SALISBURY, NC - Food Lion is taking a $77 million investment and turning it into enhanced shopping experiences for consumers in Greenville, Jacksonville, and New Bern, North Carolina. The retailer announced that it will hold ribbon-cutting events at 47 locations in these areas as it unveils newly remodeled stores.

“Food Lion has been a proud neighbor in the Greenville, Jacksonville, and New Bern communities for 43 years,” said Meg Ham, President, Food Lion. “We’re excited to welcome our neighbors in these towns and cities into their fresh, new Food Lion. These remodels also reflect our ongoing commitment to invest in the growth and development of our associates, so they can provide a shopping experience customers can count on. From a brand-new look and feel to more convenient grab-and-go items to make any meal easier, each store has made big changes with our customers in mind, so they can nourish their families affordably and make life a little easier.”

This recent investment will go toward an extensive product assortment specifically focusing on affordable and accessible meal solutions, a release explained. Customers will also have more healthy options and a large selection of organic, gluten-free, and plant-based items to choose from. Food Lion will also up its e-commerce options through pickup or home delivery across all stores.

Energy-efficient overhead LED lighting and refrigerated cases with doors will be part of the remodel, enhancing fresh product assortment and reducing energy costs, helping reduce Food Lion’s environmental footprint. Inspired by shopper feedback, self-checkout lanes will be introduced at most stores for enhanced and efficient shopping.

To read more about these updates, click here.

Where will Food Lion invest next? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for answers.

Food Lion

UNITED STATES - We received some good news in regard to the United States labor market following the close of the second quarter. A recent report stated that in Q2, labor costs did not increase as much as was previously expected.

According to Reuters, this positive trend was a result of wage growth slowing in the second quarter. This reportedly offers a boost to the Federal Reserve as it continues to fight the impacts of inflation.

As measured by the Employment Cost Index (ECI), labor costs rose 1.0 percent in the last quarter. Previously, between January and March, labor costs rose 1.2 percent. In initial reports from Reuters, economists expected the ECI to rise 1.1 percent in the second quarter.

Overall, labor costs rose by 4.5 percent year-over-year in the second quarter. Previously, this number shot up to 4.8 percent in the first quarter. The news source went on to note that during the second quarter, wages and salaries increased by 1.0 percent, having risen 1.2 percent in the previous quarter.

We will continue to keep an eye on the labor market, so keep coming back to ANUK.

SANTA MARIA, CA - Believe it or not, August is already knocking at our front doors, and it's bringing high temperatures with it here in the Northern Hemisphere. As the year progresses, Bobalu is reporting great-tasting—and looking—strawberries to keep consumers satisfied as they try to beat the heat.

Heading into August, the grower says that volume is tight coming out of its Santa Maria, California, growing region, but the temperatures are optimal, an update stated. After spending time in the fields assessing its ranches and checking the summer crop, the supplier notes healthy plants.

Moving forward, Bobalu remains focused on maintaining a tight harvest schedule, and its quality control team is monitoring quality, color, and sizing to ensure the best pack every day.

The grower is pleased with its summer-planted fields, which will come into season at the end of August, just in time for Labor Day.

Stick with AndNowUKnow to see how the rest of the season plays out.

Bobalu

OXNARD, CA - Mission Produce is turning its attention to its European operations with the appointment of a new leader. The supplier recently named Sean Bagheri to the newly created role of Commercial Director of Mission Produce Europe. He will be responsible for growing European business and establishing direct-to-retail channels by delivering profitable sales growth for customers and maintaining year-round customer service.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to leverage Mission Produce’s market leadership, global network, and vertical integration to improve the customer experience and drive consumption of ripe avocados and mangos across Europe,” said Bagheri. “My goal is to demonstrate how we align our targets to those of our customers and market the fruit in a sustainable way while respecting the needs of our growers. I look forward to implementing strategic synergies throughout our business to strengthen Mission’s leading position as the go-to supplier for avocados and mangos.”

Bagheri’s responsibilities will include sales and sourcing operations development, customer relationship management, and supply chain process advancement, according to a press release. He will accomplish all of this with a goal to identify new business opportunities and execute revenue-generating strategies in the European market.

The new leader’s appointment comes ahead of anticipated facility developments that aim to establish direct-to-retail service. Mission is vertically integrated in South America and South Africa, with additional sourcing capabilities across premium growing regions, to promote a reliable supply of fruit to service European customers year-round.

“Sean was a strategic hire to unite our global sourcing and European sales teams in order to maximize profitability for both our growers and our customers,” said Paul Frowde, Managing Director, Mission Produce UK and EU. “With the potential market growth for avocados and mangos in Europe, we’re advancing our teams to elevate our ability to deliver high-quality fruit year-round and strengthen Mission Produce’s market share.”

In this new role, Bagheri brings more than 10 years of experience in sales strategy development and execution, with a background in produce sales for avocados and mangos. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a technical breadth in technology management.

Congratulations to Sean Bagheri!

Mission Produce

MILLEN, GA - A meeting of the minds is not to be underestimated in this industry. One such brainstorming session recently took place, as the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) hosted its annual summer board meeting. It was held July 18–20 in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Southern Innovations will be taking place in less than two months.

“The achievements this outstanding group of industry leaders can accomplish together never cease to amaze me!” said Tim Graas, Chairman of the Board for the Southeast Produce Council and Executive Director of Produce for Associated Wholesale Grocers. “Our primary focus has been strategically planning for the future, ensuring we continue to offer industry-leading experiences and the most innovative networking and educational sessions. Not to mention staying hyper-focused on giving back to the communities in which we serve. Thank you to the entire group, whose tireless efforts have provided a future-focused plan—Together We Grow Higher.”

During the meeting, SEPC’s Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Board Ambassadors, and staff discussed several strategic goals and tactics. According to a press release, SEPC Committee Chairs each gave their reports regarding all of the NICE aspects of the Council (Networking, Innovation, Community, Education), providing a brief synopsis on committee initiatives.

After this initial brainstorming session, board members rolled up their sleeves and put on their thinking caps as they engaged in round table discussions, delving into strategies and tactics to futureproof the council through their strategic initiative work.

I am just one trade news writer eager to hear more about the organization’s progress, so stay tuned.

Southeast Produce Council

MONTEREY, CA - Is someone cutting onions in here? Because we’re crying—at how beautiful Onions 52’s tri-color organic onion packs are! Recently, Falon Brawley, Marketing Director, took a beat to share details about the supplier’s year-round organic program and how it benefits retailers.

“We grow red, yellow, white, sweet, and tearless onions,” explains Falon. “This is our new tri-color onion pack. It’s available in organic and conventional in a 2 lb, 3 lb, and 5 lb pack style. It’s a red, yellow, and white onion in one convenient grab-and-go bag.”

Onions 52 grows, packs, and ships onions 52 weeks a year. The supplier is headquartered in Syracuse, Utah, and its onions are grown throughout Washington, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico.

Through its grower partnerships, Onions 52 can control its supply 365 days a year, making sure a day doesn’t go by without onions. But that is not the only benefit the supplier has to offer.

“We’re also featuring our colorful jumbo-size PLU stickers,” adds Falon. “These are larger than your standard size stickers, so they adhere to the onion and stay on much better, which helps prevent mis-rings at the register.”

Want to learn more? Watch the exclusive video above.

Onions 52

MONTEREY, CA - Organic offerings are still on shoppers’ minds, whether perusing the produce aisles or enjoying a meal at their favorite foodservice joint. Therefore, they should be on the minds of buyers everywhere, and 4Earth Farms™ is making it easy to fulfill consumers’ demands with its growing organic lineup.

“We’ve got a product line that we continue to expand organically to include the florets and all the complimentary items,” says Dave Hewitt, Vice President of Sales, as he lays out the company’s offerings.

To assure its supply of these items, 4Earth has expanded its growing regions, primarily in Mexico. This increases the provider’s product availability and offers a consistent supply of organics.

The supplier has also bolstered its presence in the United States to strengthen its partnerships.

“…our expansion on the East Coast, out of South Carolina, gives us a presence on both sides of the country, really benefiting our East Coast customers,” adds Dave.

To hear what else Dave had to say, watch the exclusive video above.

4Earth Farms™

YAKIMA, WA - To say that cherries are a huge part of summer retail sets is practically akin to telling you the sky is blue. We all know how valuable a good cherry program is during this time of year, and supply-side partners like FirstFruits Farms are here to help retailers up their category sales as the cherry season starts to wind down.

I spoke with Emily Autrey, Marketing Manager, to learn more.

“Our new Dark Sweet and Rainier packaging uses unique cutouts and an eye-catching color scheme to make the product instantly recognizable on the shelves,” remarked Emily. “This new packaging is an extension of our company’s brand identity. Consistent branding elements, such as logos, messaging, and typography, reinforce brand recognition and build trust with consumers.”

Another distinction to the cherry packaging is the high-quality look and feel, which Emily explained can justify a higher price point and attract consumers looking for a premium experience.

Functionality also plays a factor in converting interest into dollars. The new packaging is available in several shapes and sizes to suit a wide array of customers who tend to seek out portability, convenience, and practicality.

“To take full advantage of cherry promotions for the rest of the summer, retailers should focus on maximizing visibility, engagement, and sales,” Emily added, as we dove into a variety of strategies that retailers can implement. “Simple things like prominent in-store displays, special deals, and cross-promotions can entice customers. By doing so, retailers can keep cherries at the forefront of customers’ minds throughout the summer season, drive sales, and enhance brand loyalty. Remember that consistent and creative promotion efforts will have a positive impact on the success of your cherry marketing campaign.”

In addition to its new packaging, FirstFruits Farms is also rolling out a product catalog as a tool to promote cherries.

“Our product catalog has an appealing and professional design, while using high-quality images of cherries that showcase their vibrant colors and freshness. We also highlight cherry varieties and offer descriptions to help customers make informed choices,” Emily noted.

The catalog emphasizes the seasonality of domestic cherries and ties in a fun summer theme to create both a sense of urgency and excitement.

It’s all about enticement throughout the summer cherry season, and you won’t want to miss out on partnering with a company that knows how to draw people in.

FirstFruits Farms

KANSAS CITY, KS - Welcome to the stage, Dana Naifeh! The leader will be joining Associated Wholesale Grocers’ (AWG) Board of Directors. She will be replacing James Neumann, who recently joined AWG as Senior Vice President, Special Projects.

“It is a real honor to be chosen to serve on AWG’s Board of Directors,” said Naifeh. “I am truly excited about the opportunity to work alongside other industry leaders working together to continue to grow and lead AWG.”

The President of Naifeh’s has worked in the grocery industry for more than 25 years. Naifeh runs and owns the business with her husband, Judson, a fourth-generation grocer.

As noted in the release, Naifeh attributes many of her successes to the invaluable opportunities working with and learning from Oney, Joe, and Judson Naifeh, who represent the second, third, and fourth generations, respectively.

“We are delighted to welcome Dana Naifeh to AWG’s Board of Directors,” said David Smith, AWG President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her hands-on experience as an owner-operator in the highly competitive West Tennessee marketplace and her dedication to the industry and community involvement will make her an invaluable member of the board.”

Involved in her local community, Naifeh currently serves on the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation Board of Trustees as Chairman-Elect. She also serves on the City of Covington Industrial Development Board.

“Dana is a great addition to the AWG Board,” said Barry Queen, Chairman of the Board of AWG. “I have personally known the Naifehs as fellow retailers and friends for many years, so I believe that her expertise and fresh perspective will represent AWG and the Mid-South Division well and contribute to our ongoing growth and leadership in the industry. I look forward to working alongside Dana and our other esteemed board members as we navigate the future of AWG.”

Congratulations to Dana Naifeh on her new role!

Associated Wholesale Grocers

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - In less than two weeks, members of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) will gather for the highly anticipated Annual City of Hope Luncheon on August 9, at the Sheraton Cerritos. The event will feature Rebecca Calvin, Senior Vice President of Stater Bros. Markets, as the Master of Ceremonies and will honor City of Hope and its efforts.

“We are proud to support the City of Hope in conjunction with the FPFC to help fundraise for crucial City of Hope funding and support the great work that City of Hope continues to do,” said FPFC Board Member and City of Hope Luncheon Co-Chair Member, Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros. Markets. “The August luncheon is the perfect way to say, ‘thank you’ to all City of Hope supporters, both past and present!”

The annual event honors the City of Hope and the contributions FPFC members have made to support the organization. According to a release, all programming for the day is usually donated to City of Hope patient and doctor speakers. This year’s patient speaker will be John Cloer.

Each year, FPFC members raise money for City of Hope through the case rebate program and during fundraising efforts at the August Luncheon. In 2022, council members helped raise over $140,000 for City of Hope and look forward to exceeding that goal this year.

“The FPFC has a long-standing relationship with City of Hope and is always excited to dedicate this membership luncheon to their fundraising efforts and raising awareness for the great work they do,” commented FPFC Luncheon Committee Chair and Board Member, Alex Jackson of Frieda’s. “Thank you to City of Hope for allowing us to host this special event each year.”

To register for the event, click here.

Keep an eye on AndNowUKnow for more industry events and opportunities.

Fresh Produce & Floral Council