ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods has been popping up on our radar pretty frequently as of late, recently teaming up with retailers and even Chef Rick Bayless. Now, the foodservice distributor has yet another bevy of moves. The company announced that affiliates of global investment firm KKR have agreed to purchase $500 million in newly issued convertible preferred stock of US Foods. US Foods also announced its $970 million acquisition of Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores will be finalized by April 24, 2020.
“We are pleased to see KKR return as a shareholder of US Foods as we seek to further fortify our balance sheet during the current difficult environment,” said US Foods Chairman and CEO Pietro Satriano. “KKR will be a valuable partner for us as we continue to focus on our associates, customers, communities, and shareholders as the impacts of COVID-19 unfold. This transaction positions us to continue to build on our strengths as the environment improves over time.”
In connection with this transaction, US Foods expects to appoint Nate Taylor, Partner and Co-Head of Americas Private Equity at KKR, as a new Director to its Board.
“We are excited to once again partner with the strong management team at US Foods,” Taylor said. “Given our history as a long-term investor in the company, we are very familiar with the sector and US Foods’ leading position and believe the company has the capabilities and resources to navigate the current environment and create value over the long term.”
KKR is funding the investment primarily through its KKR Americas XII Fund. According to a press release, the $500 million convertible preferred stock investment carries a 7 percent dividend, which will be payable in-kind in its first year and in cash or in-kind, at US Foods’ option, thereafter. For more details of the transaction, you can read the announcement in its entirety here.
US Foods will close its previously announced acquisition of Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores. Smart Foodservice operates 70 small-format cash-and-carry stores across California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Montana that serve small and mid-sized restaurants and other food business customers with a broad assortment of products.
With another investment and acquisition under its belt, what other plans might US Foods have in store? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest in the retail, foodservice, and fresh produce sector.
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - Any “quiet” in this industry generally means there is a nose to the grindstone. True to this form is Mucci Farms, the epitome of the calm before a storm of introductions, activity, and announcements. The team has dug extra deep into its work as of late and is emerging with both expanded offerings and an increased awareness of its appreciation for those behind the curtain.
“Building on the momentum of our lit culture winter program, we are transitioning to the local season with an emphasis on our cucumber offerings. The demand we saw over the last several months spoke volumes, so we’ve been able to dedicate a significant acreage of our farms to organic cucumbers and our award winning CuteCumber™ Poppers,” explains Joe Spano, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “CuteCumber Poppers have been quite a hit and in high demand as they are a unique take on what you would normally see in the cucumber category. They are one-bite, finger length cucumbers that have an exceptional crunchy texture. It’s also a very versatile product as it’s suitable for children just based on size, but also great for adults as a no-prep snack. You can put them in a salad, use with a dip, or just have them on their own. The convenience factor is a premium feature.”
Keeping in mind, too, that consumers are looking to streamline their grocery trips while, at the same time, retailers are looking to keep traffic flowing, the team reassured me it remains a strong ally to both.
“We continue to search for and use the most sustainable and cost-efficient packaging options available to preserve product quality, and most importantly right now, maximize shelf-life, which will reduce the amount of trips consumers have to make to supermarkets,” Joe says.
On the supply-side, buyers can rest assured that product going into the package was handled with premium safety in mind, both for those that do the packing and to whom each fruit and veg is intended for.
“Our Operations teams have done a fantastic job with keeping our team safe by providing them with additional PPE and implementing new policies and procedures consistent with direction from our Public Health Officials, while our HR team has created incentive programs as a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifice made by our staff and their families,” says Gianni Mucci, Vice President of Operations.
Such programs work to treat and thank everyone on the front line, from greenhouse and warehouse teams to forklift and truck drivers, and those adjusting to working remotely while continuing to get the job done.
“We are so proud and grateful for our front line staff that is working diligently under unique circumstances to make sure the supply chain remains as unaffected as possible,” Gianni shares with me. “It goes without saying, but we certainly have a new found appreciation for our team and all the essential workers across the world.”
Mucci Farms has also worked to show gratitude to those in the community, contributing to key entities such as hospitals and local charities. And, of course, by bringing the healthiest, safest product it can to market.
“With a focus on health taking center stage, we think greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables that are harvested, packed, and shipped with the highest of quality standards should be at the forefront of produce departments,” Joe concludes.
Thank you not just to Mucci, but all the essential workers that ensure the very first line of defense for health, fruits, and vegetables, gets to the public across the globe.
SACRAMENTO, CA - As one continues to build their professional career, a resume is probably the most powerful tool to have in our back pockets. It’s a convenient resource for not only prospective employers but for ourselves. In light of the recent events surrounding COVID-19, there’s no better time to update that ol’ curriculum vitae. We tapped our good friend and expert in the field, Rex Lawrence, Founder and President of Joe Produce and JoeProResumes.com, to glean some insights on how to make a strong resume in today’s age.
“The ROI on a resume is HUGE. We encourage professionals to invest their time and/or money into making their resumes stand out from the mediocre masses. Be prepared!” Rex said. “For some of us right now, it’s about necessity due to layoffs and furloughs. For others, it’s about being proactive. Either way, I encourage you to be prepared—have a solid resume prepared.”
For that, Rex came ready with some tips in hand. In our sister publication, The Snack, we published critical steps to take while job hunting. One vital component is to have a solid resume. It may seem daunting at first, but a carefully crafted resume is valuable and can be quite rewarding when completed. We asked Rex what quick tips he could provide, and he didn’t disappoint:
- Always be honest
- Do not include your street address—city, state, and zip are enough
- Resumes are strategic marketing documents with one purpose—to get you to the interview. Do your selling and get into details at the interview
- Know your target audience
- Know the job(s) you’re targeting
- Accentuate your positives and de-emphasize your negatives/weaknesses
- Remember, employers want to understand how you fit their needs and create ROI
- Two or three pages are fine. White space is good in terms of ease of reading
- Worth saying it again, but in another way—your resume is marketing you and NOT selling you. No one gets a job only from the resume, so don’t try to have everything on your resume
- Be prepared for an interview. Know your resume 100 percent. Be prepared to speak about every point on your resume. Be able to answer this question: “So tell me about this?”
“Over the years, we have shared information about the importance of various aspects to finding and securing a great job, and it’s now more important than ever,” continued Rex. “At the very least, when you finish creating or updating your resume, you should feel great about your career and accomplishments. I can't tell you how many times I’ve heard from customers how they enjoyed the process with our professional resume writer, and how much better they feel about the body of their work.”
Rex and I share a mutual love for quotes and mottos, so we would like to leave you with a list of inspirational quotes to ponder:
- “I don’t believe in luck, I believe in preparation.” - Bobby Knight
- “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” - Bobby Unser
- “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” - Abraham Lincoln
- “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.” - Stephen Keague
- “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin
- “Prepare the umbrella before it rains.” - Malay Proverb
- “Our confidence comes from our preparation.” - Ronaldinho
Carpe diem, everyone! Having a solid resume will only benefit you in the long run.
As we bring you more insights from experts in the field, keep checking in with ANUK.
CHARLOTTE, NC - A boost of morale can come in many forms, and for consumers on National Banana Day (April 15), that form was the bright and happy shape of a banana. As part of its mission to support families during this time, Dole Food Company rolled out a new Healthy-at-Home Video Series featuring Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, and Dole’s Health and Communications Manager.
The series showcases all the delicious and versatile uses for bananas in everyday eating experiences—a message both retailers and consumers can get behind. Marcus kicked the series off on National Banana Day by (virtually) inviting consumers into her kitchen as she prepared her recipe for Chocolate Banana Ice Cream (aka Frozen Banana Blast), which is one of Marcus’ favorite personal recipes because it only involves four ingredients: frozen DOLE® Bananas, cocoa powder, vanilla, and almond milk.
The first video will be followed by others highlighting healthy, easy-to-make, and produce-forward Dole recipes. Each was created in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), a national nonprofit that is working with Dole to build healthier kids and families, according to a press release.
The video series builds upon Dole’s At-Home Resource Page, which features helpful family resources, new nutrition tips, kid-friendly recipes, free printables, at-home activity ideas, research-backed suggestions from Marcus, and—new this month—downloadable ‘thank you’ cut-and-color cards that visitors can address to those who have helped support others during the COVID-19 outbreak. A highlight of the page is the online Healthy Eating Toolkit created by Dole and AFHK for parents trying to keep housebound kids happy and healthy.
The videos will be posted on Dole’s Facebook page. Retailers looking to take advantage of this unique opportunity can join Dole in promoting bananas and other fresh produce items as healthy morale-boosting grocery cart-musts.
For more of the latest fresh produce news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
PORTLAND, OR - A fresh new look is all it takes to brighten up a product portfolio, as Twin River Berries has already found out. The produce marketing company recently launched its new branding in March, which extends across its entire berry line.
“We represent growers of all sizes all around the world, and we were craving that frontline connection to our journey and values. We rebranded to visually bridge the gap between premium growers and premium outlets,” said Ben Escoe, Managing Partner.
The comprehensive rebrand includes premium labels, boxes, and marketing materials, which create easy, consistent promotional opportunities for retailers, the company noted in a press release.
Seeking out transparency in the marketplace, Twin River’s new branding is simple and straightforward. The window on each label showcases a connection to the beautiful fruit that Twin River represents.
“Berries are a happy everyday item, and we wanted to highlight that sense of delight through a playful palette and modern design. Our new look and feel cuts through the noise and focuses on the fruit. This simplicity opens opportunities to easily cross-promote with beverage or grocery items, which is one of the many ways we can add value to our retailer partners,” remarked Amelia Beckel, Marketing and Compliance Coordinator.
Across the board, the Twin River team is thrilled about the launch of its rebrand, with each company member working to continue to support farms across the globe.
“We have experienced fantastic growth and feel very fortunate to have year-round, premium supply,” said Melyssa Sharp, Sales Manager. “We are grateful to work with some of the best retailers and growers in the business.”
As Twin River continues its mission to provide fresh produce for all, its fresh packaging will hit retail stores over the next few months.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in rebrands, launches, and more.
WATSONVILLE, CA - The illustrious Mike O’Brien has announced his retirement after 48 years in the produce industry. O’Brien will be transitioning out of his position as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Monterey Mushrooms, where he has spent the last six years.
“It’s all about people,” O’Brien said. “No matter what your job: retail, grower-shipper, or volunteer. Be humble and show respect for others. Life is short and we all want to accomplish a lot. But none of us accomplish much without the help and support of others.”
O'Brien joined the mushroom grower in 2014 after a 42-year career with Schnuck Markets, Inc., in St. Louis, Missouri, where he started as a bagger and moved up from Clerk to Store Manager and into senior leadership before holding the position of Vice President of Produce and Floral for 14 years.
While with Monterey Mushrooms, O’Brien developed a reputation for excellence in sales, marketing, and consumer trends. Under his tenure, the company became one of the largest mushroom grower-shippers in North America.
Among his other career highlights, O’Brien counts receiving the Donald O. Schnuck Award for Customer Service when he was at Schnucks. At Monterey Mushrooms, he noted the highlight has been learning a new industry and working with great people, especially CEO Shah Kazemi who O’Brien said is an inspirational leader.
“Mike is an authentic, strong, committed, and compassionate leader who powerfully takes stands on the people and projects with which he is engaged,” Kazemi said. “It’s been a joy to have him be part of our executive team and he will be greatly missed.”
It is with great enthusiasm that Monterey Mushrooms named Brian Jenny as O’Brien’s successor. While they are big shoes to fill, the company is excited for the experience he will bring to the new role.
"Brian’s unique skills and insight will enhance our efforts to accelerate Monterey Mushrooms' growth," Kazemi said. "We know he will be an outstanding addition to our team."
Holding an MBA from St Louis University, O'Brien was Chairman of the Produce for Better Health Foundation in 2007 and Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association in 2011.
O’Brien announced his retirement to spend more time with his wife, Theresa, and their three grandchildren. His plans for retirement include volunteering in the produce industry, playing guitar, attending live music events, travel, charity work, and spending time with his family.
We at AndNowUKnow wish Mike O’Brien the best in his endeavors and congratulate Brian Jenny on his new position!
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM - Innovation and technology continue to grow and expand in the produce world. In light of the recent coronavirus, these technological solutions have become a valuable tool to support social distancing measures for customers. Asda, a Walmart division in the United Kingdom, is benefitting from such advancements by expanding its Scan & Go Mobile offering to all 581 stores.
“We’re always looking for ways to make shopping with us as easy as possible and offer options that suit our customers’ needs,” said Louise Bagshaw, Senior Director of Retail and Front End Innovation at Asda. “The accelerated roll-out of Scan & Go Mobile provides another option when shopping in all of our stores that is contact-free to bring added peace of mind during these uncertain times.”
According to a release, the mobile service is live in every Asda store, and customers can download the app on their phone and use it to scan and pack their groceries as they shop. The move sees the service introduced to an additional 223 Asda stores.
The supermarket recognizes shopper and employee safety is more important than ever before, so the roll-out of Scan & Go Mobile should offer peace of mind in these uncertain times, enabling consumers to shop, pack, and checkout contact-free.
“We understand that this option may not be suitable for all of our customers and continue to follow strict social distancing in our stores, to help keep our customers and colleagues safe—no matter how they shop with us,” continued Bagshaw.
Shoppers can also keep tabs on their spending as they go, helping to save money and keep an eye on their budget.
Asda also announced it is extending opening hours in all stores to give customers even more time to shop, opening between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
For more updates on the retail and fresh produce sector, keep clicking back to AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - Industry leader and passionate produce advocate Tim York has his sights set on the summer for two reasons. One, it will be peak season for some of his favorite produce items and two, the 40-year industry veteran is hanging up his hat as the President of the Markon Cooperative this June and shifting gears. Feeling energized about the road ahead, Tim joins me to talk about his time with Markon, his departure from the industry giant, and what lies ahead.
“I am incredibly grateful for the time I have spent with Markon and its amazing team of passionate produce professionals and friends,” Tim tells me. “My time at the company has provided me opportunities to learn and grow in a progressive, supportive, and forward-thinking environment. While I will miss my day-to-day role with Markon, I am excited to see the operation grow and to take a new path ahead in my own career.”
Forty-plus years in the industry is no small feat. Tim kicked off his early fresh produce career working at Dave Walsh Co. and Stewart Packing Co. during his time studying at San Diego State University and he also spent his winters working the vegetable deal in Oxnard, California. In 1985, Tim joined Markon as a purchasing manager, eventually taking over as President in 1990 when then-CEO Dave Eldredge moved on.
While Tim excelled at moving up the leadership ladder, it did not come without its challenges. Tim was running one of the first produce procurement cooperatives founded in the U.S. for restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice operations, in a very short time and taking on a significant amount of responsibility. Still, adversity breeds character, and in Tim’s case—leadership.
"I can only hope that others entering or rising in the industry can cut their professional teeth at a company as great as Markon," Tim reflects. "As for what is next, I only see opportunities."
Congratulations, Tim, on the accomplished road you have traveled and the exciting path ahead!
WENATCHEE, WA - As companies look toward expansion, an all-star team is always top of mind. Luckily for Starr Ranch Growers, those all-star qualities come not just in its name, but in the three new employees being added to its sales and marketing team.
Jason Fonfara recently joined the company in the export/domestic sales and marketing department. He has previous grower/shipper experience after working with CDS Distributing, Domex Superfresh Growers®, and FirstFruits Marketing. In this role, he will be working in Starr Ranch’s Yakima facilities. He is a graduate of the University of Washington.
Randy Eckert was also hired to work at the Yakima office. With more than 30 years of experience under his belt, Eckert is a welcome asset to the team. He previously worked as an Export Sales Manager for Yakima Fresh and brings his market knowledge to both of the export and domestic sales departments at Starr Ranch.
“These hires add great depth and knowledge to our domestic and export teams,” said Brett Reasor, Chief Executive Officer, in a press release. “We look forward to their help and guidance with retailers as our company moves forward.”
On the other side of the company coin, Morgan Maitoza has been hired in a new position as Social Media and Communications Manager and will work remotely from Monterey, California. Her previous work experience includes time with California Giant Berry Farms. She is a graduate at California State University at Long Beach, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in marketing.
Dan Davis, Director of Business Development, remarked on Maitoza’s position.
“We are excited to reach this milestone with our marketing department. The addition of Morgan strengthens our team’s capabilities, so we can develop programs that will enhance our consumer outreach and brand recognition activities,” he stated.
As a result of the addition to the marketing team, Krista Beckstead’s current role and title changes to Brand Manager.
Congratulations to all, on these next steps in their produce careers!
UNITED KINGDOM - Amazon is sealing its presence in grocery history books as one of the fastest grocery deliverers in the market. Last week, Reuters reported the e-tail behemoth is launching a U.K.-based “ultra-fast” grocery delivery service, aptly named Ultra Fast Fresh—try saying that five times fast.
But what makes this grocery delivery service super, uber, ultra fast? Ultra Fast Fresh will pull from the speed and efficiency of nine existing depots located across the United Kingdom. These facilities will then handle the fresh produce and fulfill grocery orders—within hours. The news source also noted that the delivery service could join the list of Amazon Prime benefits under the Amazon Fresh umbrella.
According to the news source, the goal of Ultra Fast Fresh is to bring “rapid grocery delivery” to almost 40 percent of households in the U.K. by the end of the year.
And before those of us on this side of the pond work ourselves into a jealous tizzy over not having access to what very well could be one of the fastest delivery operations in the grocery game—the new program is already a part of Amazon’s Fresh service and available to Prime Members in the States.
As Amazon continues to expand at the speed of light, AndNowUKnow will continue to do our best to get the latest news to our fresh produce industry—just as fast.