UNITED KINGDOM - Aldi is one such retailer that continues to drive growth no matter what it does. Over the last few months alone, it has racked up headlines underscoring its aggressive expansion. Now, the retailer plans to invest another $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) over the next years across its U.K. market.

“For over 30 years, our success has been driven by the ever-increasing number of shoppers who put their trust in Aldi every time they shop with us,” remarked Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Aldi UK and Ireland, in a press release. “This is what enables us to keep investing in Britain—in our products, our prices, our people, and in the communities we serve. The founding principle of our UK business back in 1990 was to offer a carefully-selected range of great quality products at the lowest prices. Whilst we’re continuing to innovate to give customers an even better experience and greater convenience, our core philosophy remains unchanged.”

The investment will be chiefly in new and upgraded stores, distribution centers, and additional innovations across the business, the press release went on to note.

Not only does Aldi plan to open roughly 100 new stores across the U.K. over 2020 and 2021, it also plans to upgrade over 100 stores under its Project Fresh initiative. The distrubiton centers will see an expanded network and the new ‘click and collect’ service will continue to grow.

As we cover the latest in Aldi’s expansion, stick with AndNowUKnow for more.

Aldi

HOUSTON, TX - Cutting-edge solutions in the foodservice sector continue to blow me away as our industry’s leaders bring new and exciting launches to market. Sysco Corporation is one of the latest to do so, announcing the nationwide launch of ten exciting menu concepts exclusively for its customers through the company’s Cutting Edge Solutions platform. These chef-tested and innovative products are being launched to help foodservice operators with on-trend dining options as they enter a new normal phase of restaurant dining amidst the global pandemic.

“Our Cutting Edge Solutions platform helps our customers succeed in today’s rapidly evolving foodservice environment where people are dining in new and different ways,” said Brian Todd, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing. “By understanding changing consumer behaviors, we can connect foodservice operators with the products and solutions needed to meet these changes successfully. Cutting Edge Solutions are even more critical during these challenging times, to help operators continue to evolve their business, drive increased dining traffic, and launch new revenue streams.”

Designed to help Sysco’s customers stay ahead of their competition, Cutting Edge Solutions products are sourced from best-in-class suppliers at the forefront of innovation. Each offering meets important dining trends such as comfort foods, outdoor and patio dining, takeout-friendly, better-for-you ingredients, as well as versatility and labor-saving solutions. Cutting Edge Solutions products help operators easily update their menus while also enabling streamlined back-of-house operations, according to a press release.

As COVID-19 has disrupted the way we work, socialize, and enjoy leisure activities, people are craving familiarity and comfort in all they do, including how they eat. Comfort foods are king when it comes to enticing diners and are also easy to add to a new or revamped patio menu. A comfortable outdoor dining environment goes hand-in-hand with an updated patio menu, and Sysco offers equipment to provide the comfort of indoors with the outdoor ambience diners want, including heaters, wind breaks, and fire pits.

Sysco’s new line of Comfort Foods includes:

• Arrezzio Imperial Luxe Ravioli
• Sysco Imperial Pimento Cheese Bites
• Sysco Imperial Dessert Mashups
• Simplot® Junior Cut Sidewinders™ Fries
• Tyson® Boneless THigh Wings

In this rapidly changing environment, people are also looking for balance. The Sysco Brand Cutting Edge Solutions line of products includes several better-for-you offerings for diners prioritizing their health or seeking “food-as-medicine” options to balance with their comfort food indulgences. These options include plant-based items from Sysco Simply, Sysco’s lifestyle brand designed to help foodservice operators meet growing consumer demand for flexible and customized menu choices.

Some of Sysco’s new better-for-you offerings include:

• Sysco Simply Plant-Based Protein
• Sysco Simply Plant-Based Sprouted Grain Breads
• Sysco Simply Plant-Based Vegan Cornettos
• Sysco Classic Fully Cooked Chicken Skewers

Fresh-forward, plant-based products are synonymous with health, meaning that these offerings will be a boon for consumers looking to fuel their immunity through food. Farm-to-table and fresh produce demand continues to rise, so be sure to keep this in mind when building future foodservice programs.

With such a wide array of offerings to choose from, there’s no telling where Sysco’s foodservice partners are headed next. To keep up on the latest trends, keep checking in with us here at AndNowUKnow.

Sysco

YAKIMA, WA - Driving organic growth for its retail partners, Superfresh Growers reported the strongest monthly growth for its organic apples and pears it has recently seen. Both categories were up nearly 30 percent in the month of August. Organic apples were up 30 percent in dollars and organic pears up 29 percent in volume.

Since COVID-19 hit, the grower reported that this is the third month in a row where apple growth has been up more than 19 percent. Despite a late Labor Day and disrupted back-to-school schedule, the overall apple category has maintained good sales. Apple volume was up two percent in volume and flat in dollars, due to a two percent lower retail price average of $1.71, a press release explained. According to Nielsen data, Honeycrisp sales were up 17 percent, with Fuji apples following close behind with an increase of 11 percent.

Pear demand has also increased, growing in August by two percent in dollars—due to a seven percent rise in average price per pound. Bartlett pears led the way with eight percent growth in dollars, despite a decrease of four percent in volume, reflecting a shorter California Bartlett pear crop. The average Bartlett price per pound was up 13 percent over last year. Superfresh reported that it has seen a firm market transition from California to the Pacific Northwest.

Asian pears continue to drive growth, up 31 percent in dollars and 18 percent in volume. The harvest is underway and Superfresh reported it is already seeing a nice crop.

Organic apples too are driving growth, up 30 percent in dollars and 23 percent in volume during August. Strong organic growth has become a trend during COVID-19, the company noted, with June up 12 percent in dollars and 19 percent in volume. In July, the category was up 28 percent in dollars and 27 percent in volume.

During August, organic dollar share represented an outstanding 15 percent of the category. With the advent of the Northwest pear crop, organic pears rebounded, showing five percent up in dollars and 29 percent in units.

During COVID-19, packaged apples and pears continued to trend upward. Forty-five percent of apple volume was packaged, up from a pre-COVID average of roughly 40 percent. Twenty-four percent of pear volume was packaged, up from the pre-COVID average of 18-20 percent. Bags and other consumer packages are popular for “stocking up,” value, perceived safety, and “grab-and-go” convenience.

In order to support the current packaging preferences, Superfresh is offering its Superfresh Kids™ program. Each apple variety comes with a unique game on the bag and is designed for little hands. The fun graphics and games attract the attention of kids in-store—meaning that parents don’t even have to convince little ones to eat their produce. The bags are available in Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Honeycrisp apples.

The apple and pear harvest is nearly half-way over. All new crop pear varieties are now available. Superfresh is now packing Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Red Delicious. Autumn Glory® apple harvest is just about to start, followed by Cosmic Crisp® and Pink Lady® apples.

Stick with AndNowUKnow as we continue to cover the latest in all things fresh.

Superfresh Growers®

ISSAQUAH, WA - While COVID-19’s impact on the market has varied, we have consistently seen a rise in healthy, fresh food as consumers’ eating habits continue to evolve. This was further proven in Costco’s recent fourth quarter earnings report, with fresh food being a strong sales driver. Taking a look at the company’s operating results for the 16-week quarter and the 52-week fiscal year, which ended August 30, 2020, trends spurred by the pandemic ultimately led to nearly $53 billion in sales.

“Looking at the core merchandise categories in relation...to only their own sales, so core-on-core, if you will, margins year over year were up by 70 basis points,” said Richard Galanti, Director, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer. “Fresh foods was the biggest driver of the year. With the strong sales in fresh, we benefited from efficiency gains in both labor productivity and significantly lower, what we call, D&D or damage and destroyed or products spoilage.”

According to the report, Costco’s net sales for the quarter increased 12.5 percent, to $52.28 billion from $46.45 billion last year. Net sales for the fiscal year increased 9.3 percent, to $163.22 billion from $149.35 billion last year. Another contributor to this growth was Costco’s e-commerce division.

“Total online grocery grew a very strong rate in Q4, several at 100 percent,” Galanti continued. “Overall, our e-comm sites were [running] relatively smoothly during the quarter despite the dramatic volume increases and we were able to improve...on delivery times throughout the quarter as we adjusted to the ramped-up order volumes.”

To take a deeper dive into the financial report, you can view Costco’s release here and read the call transcript here. As the retail landscape continues to shift, we here at AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date on the latest news.

Costco

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI - If versatility is the key to tapping any consumer’s intrigue, then Good Foods’ latest expansion has scored its plant-based dip lines onto the flexibility podium. The division? Single-serve. The company has introduced single-serve sizes to each of its three most popular plant-based dips, Queso, Buffalo, and Tzatziki.

“As plant-based preferences continue to grow in popularity, Good Foods leaned in to meet that need,” said Brittney Vetter, National Director of Retail Sales. “Our single-serve plant based dip options are perfect for ‘on-the-go’ and portion control, but they’re also great for individual servings as communal dining has been redefined during this pandemic.”

The new offering comes in a four-pack of 2-oz dips, with Good Foods’ Queso and Buffalo dips already available in Publix Super Markets.

The latest launch was born from seeing a successful reception of convenient snacking options in retail stores. Good Foods’ award-winning research and development team took this observation, especially noting the success of the single-serve guacamole options Good Foods already offers, and worked to bring the same power to the Queso, Buffalo, and Tzatziki plant-based dips, according to a press release.

Good Foods’ latest additions offer a suggested retail price (SRP) of $4.99, and judging by the success of their sibling items, they are set up to bring in even more rings to the register.

As we explore all new offerings bringing versatility, strength, and attention to the produce department, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for the latest.

Good Foods

WENATCHEE, WA - At the core of Stemilt, be that an apple, pear, cherry, or any treefruit core, is a spirit of innovation, and this season the grower is tending that flare with a new partnership with Apeel™ and its plant-based protection for organic apples.

“Our mission at Stemilt is to grow fruit that delights consumers, and that means consistently delivering freshness and flavor,” said Brianna Shales, Senior Marketing Manager. “Apeel has transformed the produce industry with its plant-derived coatings. Our in-house research and development team has studied Apeel on organic apples for two years now, and we see it as a huge benefit in helping us on our journey to deliver Artisan Organics™ apples with flavors and qualities that delight.”

Apeel is made of plant-derived materials that are found in the peels, seeds, and pulp of fruits and vegetables, according to a press release, forming an edible peel when applied on Stemilt’s dedicated organic apple packing line that will help retain moisture. This, the companies explained, leads to crisp and juicy organic apples at retail with fresh fruit color and overall appearance.

“It’s great to partner with an organic pioneer and leader like Stemilt,” said Lauren Sweeney, Director of Marketing at Apeel. “We share their passion for improving the consumer experience and see Apeel’s plant-based technology as an important tool in their toolbox. Together, we can build demand through quality and reduce food waste.”

Stemilt’s Artisan Organics program began more than 30 years ago when the company transitioned a large orchard to organic production in 1989. In recent years, Stemilt has modernized its organic apple mix with signature apples like SweeTango^® as well as well-known favorites like Honeycrisp.

“Stemilt believes that a fantastic eating experience with organic apples will lead to increased purchasing and greater demand for organics,” said Shales. “Apeel is going to help us deliver that crisp, juicy, and flavorful organic apple consistently, which ultimately benefits growers, retailers, and most importantly, the organic shopper.”

Stemilt supplies core organic varieties 52 weeks of the year. Now, with this newest addition, the team welcomes a partnership that offers tested products for dozens of USDA Organic Certified products to make such items retain better quality, be more sustainable, and are longer lasting.

Congratulations to both Stemilt and Apeel on this latest innovative step!

Stemilt Apeel™

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Social Enterprise LLC, operating out of New Castle, Del., for failing to pay a $100,255 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Rafael S. Goldberg and Diego Gonzalez-Carvajal were listed as members of the business
• West Florida Fresh Produce LLC, operating out of Hialeah, Fla., for failing to pay a $19,710 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Yenny R. Sosa was listed as a member of the business
• Sanchez Bros Wholesale Corporation, operating out of Chicago, Ill., for failing to pay a $36,775 award in favor of an Idaho seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Hector Sanchez was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
• Organic Fruit Markets LLC, operating out of Oroville, Wash., for failing to pay a $19,231 award in favor of a Washington seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eloiza Nunez Ramirez, Jose A. Ramirez, Antonio Benitez, Yazir Nieto, Yenny Ardilla, Tomasa Rivera Granados, Raul Martinez, Omar P. Polito, and Alverto Rivera were listed as members of the business

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For more information, and to read the release in its entirety, click here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service

TEMPLE, TX - Having a game plan is essential for any business, especially during this time. As the U.S. continues to adhere to lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders, essential businesses like grocery stores have seen high demand as consumers buy necessary provisions. H-E-B is staying on top of the game, however, as it jointly announced with Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) the expansion of its distribution facilities in Temple, Texas.

“We are thrilled that H-E-B has decided to grow their operations here in Temple, Texas,” said Adrian Cannady, President and CEO of Temple Economic Development Corporation. “Temple is a highly strategic area for businesses looking to serve the largest metropolitan markets in Texas. The city offers immediate access to I-35 and is within three hours of 80 percent of Texas’ population. We are proud that H-E-B is taking advantage of these opportunities, a decision that will strengthen both their operations and our local community.”

The expansion project will grow H-E-B’s current facility footprint of 800,000 to 1,050,000 square feet, allowing the retailer to expand its warehouse capacity and operations. This will allow the retailer to better meet the rising demands of consumers as COVID-19 continues.

According to local news source Focus Daily News, H-E-B’s Temple Distribution warehouse supports over 50 H-E-B retail stores across the region, from Austin to Dallas, and has been operating in the Temple community since 2010. The company is in the permit stage of the expansion with construction slated to begin by the end of 2020 and project completion expected in 2021.

For more news on the retail landscape, keep checking back to AndNowUKnow.

H-E-B

REEDLEY, CA - Shoppers and retailers alike await the return of the California citrus season each year as fall approaches in the Nothern Hemisphere, bringing with it cool air, a host of progressive growers, deep roots, and vibrant premium fruit. Bravante Produce is not only meeting the demand from retailers across North America in time to kick off the season in October, but bringing an elevated marketing and growing program to address the needs of an ever-changing buy-side vision. While October may seem a ways down the line, Bravante Produce is already building retail programs with its customers as they look to get and stay ahead.

“For the 2020 to 2021 citrus season, Bravante Produce will be taking over the selling of our citrus portfolio as we depart from Sunkist Growers,” Steve Shearer, Sales Manager, shares with me, adding that the time spent in the Sunkist fold allowed the company to cultivate its growing practices and evolve an already firm foundation in the citrus category. “George Bravante has decided to make a change and will step up our program this year. We will be bringing the sales and marketing and selling our citrus portfolio under our Bravante Premium Citrus brand.”

In addition to Bravante’s table grape and cherry portfolio, Bravante Produce currently grows and packs nearly 3,000 acres of citrus, with varieties including, Navel oranges, Valencias, Cara Caras, Blood Oranges, Minneolas, and Mandarins. Bravante also has a significant San Joaquin Valley Lemon portfolio in California that will provide customers with premium lemons for the entire season.

Bravante’s citrus packing facility is located in Reedley, California.

“We have spent the last few years developing our premium Bravante brand with our table grapes and cherries, and now we get to add that branding to the citrus portfolio. Our citrus has a strong following in the export markets due to the quality of the product, and we are excited to put our name on the box and continue to build on that success,” Steve tells me, reflecting on the vision of its company Founder. “George made the decision to execute our strategy directly with our great retail partners.”

Bravante’s season will begin at the end of October with navels and lemons and will continue with fruit all the way through June.

“We look forward to supplying customers, from start to finish, without any gaps in supply,” Steve concludes.

Peeling back the layers to find the value in such a relationship is an easy task when partnering with a company like Bravante Produce. With excellence across its table grape and cherry programs, there is only success in the stars for the citrus powerhouse and for those who find their niche in the company’s premium fruit portfolio.

Bravante Produce

ORLANDO, FL - They sometimes say that health is wealth, in which case, Produce for Kids® is spreading a whole lot of wealth with its latest initiative. Aiming to help create a healthier generation, Produce for Kids’ consumer-facing brand is changing to the Healthy Family Project. The organization is dedicated to delivering the resources its audience seeks and extending its effectiveness for current and new partners as it moves into the healthy lifestyle space. The brand will remain focused within grocery retail, aligning with produce companies to execute in-store campaigns throughout the year. In addition to Produce for Kids, brands under the Healthy Family Project umbrella include Food Rx, Power Your Lunchbox, and Mission for Nutrition.

“We are excited to expand into the healthy lifestyle space in a way that will allow us to extend our effectiveness for current and new produce partners,” said John Shuman, Founder of Produce for Kids and President of Shuman Farms. “We will remain rooted in helping our retail partners and sponsors connect with their shoppers while making a difference.”

Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit will be the first opportunity for Healthy Family Project to showcase the new family of brands structure. A scheduled Food Rx demo will take place at the Healthy Family Project’s Fresh Summit Marketplace page featuring digital partner National Watermelon Promotion Board. The food-as-medicine-inspired video series, hosted by registered dietitian Julie Harrington, has gained popularity over the past year focusing on the important role food plays in overall health and often features a health-conscious brand partner.

“Although Fresh Summit looks different this year, we believe it was the right space to announce our expansion,” continued Shuman. “I had a goal 20 years ago to bring the produce industry together to give back and now as we pass $7 million raised, I realize there’s no limit to the impact we can make as an organization in the healthy living space.”

Visitors to the Healthy Family Project Marketplace page will be able to download everything they need to better understand opportunities and the future vision of Produce for Kids and Healthy Family Project. In addition to Food Rx at the Marketplace page, a new Serious Snacking with Village Farms and Healthy Family Project in-the-kitchen video will be showcased by Village Farms on its Fresh Summit Marketplace page.

The overall growth in all areas of Produce for Kids' business in the past two years fueled this strategic expansion, according to a press release. With the addition of several new retail partners and health-conscious brand partners as well as the growth of the Produce for Kids social media, website, and podcast, it was a natural choice to transition the brands under the Healthy Family Project umbrella.

Website traffic has been trending up year-over-year and has already seen a 29 percent increase in 2020, while organic traffic is up 65 percent. Instagram engagement showed a 32 percent increase last year while Pinterest is reaching an average of 3.2 million people per month. In the new Healthy Family Facebook group, where parents talk about everything from how to pick a pineapple to what sunscreen is best, membership skyrocketed in growth by 191 percent. The Healthy Family Project podcast, which covers everything from meal prep to mental health, is now close to 20,000 unique downloads.

Over the summer, the Produce for Kids website, now HealthyFamilyProject.com, received a facelift in anticipation of the expansion. Shoppers looking for their specific Produce for Kids in-store campaign are now able to identify their neighborhood grocer on the homepage and skip directly to that grocer’s dedicated page to find out the latest news.

Other updates included a new robust searchable recipe index to help consumers find everything from plant-based dishes to air-fryer recipes. The Healthy Family Project blog, now offering a wide range of topics and podcasts, are also featured prominently throughout the website, along with a Produce Tips section with tips on how to select, prepare, and store over 60 different commodities.

To learn more about this exciting launch, watch the expansion video here. As we all continue working toward a better world, keep checking in on reports from AndNowUKnow.

Healthy Family Project