we are forming a new relationship with a very seasoned grower who has been in the pecan business for many years. We are continuing to evaluate a good list of potential farms to buy as we work toward another strong year in 2020 after a record year of acquisitions in 2019. Our goal is to continue to buy great farms with strong tenants and to increase the distributions on our common stock each quarter.”
At $24,067 per acre, the farm consists of 554 planted acres of mature pecan trees. In connection with the acquisition, Gladstone Land also entered into a 15-year, triple-net leaseback agreement with the seller, as stated in the news release.
Gladstone’s latest move follows two previous acquisitions, one in January in Colorado and one in May in Nebraska.
“We like sale-leaseback transactions as it is a wonderful way for us to grow our portfolio, and it also frees up cash for our tenants to further grow their businesses. This acquisition is just that, and it gets us into a desirable farming region we have not entered before and forges a new relationship with a long-time farmer in the business,” said Bill Reiman, Managing Director. “We are excited about this farm because of its good water, soil, and microclimate. In addition, since we did not buy the trees but only the land, we view this as a lower-risk investment, further diversifying our California portfolio.”
Where will Gladstone touch down next? ANUK will report the latest.