UNITED STATES - Would we even be AndNowUKnow if we didn’t report on the latest retail partnerships to catch our attention? Walmart is tapping into the might of the foodservice sector to build shopper loyalty, announcing it has partnered with Burger King to provide discounted meal benefits to its membership customers.

“The inclusion of a Burger King benefit in our Walmart+ membership portfolio is exciting,” said Venessa Yates, Senior Vice President and General manager of Walmart+. “We consistently strive to offer benefits that focus on our members, aligning with our commitment to deliver undeniable value and convenience. We're confident our members will welcome the additional savings, and we're thrilled to collaborate with a trusted brand like Burger King to offer this benefit.”

According to a press release, Walmart’s members can snag discounts at the foodservice chain, including 25 percent off any digital order every day. Beginning next month, shoppers can also receive a free Whopper burger every three months with any purchase at Burger King.

“Burger King has long been known for offering Guests high quality products for a great value—an approach that’s shared by our friends at Walmart, making this partnership a natural fit,” said Pat O’Toole, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King North America. “We’re thrilled to join the Walmart+ program as its first ever dining partner and look forward to providing members of Walmart+ even more savings on their flame-grilled favorites at Burger King.”

For $12.95 per month, or $98 a year, the Walmart Plus subscription service offers shoppers digital and in-store benefits such as free shipping with no minimum order and Paramount+ streaming services.

The unique alliance with Burger King comes as retailers and fast-food chains forge partnerships to increase their value for price-conscious customers. Get a full breakdown of the plan here.

With this newfound alliance pushing more consumers to explore its Walmart Plus program, how will the retailer continue to fuel brand loyalty?

Keep reading ANUK as we report.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - As states like Washington, New York, and Michigan see record-breaking heat ranging from 100-degree days to temperatures in the upper 90s, AgroFresh Solutions is setting its focus on creating advantages for apple orchards. The company is touting its innovative Harvista™ solution as an opportunity for apple producers.

“One of the primary concerns during extended periods of high temperatures is the acceleration of fruit ripening, appearance of disorders, and premature fruit drop, all of which can significantly reduce marketable yield,” said North America Commercial Director Rodrigo Cifuentes. “Harvista helps growers keep apples on the tree longer by slowing down starch, firmness, and background color loss, giving growers better control over harvest timing and resources.”

Harvista is a pre-harvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) product. According to the company, this provides a solution for the pressures caused by weather, delaying the acceleration of an apple’s maturity processes triggered by the production of ethylene. As the innovator shared in a press release, the implementation of Harvista can help growers mitigate accelerated maturation risk.

“At AgroFresh, we understand the challenges that apple growers face with extreme weather conditions,” said Cifuentes. “Of the robust portfolio of solutions for apples that AgroFresh offers, Harvista is an essential tool in the grower’s toolbox to not only mitigate weather-induced stress on the crop, but also as a foundational tool in improving and extending the post-harvest life potential of that fruit. When combined with post-harvest applications of SmartFresh™ as part of an integrated long-term storage strategy, we see even greater results over quality and packouts after storage.”

Trials show that Harvista delays starch degradation and firmness loss by up to two weeks, allowing fruit to continue developing size and color on the tree and helping growers produce more premium-grade fruit. As the release went on to note, trials in Washington state on the Gala variety yielded approximately 6.5 tons more premium-grade fruit than those with no Harvista application.

ANUK will continue to report on the latest solutions fueling industry advancement, so stick around.

SALINAS, CA - Renowned for its focus on fresh produce, the 19^th Annual Markon Summit was held, with a program that included practical lettuce cuttings, dynamic educational settings, and a closing session designed to consolidate the learnings into actionable insights for members. Participants also enjoyed tours of the Salinas Valley.

“The Markon Summit has been the pinnacle event for our membership. For 19 years, we have strived to deliver an experience highlighting the value of Markon fresh produce,” said Andy Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer. “Featuring our Markon-brand items and valued supplier partnerships, these action-packed days leverage the bountiful harvest of the Salinas Valley to provide unparalleled training and tools.”

With a focus on fresh produce and a drive to engage attendees, the summit offered a variety of activities and programs.

Here is a breakdown of those events:

• Field Tours of Fresh Produce: Attendees explored the Salinas Valley, witnessing firsthand the hard work that goes into growing, packing, and harvesting
• Educational Sessions: These sessions provided valuable insights into fresh produce management and industry trends
• Mini Trade Shows: Participants had the opportunity to connect with supplier-partners and explore Markon brand products, including Markon First Crop, Ready-Set-Serve, and Markon Essentials

“We look forward to this event every year,” added Hamilton. “The Markon team deeply appreciates the support of our supplier partners and sponsors who contribute to its success.”

A press release shared that over 200 representatives were brought together from their exclusive member companies including Ben E. Keith Foods, Gordon Food Service, Gordon Food Service Canada, Nicholas & Company, and Shamrock Foods Company. The annual summit was a three-day event held in Monterey, California.

Keep clicking back to AndNowUKNow so you never miss an event or summit recap!

FRESNO, CA - Whether it is the constant innovation, industry tradition, or the incredible impact on the state’s communities, there are many reasons why choosing California table grapes is a wise decision at retail. And, with this season’s outlook, there are even more opportunities to promote the fruitful category for the benefit of all. As the California Table Grape Commission shared, while the season has been going strong since late May, a majority of the California crop, roughly 65 percent, ships after September 1 every year.

“This is always an exciting time of year for us,” stated President Kathleen Nave. “As the weather cools, harvest accelerates, more varieties become available, and promotional opportunities expand.”

The fall volume is strategically aligned with a robust global promotion campaign, which, Nave reflected, has retailers throughout the U.S. and in 21 key global markets doubling down on demand-enhancing activities during this period.

“The U.S. remains the largest market, but there is great demand in export markets, and USDA now buys from California until close to Christmas,” Nave stated, detailing the heightened competition for the volume. The commission advises customers to get supply commitments and promotions organized as early as possible.

So what do the numbers tell us as we sit in anticipation? The commission reported that, with an estimate of 92 million 19 lb boxes, promising weather ahead, a crop that is moving into the marketplace in accordance with historic norms, and promotional activity planned in the U.S. and 21 export markets through December, the Golden State’s table grape industry is rocking and rolling as we look through the holiday season and the remainder of the year.

The California table grape harvest has a vast window of advantages, bringing over 80 varieties grown in California with a harvest that will continue well into December, according to a press release.

Nave added that fall and early winter bring great opportunities for retailers to stock California grapes, offering their customers an item their demographics crave. California table grapes provide a great-tasting, healthy option for back-to-school lunches or fall and winter celebrations.

According to Nave, fall is also the time of year when people inside and outside of the California industry begin sharing individual viewpoints on the season, including whether the crop estimate is accurate. Most importantly, Nave advised, is that individual narratives about short crops or the need to import early should be taken with two large grains of salt.

“The industry comes together three times a year to estimate the crop, and it has a decades-long track record of getting it right,” Nave said. “California has a long season, typically harvesting into December. This year is no different.”

The California table grape industry is building momentum as we speak, bringing a respected and valued category to market for customers and consumers across the globe.

REEDLEY, CA - Whenever I put my consumer hat on and think like a shopper, one of the first things that flags my interest at retail is an impressive product assortment. This is one of the reasons why table grape season in California is a highly anticipated time frame, resulting in an array of SKUs primed to delight grape-loving consumers. As ANUK sought to find the varieties, merchandising plays, and supply-side strategies boosting the category’s momentum, Fruit World Owner Bianca Kaprielian led us through a deep dive into the wonderful world of California-grown table grapes.

“Variety!” Bianca emphasizes when I ask her what sets the California table grape industry apart from other offerings on the market. “We grow so many wonderful and diverse table grape varieties in California. From old-school varieties with a lot of nuance of flavor to newer varieties that are super high brix, to fun and tasty hybrids like Thomcords—a Concord and seedless Thompson cross.”

As Fruit World shares with us, quality has been very good across the California table grape sector. In terms of volume, Bianca shares that “the crop set is there, but the extreme heat in the San Joaquin Valley has caused delays in ripening.”

Despite weather challenges in some California growing regions, retailers have the opportunity to continue tapping into organic grape sales with Fruit World’s beloved Thomcord grapes.

“We love our organic Thomcord variety! We call it the grapiest grape around because it has that classic grape jelly flavor from its Concord parentage, it's seedless, and you can eat the skin,” Bianca shares. “We love it so much that we put a little card in each retail pack, sharing our story with customers and inviting them to text us. We get so many wonderful messages from our community!”

With this creative approach to consumer connection already establishing a strong level of brand loyalty, retailers can put a few other strategies in place to further increase sales in the table grape arena.

“Full displays really help boost sales, as do big sets in prominent locations,” Bianca advises. “Cross-merchandising with cheese and wine is always a big hit. Butter and cheese boards are continuing to have a moment, and grapes are the perfect color and flavor match.”

With top-flavor varieties, a custom approach to brand loyalty, and some winning merchandising strategies in play, Fruit World is ensuring its partners get the most out of the California table grape season.

Stay tuned as AndNowUKnow brings you more updates straight from the fresh produce industry.

SALINAS, CA - Whether it be for salads, sandwiches, low-carb wraps, or endless other meal ideas, consumers are in search of high-quality Romaine—and Ippolito International is armed and ready with a strong portfolio to help its partners satisfy this continuous demand.

“Our advantage in the Romaine category is our care during harvest,” explained Jose Fonseca, Director of Harvesting Operations, giving me an insight into the robust program. “Over time, our crews have worked hard to develop a culture of consistency and quality in our pack. It is shown in our final product. Also, since our crews are managed more directly, we can control the timing of our harvest according to what our customers need. In this way, we are better able to plan the supply of our overall acreage.”

Ippolito’s comprehensive Romaine program includes:

• Romaine leaf in a bulk 24 ct, 12 ct naked
• Sleeved and flip top in 24 ct packs
• Foodservice 4 x 6 sleeve
• Romaine hearts offered in 12/3 ct, 7/6 ct, 8/3 ct, 4/12 ct, 15/3 ct, and 18/2 ct zip bags as well as 48 bulk

“Currently, our Romaine is being grown in the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria. Our supply in Salinas is looking great. The weather has been cooperating lately, and we are in a strong supply position,” Jose shared. “Heading into the Labor Day weekend, we expect conditions to continue and quality to match.”

With the versatility offered by fresh and crisp Romaine, Ippolito International’s portfolio provides a wide variety of merchandising opportunities for retailers.

For more of the latest program insights and industry updates, keep clicking back to AndNowUKnow.