SALINAS, CA - Marketing continues to prove as a powerful tactic in expanding fresh produce brands. Laura Hastie knows this well, having managed internal and external communications, social media, digital marketing, tradeshow events, and media buying efforts for the Foxy® brand. Laura’s consulting business is quickly gaining ground and recently launched an exciting new website to support the industry.

“I am excited to launch my new website and share my services with the fresh produce and wine industries! I want to connect with companies who need marketing and public relations support, but may not have the means or need (especially during a pandemic) to hire a full-time or in-house marketing professional,” Laura tells me.

Laura offers a personalized one-on-one approach with each client. The new website is a great point of reference for current and potential clients, detailing Laura’s education, experience, and services.

“It gives people a true idea of who I am and what I do,” she says. “So far, I’ve received great feedback and support from colleagues and friends in the industry. I am currently accepting new clients for 2021 and look forward to helping more companies reach their marketing goals and potential.”

Be sure to check out Laura’s new website by clicking here.

For the latest opportunities across fresh produce, stick with us here at AndNowUKnow.

LauraHastie.com

RIVERSIDE, CA - As we in this industry know, the efforts that go into growing and selling the fresh produce that we all love makes it all the more important that it doesn’t go to waste. Index Fresh is making sure that its avocados find a happy ending as it has partnered with Apeel to help preserve the freshness of its products and help reduce food waste in the global supply chain.

“Anyone can sell someone an avocado once,” explained John Dmytriw, Vice President of Business Development at Index Fresh. “At Index, we don’t define our success with clients by packages sold. We define success by the amount of time we’ve been working together. Ensuring best-in-class quality and consistency is a recipe for creating lasting relationships.”

Apeel’s cutting-edge technology and its “peel” which helps lock moisture in and keep oxygen out of produce, combined with the over a century of industry knowledge from Index Fresh creates dynamic duo, helping to lead the way to a more sustainable future. According to a press release, not only does Apeel’s technology keep produce fresh, but it allows produce to have a longer shelf-life, preventing it from ending up in the waste stream.

As a well-known avocado distributor, Index Fresh is setting its sights on innovation and has expressed the desire to help its clients embrace the new technologies that it has implemented.

“When our customers talk, we listen,” President and CEO Steve Roodzant said. “Blocking and tackling for customers is our specialty.”

In joining with Apeel, Index Fresh will continue to provide its clients with a plethora of options as part of its Go to Market Business Strategy. The distributor will offer not only Apeel fruit, but its traditional avocados as well.

“Index Fresh is a YES company. We say yes to helping our clients every step of the way,” explained Todd Elder, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

As Apeel continues to make pivotal partnerships across the industry, which produce provider will the innovative company join forces with next? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

Index Fresh Apeel

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - One of my favorite elements of winter is the advancement of specialty table grape varieties, and retailers know that luxurious holiday spreads aren’t the same without offering a premium table grape program. LGS Specialty Sales recently announced that it’s primed for a strong and exciting grape season from December 2020 through early May 2021.

“As our summer citrus season slows down, we look forward to launching into an excellent grape season,” said Luke Sears, President and Founder. “We’re expecting a strong supply of fruit as newer varieties continue to come into production.”

For the next six months, a press release explained, LGS will be providing shoppers with access to quality red, green, black, and specialty grapes from Peru, Chile, and Mexico. LGS’ grapes will be available for purchase in both clamshells and bags.

LGS is sourcing proprietary varieties such as Allisons, Jack Salutes, Sweet Globes, Sweet Favors, and Cotton Candy throughout the season. The company teams up with key grower partners to provide high-quality grapes throughout the winter import season.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in fresh produce.

LGS Specialty Sales

UNITED KINGDOM - What better time to expand than ahead of the holidays? As demand ramps up, the need for diverse retail services continues to grow. Aldi is ensuring its customers in the United Kingdom will have access to safe and convenient groceries this year as the retailer plans to expand its click and collect trial to roughly 200 more stores by Christmas.

“This trial has been hugely popular so far,” said Chief Executive Officer Giles Hurley, according to a report from Reuters.

Aldi began trialing online services back in April in addition to partnering with Deliveroo for a delivery option. As of September, its click and collect trial began with a single store in England before expanding to 18 other stores in October.

The news source stated that online groceries have doubled their share of the U.K. market, with the demand continuing to grow. Through Aldi’s services, consumers have access to multiple contact-free options in order to receive groceries quickly and safely during this unprecedented time.

Will Aldi’s click and collect service soon take over Stateside? Keep an eye out for more reports from AndNowUKnow.

Aldi

BAKERSFIELD, CA - First impressions are not just lasting, in the store they are often all you have, making the display your visual elevator pitch to shoppers. This key ingredient to the recipe of your produce department could take seconds or hours to build, and Atlas Produce is helping retailers make it the former with its new 48-count display.

“Our newest display comes with our most popular customer offering: Pre-packed capabilities where we will build and pack the fruit inside the display for delivery,” Robert Dobrzanski, Founder, explains. “This new offering is now available year-round, and those who have already purchased it have explored and loved its versatility and capabilities to grow the category and sales.”

When I ask Robert how this is accomplished, he explains that Atlas’ design added an area for a secondary display, expanding the showcase possibilities. In fact, customers have already sent back photos of double and triple displays, adding options, and seeing increased sales as an immediate reward for their creativity.

“Finally, we completed the look with a produce tray on top as we have with all our displays. This gives retailers a great opportunity to either showcase more Fresh Energy™ products by Atlas, or to cross-merchandise either with similar products dates can substitute, like bananas, or pair well with,” Robert shares.

Like all Atlas Produce’s offerings, the display and their materials are 100 percent U.S.-born and built, promising timely delivery without concern for import-related delays.

Here’s to a punctual, practiced, and positive first impression that leads to a lasting ring at the register.

Fresh Energy™ by Atlas Produce

JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Florida market recently got a little tighter thanks to Southeastern Grocers (SEG). The parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket, and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is moving in on this prime retail region as it opens four new Winn-Dixie stores. SEG celebrated the grand opening of all four stores today on Veterans Day.

“We are beyond excited to unveil our four new Winn-Dixie stores to the wonderful communities of Boynton Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Lakewood Ranch. We are proud to provide our customers a shopping experience that is uniquely crafted for their community,” Anthony Hucker, President and CEO, said. “At Southeastern Grocers, giving back to our communities is in our DNA, and with our grand openings occurring on Veterans Day, we are proud to recognize the men and women who served our country in the most admirable way. We have immense gratitude for those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom, and we look forward to showing all of our new neighbors they can always count on us.”

According to the press release, each Winn-Dixie store is designed to provide customers with a unique shopping experience featuring the freshest produce and highest-quality products.

Customers shopping the four new Winn-Dixie locations will immediately notice enhanced offerings, including farm-fresh produce with more than 100 organic varieties, plant-based proteins made in-store, and a wide selection of convenient grab-and-go meal options. Winn-Dixie also made it easier than ever for shoppers to find healthy options in-store by implementing “LiveWell” message tags for certain products.

These four store openings are the first of eight new Winn-Dixie stores scheduled to open throughout Florida. Winn-Dixie’s continued expansion will include additional locations in Fort Myers, Lake Mary, and Melbourne later this year and Viera in early 2021.

With new stores on the horizon, how will the retail landscape shape up? ANUK will stay on the retail trail.

Southeastern Grocers

PHOENIX, AZ - The state of Arizona has a personality all its own, and touts an impressive leafy greens industry to boot. Now through April, the 15 varieties of leafy greens grown in Arizona will be gathered and shipped to locations across the United States and Canada. This production results in the employment of nearly 27,000 individuals and an estimated $2 billion of the state’s economy each year. In recognition of the significant impact the leafy greens industry has on the state, Governor Doug Ducey has proclaimed November as Arizona Leafy Greens Month.

“We approach each harvest season with a sense of pride and take our role as the top producer of leafy greens very seriously,” said C.R. Waters, Chairman of Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee. “Yet, there is also much joy and gratitude as the fruits of our labor come to fruition and another safe harvest begins being shipped to consumers across the country. Arizona Leafy Greens Month is an opportunity to generate awareness about our industry, while also celebrating the hard work that goes into it.”

As part of the month-long observance, Arizona’s Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) has partnered with the Yuma Safe Produce Council and will host a series of online giveaways related to the leafy greens industry and to food safety. Giveaways will be held weekly on Arizona LGMA’s Facebook page with followers asked to like, share, and comment on posts. Winners will be announced every Friday throughout the month of November, according to a press release.

In addition to its social media giveaways, Arizona LGMA will launch a new newsletter, Harvest Times during Arizona Leafy Greens Month. The quarterly newsletter will highlight the successes of the season including new programs and initiatives as well as the people that ensure that every year their leafy greens are grown, harvested, and shipped in the safest possible manner. Further, it will serve as a resource on the Arizona Leafy Greens program and its history.

“Arizona Leafy Greens Month is a vehicle to educate the public on the importance of the efforts done by the Arizona LGMA Technical subcommittee to keep the leafy greens we consume safe. The measures instituted by them are widely considered to be the most comprehensive in the industry. However, recognize that it is the cooperation and hard work of the farming community that truly ensure our success,” said Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee Administrator, Teressa Lopez.

For more information on Arizona LGMA and to sign up for the Harvest Times newsletter, click here.

Stick with us at AndNowUKnow for the latest and greatest in fresh produce.

Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI - The category leader of dips and good-for-you products is rolling out a rebrand of its dairy dip line in stores across the nation. Good Foods’ new packaging follows the lead of its refreshed guacamole line and plant-based dips with a new illustrative design. The plant-based company is also unveiling a new addition to the dairy dip line: Spinach Artichoke Parmesan.

“Adding an additional dip to our dairy line and refreshing the packaging to be more on-trend and cohesive with our brand has been no small task,” said Danyel O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Through our work with an outside agency, focus groups, and surveys, we knew this transition was the right move for our brand, and we’re so excited to complete the design refresh of all our dips.”

Good Foods made the decision to switch from photography-focused packaging to a more illustration-focused design as research revealed consumers found that to be more reflective of the fresh and natural product, as stated in the press release. After months of updating the brand’s packaging, the plant-based dips, guacamole line, and dairy dips all have the same illustrative design to increase brand cohesion.

With the addition of Spinach Artichoke Parmesan, the lineup consists of three flavors including Feta Cucumber and Creamy Ranch. The Spinach Artichoke Parmesan dip drops just in time for the holidays. In the last month alone, this product has received interest from publications like Food & Wine, Food Network, and Good Housekeeping showcasing the popularity and interest of this product.

As plant-based and fresh-forward products become more available, AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest.

Good Foods

YAKIMA, WA - Christmas is fast approaching and I can already smell the sweet scents of pine trees, gingerbread, and crisp apples. Cosmic Crisp® apples are one variety sure to delight your consumers this holiday season through diverse retail opportunities. Through partnerships with retailers, influencers, and media outlets, millions of shoppers will get a taste of the new Cosmic Crisp apple and inspiration to put a fresh twist on traditions.

“The original tree ornament was red apples,” explains Kathryn Grandy, Vice President of Operations and Marketing for Proprietary Variety Management, the company responsible for promoting the apple to consumers. “After a bad crop year, glass ornaments were created and the rest is history. We are bringing the apple ornament tradition back and creating new ones with the Cosmic Crisp. Beyond recipes, its natural beauty is perfect for fresh decor.”

Publication in Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes & Gardens’ Living section will showcase special recipes and seasonal decor all centered around the Cosmic Crisp apple. These issues both hit newsstands November 13, just before the apples ship from Washington state. More content will be available on the Cosmic Crisp website and social media platforms, including how-to videos, a holiday guide, and more. Major grocery retailers will support the campaign with in-store signage, social media content, and select event activations.

“This year’s harvest is much larger than last, and growers are ready to ship nationwide on November 23, just in time for the holidays,” adds Grandy. “We receive messages from consumers every day asking when the apple will be back. The answer is: soon!”

Influencers who will join in on spreading Cosmic Crisp cheer include designer, stylist, and TV personality Eddie Ross, and celebrity chef Chadwick Boyd. Returning to the Cosmic Crisp ambassador lineup is Chef Dan Koomoo of Crafted Yakima and lifestyle influencer Chantea McIntyre. The branded apple’s partnership with uniphi for good, an agency representing former NASA astronauts, will also continue.

A cross between the Honeycrisp and Enterprise varieties, Cosmic Crisp apples are crisp, juicy, and have a perfectly balanced flavor that make them an ideal snack or ingredient for baking, cooking, and juicing, as stated in a press release. After making their debut last Winter, the apple was sold out by early spring and has been sought after ever since.

Keep checking back for fresh produce news as we at ANUK report.

Cosmic Crisp®

KAUFMAN COUNTY, TX - It’s all about Texas over at H-E-B as of late, with the retailer most recently naming new stores in San Antonio and Lubbock. It seems even further expansion is in the works as ANUK heard whispers of another new store in Kaufman County.

inForney.com recently confirmed that H-E-B plans to open a new store in the market. The retailer reportedly met with local officials to discuss further expansion, with facilities in Kaufman County catching its eye. The exact locations have not been disclosed, but it is suspected that H-E-B will be opening a flagship store in either Forney or Terrell.

The local news source went on to report that there are now a handful of stores within 50 miles or so of Dallas, Texas, in Waxahachie, Ennis, Burleson, Corsicana, Cleburne, and Fort Worth. If the Kaufman County store does take shape, it will be one of H-E-B’s first stores in the area.

As we await further news of this exciting new store, ANUK will be here bringing you the latest news in retail.

H-E-B