SANTA CLARA, CA - “New Year, New Me!” said Apio Inc.! At least, that’s how I imagine it going down. Landec Corporation’s Apio business has announced a new name change as we continue to make our way through January 2019, now going by the almost poetic “Curation Foods Inc.” According to the company’s updated moniker signifies its completion of a strategic transition from a fresh packaged vegetable company to a branded, natural foods company. Curation Foods will serve as the corporate umbrella for a portfolio of five natural food brands: Eat Smart®, O Olive Oil & Vinegar® premium artisan products, Now Planting® pure-plant meal solutions, and Yucatan® and Cabo Fresh® authentic guacamole and avocado products.
“The mission of Curation Foods is to provide access to fresh, delicious, plant-based foods made from 100 percent clean ingredients to as many people as possible in a way that preserves and protects our planet,” said Molly Hemmeter, CEO and President of Landec. “The Curation Foods name represents a vision and a set of values that are shared across all of our brands and throughout our entire company. Our employees have worked diligently over the last several years to expand our portfolio of natural products and build an efficient, fresh food supply chain that all of the brands can leverage to ensure high quality, 100 percent clean products reach the consumer in their freshest state possible.”
Landec has certainly taken an active stance to solidify is transition toward being a natural foods company. As we reported in December 2018, the company acquired Yucatan Foods, which added Yucatan and Cabo Fresh guacamole and avocado products to its portfolio. According to a press release, uniting each of Apio’s brands under the Curation Foods corporate identity is the final step in the company’s strategic transformation.
“We are reimagining the way fresh, plant-based foods are grown, prepared, delivered, and ultimately brought to the table,” added Hemmeter. “Curation Foods is uniquely qualified to deliver innovative, plant-based products for consumers throughout North America with a unified team of talented and passionate employees and a unique set of capabilities that has been cultivated over an extended period of time.”
“Curation Foods” was chosen to reflect a thoughtful culture, the company said, highlighting its focus on carefully selecting only all-natural, premium ingredients to create a collection of products that are both on-trend and make it easy for consumers to eat plant-based foods. Landec highlighted research showing that 17 percent of the U.S. population and 23 percent of the Canadian population are “plant-forward consumers” who prefer approximately 70 percent of their meals to include only plant-based ingredients.
“We are very excited about our new Curation Foods name and completing the transition of our food business from a produce business to a natural foods business. Curation Foods will continue to evolve and grow, focusing on and investing in developing profitable brands that meet the needs of consumers,” finished Hemmeter.
Congratulations to Landec and Curation Foods for the major refresh!
