THE NETHERLANDS - In a joint deal that will dissolve DEEN, a grocery store operator in the Netherlands, Ahold Delhaize is taking over 39 stores from the chain. These 39 stores will be converted to the Albert Heijn banner.
“Together with the Deen family and the CEO of DEEN Supermarkets, we have extensively and carefully explored the options. We are happy that together with them, Vomar, and DekaMarkt, we have achieved this result today,” stated Marit van Egmond, CEO of Albert Heijn, in a press release. “For Albert Heijn, it is a unique addition to our store base in North Holland and an important strategic step. DEEN is a traditional Dutch family business, committed with heart and soul to their employees and customers. The expertise, the experience in the stores, and their strong commitment to the community are a great fit with everything we also stand for. Together with DEEN’s employees, we look to the future with confidence.”
Competitors Vomar Voordelmarkt and DekaMarkt were also part of the deal, with the former buying 22 stores and the latter buying 19.
Financial details were not disclosed at this time. It is expected that the transaction will close sometime later this year.
Although the move is international, it speaks to Ahold’s thirst for expansion and bringing unique retail formulas to market. We expect that this type of behavior will naturally translate to Ahold’s U.S. foothold.
Keep reading us here as we continue to cover the latest in all things retail.
AMADO, AZ - Sustainability is at the forefront of Wholesum’s most recent growth strategy. Aiming to up shopper loyalty across the produce aisle, the company has unleashed a new line of packaging set to hit shelves later this month. The new line will be featured across Wholesum’s organic slicer cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, and tomatoes on the vine.
“Being an organic grower not only means exploring and implementing sustainable farming practices, but also creating sustainable packaging that won’t be detrimental to the earth,” says Ricardo Crisantes, Chief Commercial Officer. “It has been a long road of research and prototype testing, but we are very pleased with what we can now offer our customers and consumers.”
The new packaging features a recyclable and biodegradable corrugated formed tray, as well as a biodegradable band. Each tray is custom made to fit two counts of each vegetable and one pound of tomatoes on the vine. Moisture-resistant and sturdy, the trays ensure breathability, visibility, and food safety from farm to shelf, as noted in a press release.
Each band is a distinct and vibrant color, which was specifically selected to create a rich color contrast against the packed vegetables and the tray design. Stackable and easy to prop up, the packs can be used to create beautiful and colorful retail displays, offering endless opportunities to get creative with merchandising.
“The need for packaging has greatly increased the past year due to COVID-19, and the growth of e-commerce along with the need for more sustainable options, so the timing of our new packaging couldn’t be more relevant,” says Crisantes. “We are confident that the new line of packaging will align well with our customers and their consumers’ needs, and we are excited to see the success across retail and digital shelves.”
Wholesum has been exploring new packaging alternatives that significantly reduce and/or eliminate the use of non-renewable resources such as plastic that can end up in landfills. The company has worked to impact the food system, promoting human wellbeing and ecological balance while growing flavorful produce.
New packaging with a sustainable focus to boot? That is a produce aisle sales driver if I’ve ever seen one. For more ways to capture shopper dollars with fresh, keep clicking back to ANUK.
DALLAS, TX - Avocados From Mexico (AFM) took a big risk this Super Bowl season, and it paid off in a big way. After six years of successful advertising for the Big Game, the avocado company made the decision not to air a Super Bowl commercial this year, and instead introduced a new strategy to promote and drive retail sales during the fall season to prepare the market for the Big Game.
"We had plans to pivot our strategy ahead of the pandemic, and I'm impressed with the results in a year rocked by challenges," said Alvaro Luque, President and CEO of Avocados From Mexico. "We decided some time ago that we wanted to start changing the sales dynamic of the industry and reinforce fall as a key season for AFM in preparation for an unprecedented Big Game push. Given the impressive results, we will continue with this strategic approach. Following this proven formula, we are already working on the biggest promotional program for Cinco de Mayo.”
AFM’s strategy to reinforce avocado sales during the final quarter of 2020 and first weeks of 2021 led to one of its most successful Big Game digital campaigns to date, as well as record-breaking imports, according to a press release. The company’s “Guac Bowl” campaign featured a fully integrated shopper and digital campaign that included major football stars like Hall of Famer and Sports Newscaster Troy Aikman, as well as fellow Sports Newscaster Erin Andrews.
Successes and key aspects of the campaign include:
- The "Guac Bowl" program drove baskets and consumption with a national shopper marketing campaign themed around Game Day Guacamole
- In-store POS materials and displays featured Aikman and Andrews that served as guacamole destinations throughout the stores. With more than 51,000 equivalized displays in over 65 accounts, this is AFM's largest shopper and trade marketing program for the Big Game to-date
- Shoppers were able to immerse themselves in a Virtual Guac Bowl Stadium at the POS by scanning the QR code on AFM's materials; this digital experience served as a one-stop shop to celebrate the Big Game, with exclusive messages from Aikman and Andrews, game day guacamole recipes, and the chance to win limited-time only avocado gear and weekly prizes of $1,000, as well as the opportunity to enter to win the grand prize
- This digital activation drove an unprecedented engagement with AFM audiences throughout January, delivering over two billion social impressions during just the first week, and paved the way for AFM to set a historical record for the brand of six billion social impressions in total. To put this in context, AFM achieved this amount of brand impressions in three prior Big Game campaigns combined
Avocados From Mexico’s approach led to several new records. Despite the changes in retail and demand caused by the pandemic, the U.S. imported a record 277 million pounds of Mexican avocados in the first four weeks of 2021, that is a 19 percent increase from the same period of 2020. Additionally, 78 million pounds of Mexican avocado imports were recorded in a single week for the first time ever.
Between October and December (OND), the avocado market sustained over a 49-million-pound weekly average in 2020 of Mexican fruit compared to the 46-million-pound weekly average in 2019.
"For six consecutive years we had delivered the No. 1 or No. 2 digital Big Game campaigns. We thought we had our formula down and that our performance was maxed out. However, this campaign proved that there is always more room for growth," said Ivonne Kinser, Head of Digital Marketing. "We learned that playing hard within a territory that we own like avocado recipes, and with a simplified message aimed to drive purchase intent, can go a long way."
With a 97 percent market share in OND, the company pivoted its strategy to focus on driving retail demand and expanding its retail programs. The new strategy included not only its Super Bowl campaign, but a $500K home giveaway, a national incentive contest with over 35 participating retailers, consumer and loyalty offers, and an emphasis on bagged fruit programs.
According to Nielsen data, the risk paid off and consumption during OND was up double digits across the U.S. with an increase of 16.5 percent in volume compared to OND 2019.
"Our campaign helped reinforce our association with football in an effort to generate excitement with our retailers and drive baskets for the #1 guacamole occasion of the year. A combination of a very strong promotable market and robust trade and shopper marketing programs contributed to driving consumption and demand to sustain our biggest OND ever, a great segue leading up to our record-breaking Big Game season," said Stephanie Bazan, Vice President, Trade and Market Development.
How will AFM’s strategy continue to benefit the company as the year progresses? Stick with AndNowUKnow as we bring you the answers.
ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods is taking the “new year, new me,” mindset to the next level as it has announced that it will be rebranding its Smart Foodservice® Warehouse Stores. The distributor has revealed that the chain of cash and carry markets, which it aquired in March 2020, will now go by CHEF’STORE® effective March 1, 2021. The rebrand will bring together the power of the US Foods brand with the customer service, pricing, and variety of Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores to create an upgraded customer experience. US Foods has also unveiled two new store openings to help usher in the rebrand.
“Our new CHEF’STORE branding represents the next step in our continued partnership with US Foods,” said Derek Jones, President, US Foods CHEF’STORE. “Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores and US Foods share a commitment to providing best-in-class service to our broad customer base, which includes restaurant operators and foodservice professionals. We are excited about the additional benefits this will offer our loyal customers.”
As a part of the rebrand, all of Smart Foodservice Warehouse's 72 stores will get new signage, marketing and promotional material, and associate uniforms, according to a press release. Additionally, over time US Foods' exclusive brands will be introduced to help grow the product assortment offered in stores.
In tandem with the new rebrand, US Foods has also announced the opening of two new CHEF’STORE locations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Clarkston, Washington. The stores will be opening their doors on March 1, in line with the official rebrand unveiling.
The newly opened CHEF'STOREs will act as a one-stop shop for restaurant operators and food industry professionals, featuring thousands of food products from fresh produce to fresh meat, as well as restaurant-grade equipment and supplies. The stores will be open to the public with no membership required.
The addition of the two new stores will bring the number of CHEF’STORE locations to 80 across the U.S.
As US Foods continues to expand its footprint in the retail sector with its CHEF’STORE banner, AndNowUKnow will bring you the latest.
GONZALES, CA - Misionero’s distribution operation gained a strategic ally this week, as the grower recently announced a new supply-side partnership. Teaming up with Grupo Altex, an agricultural company in Mexico, Misionero will be able to expand across the United States and Canada as well as explore new opportunities in Mexico.
"We're excited to partner with Altex, as the company's culture and values align with what we've built since Harbinger Group acquired Misionero in 2016," said Joe Merenda, President of Misionero. "The expertise in protected farming and the use of technology will allow us to bring greater value to our customers. Our shared vision for opportunities within our industry will ensure both an exciting and rewarding future."
The partnership will add resources, growing regions, and processing capabilities, allowing for better distribution, according to a press release. Created with the customer in mind, the partnership will lead to a product catalog expansion for Misionero's value-added vegetables, salad blends and kits, and hydroponic lettuces.
Both companies are committed to their cultural foundations and investing in their communities, each of which are led by the desire to build a world-class operation. Misionero has focused on social responsibility through its Equitable Food Initiative certifications, while Altex built the "Agricultural Entrepreneurs" program, which has graduated over 800 farmers.
"When we had the opportunity to visit the team in person, we recognized the natural, cultural fit," said Mauricio Servitje, Corporate Director at Grupo Altex. "Combined with strategic alignment, the path to the partnership was a natural fit, allowing Grupo Altex better access and distribution to the U.S. and Canadian markets."
How will Misionero leverage its newfound prowess in the Mexican market? Stay tuned as ANUK reports.
KEASBEY, NJ - Wakefern Food Corp. has entered an esteemed retail partnership this week as the company joins other big-name players in upping the industry’s sustainable efforts. Becoming a part of the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag and its Beyond the Bag Initiative, Wakefern will work alongside a collective of retailers to identify, test, and scale solutions for a more consumer-friendly, sustainable retail bag.
"For more than four decades the Wakefern Cooperative has supported sustainability through efforts such as recycling plastic bags and other materials, reducing food waste, and implementing energy efficient technology at retail and in our distribution centers. Encouraging our customers to use reusable bags to shop and reducing dependency on single use plastic and traditional paper bags is another important part of our commitment to the environment,” said Karen Meleta, Wakefern’s Chief Communications Officer. “We believe the best bag is a reusable bag, and we are proud to work with fellow Consortium Partners and innovators to create an even better retail bag and further advance our waste reduction initiatives.”
The Beyond the Bag Initiative is a three-year effort to create sustainable and cost-effective retail bag solutions. Founding partners include Target and Walmart, working alongside other retailers Dollar General, Kroger, Albertsons Companies, Hy-Vee, Meijer, and more. The Consortium engages with stakeholders including suppliers, materials recovery facilities, municipalities, advocacy groups, and others. The Consortium takes a holistic approach to identify and scale affordable, accessible, and less wasteful retail bag alternatives, spanning multiple complementary workstreams, spurring innovation, advancing materials recovery through infrastructure investments, and identifying best practices for policy and engaging consumers.
Wakefern’s banners already carry a variety of reusable bags, and the company looks forward to discovering even better, more sustainable designs for a better bag at checkout, according to a press release.
“Wakefern’s connection to the communities its stores serve, and its alignment with the Consortium’s broader vision, lays the essential foundation for meaningful impact at scale,” said Kate Daly, Managing Director of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, which launched the Consortium. “We are thrilled to welcome Wakefern Food Corp. to the Consortium to help build more pathways for collaboration that will create and incentivize sustainable, long-term change for retail.”
As more retailers join in on this valiant effort, our team at AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date.
MEXICO - Prime Time International’s Mexico harvest is officially in full swing, showing off the grower’s product versatility as it brings bell peppers, mini peppers, and asparagus to the U.S. market.
“From Valentine’s Day through the Easter pull, the supply from Mexico should be very good, then will begin to gradually taper off. In early spring, the transition from predominantly Mexican-grown produce to more abundant U.S.-grown items will occur,” Katy Johnson, Marketing, shares.
She points out that, right now, there are a lot of players in the game and as a result, prices are all over the board.
“We are experiencing very typical winter market conditions where there is a lot of fluctuation. These trends do not usually last more than a few weeks, though, and the markets tend to strengthen as supply decreases toward the latter part of the season,” Katy says.
With the Nogales, Arizona, season currently at its peak, supply of most produce items from Mexico should be at promotional levels. As for blessings and challenges, Katy points out that there have been both and all rests in the hands of Mother Nature.
“Other than rain and some cool temperatures, Mother Nature has been fairly kind this year as far as growing conditions. On the flip side, the extreme cold and wintery weather that the vast majority of the U.S. has been experiencing recently, combined with continuing COVID-19 obstacles, has slightly hindered retail and foodservice purchases of fresh items,” she explains.
It is in both strategy and versatility that Prime Time has managed to take on such obstacles. Currently, the grower is shipping from multiple U.S. locations along with Nogales, including San Diego, El Centro, Coachella, and Somis, California. Additionally, the team is shipping asparagus from Peru from its new Miami, Florida, facility—an addition Katy says there will be more to share on soon.
“Between asparagus and peppers, there has definitely been a lot going on. For now, as a result of having various growing regions and facilities in Mexico, supply is plentiful and quality is very good,” she concludes.
With much still clearly on the horizon for this ever-expanding company, be sure to keep an eye on AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest.
MONTEREY, CA - Like a beacon of light in the produce aisle, organics continue to serve as valuable tools at retail. The Organic Produce Network (OPN) knows this well, and aims to leverage its insights in order to support the industry’s growth. The organization recently released its inaugural State of Organic Produce 2020 report, which provides an overview of how organics performed last year, including data and analysis of organic fresh produce sales at retail.
“Organic produce took center stage in 2020 retail sales. The connection consumers made between their personal health and fresh produce is crystal clear in the data shared in this first-ever report. Organic produce is, and will remain, a key driver of retail sales,” said Tonya Antle, Co-Founder.
The newly published report includes information related to:
- The year-over-year growth of organic fresh produce compared to conventional
- Region-specific organic produce performance
- The top 10 organic produce items (in both sales and volume)
- The percentage change in year-over-year monthly produce sales for both conventional and organic
Additionally, the report contains retailer and wholesaler feedback on last year’s record-breaking sales of organic fresh produce. According to the report, which is available for viewing here, organic produce sales were up 14.2 percent in 2020, leading the industry to surpass a total of $8.5 billion in sales.
In partnership with Category Partners, OPN provides quarterly updates of organic fresh produce sales throughout the year. State of Organic Produce 2020 provides a deeper dive into last year’s sales of leading organic fresh produce items and how they fared compared to their conventional counterparts.
The 68-page report includes commentary from several of the industry’s major trade organizations and associations, showcasing their work in promoting and protecting the integrity of organic fresh produce. In addition to the downloadable version of the report, hard copies are being mailed to nearly 1,000 retailers.
Be sure to check out OPN’s report to see which produce categories took the cake in 2020. As we continue to scour the newswires for the latest updates, keep checking back with ANUK.
THE UNITED STATES - Thinking back on the technological innovation that has occurred in the past year alone is mind blowing, and as our industry continues to increasingly become a part of the evolution, pivotal partnerships have been formed to drive forward this initiative. Nexxt Solutions and Librestream have recently joined together to introduce augmented reality to the produce industry, unveiling a new platform that will provide smart data and guidance to increase operational efficiency.
“Our industry deals with perishables, and any idle time generates losses. I like this solution because many clients cannot afford to wait for service when personnel changes or equipment issues can prove so costly” said Marco Bini, Principal of Nexxt Solutions. “Librestream provides an exciting evolution in technology that allows to quickly and easily place any operator in touch with the expert of any company supplying equipment or services. The customer can start with a simple set up and can build and expand as needed. Guidance and solutions are immediately accessible as the expert becomes virtually present on the location. Librestream provides the hardware and the software to build on this foundation.”
The technology, known as Onsight, will be able to empower workers and customers with immediate access to content, people, smart data, and guidance that is needed to not only inspect, but quickly solve challenges that arise. With the simple click of a button, operators can stream hands-free video to an expert and in return receive instructions and training on how to resolve the issue, drastically cutting down troubleshooting and downtime.
The Onsight technology can be applied in the packing house and in the field in areas including:
- Verifying and support using remote expert video assistance
- Gaining consistency and productivity through digital work instructions
- Creating intelligent data with AI Computer Vision
- Capturing and centralizing content for training and audits
- Visualizing IoT data from test instruments and data sources
Increased automation and remote working requires utilizing systems that leverage intelligence across organizations and operations. With this technology continuing to trend upward, an acceleration in decisions, reduced costs, increased productivity, and improved worker safety are all in the cards for those using these systems.
To see an example of the technology at work, click here.
As technology continues to make strides in the fresh produce industry, AndNowUKnow will keep you updated on the latest advancements.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Lunar New Year is a time for celebrating. Whether it be celebrating health, family, or the spirit of the occasion, many Southeast Asian countries look forward to the start of the Lunar New Year as a symbol for new beginnings and a reflection of fond memories. Regardless of the country of origin, I can speak for many that nothing ties bonds stronger than food.
Food is symbolic across every culture, and it takes a central role in Lunar New Year celebrations. My family draws on our Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, and I gotta say, our family sure loves to cook up a storm. Various veggies, succulent meats, and a bevy of fresh fruit come out to play leading up to and during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Before today, the start of the new lunar calendar, my family has traded boxes of oranges, zung (glutinous rice cake wrapped in banana leaves), citrus plants, and auspicious apples—and that’s just the beginning.
Family gatherings take place throughout the 16-day holiday. Preparations take all day to bring together a dinner feast that can spread across two or three tables. I must repeat, there are multiple days throughout the holiday where my family gets together for our feasts. Dishes can include:
- Steamed bok choy or choy sum
- Braised shiitake mushrooms
- Red jujube (dried red dates) cakes
- Spring or egg rolls (sometimes both!)
- Braised fish
- Chinese steamed chicken
- Roasted duck
- Chinese egg cakes
- Longevity noodles
- Ginger scallion lobster
- Crispy pork
- Fish maw soup
Each year has its own elemental aspect too, in addition to the representative animal. There are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. As this year marks the beginning of the Year of the Metal Ox, some things to know for those born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, and 2021 are:
- Lucky numbers are 1 and 4, unlucky numbers are 5 and 6
- Lucky flowers are peach blossoms and tulips
- Lucky colors are white, yellow, and green whereas blue is unlucky
- Famous people include Barack Obama, Vincent Van Gogh, Walt Disney, and Margaret Thatcher
However you celebrate Lunar New Year in your household, you can’t go wrong with fresh produce at the center of the plate. So bring in some luck this year with close family and friends, and celebrate with ANUK as we cover more holidays.