THERMAL, CA – 2017 is looking to be a year of growth, as we’ve already seen in just a couple of weeks from suppliers, growers, buyers, and more. North Shore is next on the list with a big expansion planned for its current greenhouse operations.

As Vice President of Sales & Marketing Suzette Overgaag recently told me, the greenhouse expansion will boost the company’s operations on the North Shore of the Salton Sea, California, and double North Shore’s organic clamshell volume capacity.

“Our plans will allow for the physical expansion of our highly automated hydroponic system that also aligns with our mission to operate and produce with sustainable growing methods and practices,” Suzette says.

North Shore, grower of both North Shore Living Herbs® and North Shore Organic Living™, will power its soon-to-be bigger facility with new solar panels that were installed on the property in 2016. The solar panels will provide the space with up to 70% of its energy.

Micki Dirtzu, Director of Marketing tells me that this expansive decision was made from an increase in consumer demand for organic produce, resulting in North Shore’s new investment. Phase 1 of the project will be completed in early spring of 2017, with phase 2 reaching its finishing stage by the end of the year.

“North Shore continues to keep innovation in technology and sustainability top of mind as we strive to grow premium quality culinary herbs,” Micki continues. “We pride ourselves on leading the category in offering products that both increase shelf-life and reduce waste.”

What’s next for the Coachella Valley-based company? Keep up with AndNowUKnow as we report with more news forthcoming soon.

North Shore

BENTONVILLE, AR – Fleshing out previously-announced plans to streamline operating costs, Walmart Stores Inc. has announced plans to trim 200 e-commerce jobs in California. The job cuts are part of an ongoing effort, on the part of the retailer, to streamline, grow the company’s e-commerce presence, and shift the company’s e-commerce staff into more shopper facing roles.

In a memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Marc Lore, the company’s new e-commerce chief and President and CEO of Walmart.com, the retailer is “focused on adding the right talent to our team and making sure we're investing in ways that directly improve our customer experience."

According to MarketWatch, the cuts, announced Tuesday January 24, are intended to shift the retailer’s e-commerce staff toward more shopper-facing roles and pare away unnecessary operating costs as the company continues to aggressively purse e-commerce goals. As Walmart.com grows—the site sells millions more product now than it did a year ago—more employees will be required to manage those items.

"We don't need as many senior people, and there is some aspect that is performance related," explained Dan Toporek, Vice President of PR/Corporate Communications at Walmart Global E-Commerce & Technology.

These recent cuts may seem counter-intuitive, as Walmart has invested billions to boost its e-commerce sales, buying Jet.com for $3.3 billion last year, and the company announced goals to add 10,000 retail jobs—and 34,000 jobs overall—over the course of the next year. The cuts, however, are part of an effort to streamline and continue growing their burgeoning e-commerce efforts.

For more updates as they occur, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.

Walmart

WENATCHEE, WA - Our next big retail holiday is right around the corner, believe it or not, and Stemilt is channeling the luck of the Irish to kick off a new St. Patrick’s Day promotion for its vibrant and high-quality crop of larger-sized Granny Smith apples. The company will be placing a decorative leprechaun sticker on its “Apple Lover’s” 5lb. pouch bags, helping retailers promote the much-beloved green apple while driving up the average purchase size through the 5lb. grab-and-go bag.

According to Stemilt’s Fruit Tracker program and analysis of Nielsen Fresh Facts retail scan data, Granny Smith has consistently been the number 4 selling apple variety in the U.S. since the new crop started in September 2016, with an average of 11 percent of apple category sales.  

This year’s conditions brought along larger-sized Granny Smith apples than in years prior, which Stemilt noted will be great for March’s bulk promotion opportunities. So, what is the recipe for translating that into a larger ring with consumers?  Stemilt’s Marketing Director Roger Pepperl pointed to a St. Patrick’s Day bulk ad on size 72 and larger Granny Smith apples. 

“Sizing up is one of the easiest ways to drive sales in the category, as people tend to purchase the same number of apples when buying bulk, but will be purchasing more weight because of the larger fruit size,” explained Pepperl, according to a press release. “Bulk accounts for more than 64 percent of all apple sales, and must be a focus as we head into the springtime.”

Another tip Pepperl recommended was to use larger-sized Granny Smith apples in 5lb. or 6lb. bag options to provide consumers with a grab-and-go bag at a better value than they would receive with a bulk purchase. “Large bags are great for in-and-out promotions and driving tonnage up. It’s a perfect way to capture impulse sales through large displays at the front of the store,” Pepperl said.

This St. Patrick’s Day campaign seeks to vault off the success of Stemilt’s candy cane-themed bag during the holiday season. This seasonal promotion will see a festive St. Patrick’s Day sticker on 5lb. Apple Lovers pouch bags of Granny Smith apples for a limited time. 

“The sticker helps retailers promote Granny Smith apples around the St. Patrick’s Day theme, and it also conveys to the consumer that the apples inside each bag are freshly packed. This makes a high-quality product stand out in store displays,” added Pepperl.

To learn more information about the company’s St. Patrick’s Day promotion opportunities and its Granny Smith program, retailers can contact their Stemilt representatives.

Stemilt Growers

OXNARD, CA - The year of the rooster is nearly upon us, and with the growing interest in ethnic cuisines, people are crowing about Asian produce.

The Chinese New Year, a major holiday revolving around the lunar calendar, kicks off on January 28. The holiday features a prescribed series of symbolic events and feasts daily throughout the two week celebration, culminating with the famous Lantern Festival and designation of one of the twelve Chinese zodiac symbols for the year.

This vibrant, feast-heavy holiday is a perfect opportunity for retailers to inject excitement into stagnant mid-winter produce sales. Especially since Asian-Americans are one of fastest growing populations, according to a recent study by Nielsen. In addition, other mainstream consumers have exhibited a tendency for expanding palates in recent trends reports.

San Miguel Produce knows a thing or two about Asian veg, having refined its line of Asian greens last year. So, I connected with Sales and Marketing Manager Garrett Nishimori to discuss how retailers can expect the expanding demographics and upcoming holiday to impact produce.

“I’m still fairly new to it, since I married into this tradition. But, one of the first things you have to learn is to say ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy’, a customary saying to wish someone a happy and prosperous New Year,” Garrett tells me. “Interestingly enough, ‘Choy’ means green vegetable.”

While Chinese cuisine encompasses a broad variety of flavors based on the region, Garrett tells me that many dishes are veg-centric. When you examine Chinese New Year menus, you’ll often find earthy, aromatic, balanced dishes incorporating produce like ginger, greens, mushrooms, black mosses, and more.

Garrett also tips me off that one growing tradition to look for is the hot pot. Akin to korean BBQ, a hot pot is a family-style “cook-it-yourself” feast enjoyed around a hot soup base with an assortment of meats, seafood, and fresh produce scattered across the table for participants to cook in the broth before eating.

San Miguel Produce has made it a point to meet the demand for Asian veg head on, having improved the packaging for its line of Asian greens last year. The company made the switch to bags, allowing a more aggressive price point, while improving the freshness and quality.

And, when it comes to Asian greens and the expanding Asian American population, Garrett mentions that it's important to take notice of generational differences.

“Even in the salad cases, you see Asian inspired salad greens and dressings. This is definitely geared towards the second and third generation Asian Americans who are becoming core consumers. Most first generation Asians don’t consume vegetables in raw form,” Garrett explains. “The first time I told my mother-in-law that San Miguel created a bok choy and snow pea shoot based salad blend, she told me that they don’t eat choy (green vegetables) raw!”

San Miguel Produce

REIDSVILLE, GA – With a successful four-week social media campaign under its belt, Shuman Produce is looking to take its social media one influence step further. The company announced that after its latest initiative, it will donate 2,602 pounds of RealSweet® Peruvian sweet onions to Farm Share Florida.

“Giving back has always been important to Shuman Produce; it’s one of our foundational pillars. We are excited to help make a difference in the lives of others all year long, especially during the holiday season,” said John Shuman, President of Shuman Produce. 

Shuman Produce launched the campaign through Facebook and Instagram in early December. According to a press release, for every consumer that engaged with the post, Shuman Produce pledged to donate one pounds of its RealSweet® Peruvian sweet onions. The promotion’s conclusion yielded 1,301 engagements, which led to Shuman Produce’s to match the number and donate 2,602 pounds of its key selection to Farm Share Florida.

The company’s followers were encouraged to engage with the company by liking, commenting, or sharing social media posts during the campaign. Consumers also shared how they were going to give back to others during the holiday, and make a difference in their communities. 

“We would like to thank Shuman Produce for assisting us with our mission to alleviate hunger in our communities that need it most. Every item donated makes a difference for the hungry families served by Farm Share,” stated Ashley Moore, Director of Marketing at Farm Share Florida. 

Farm Share Florida is a non-profit organization that works with local farmers to recover and distribute healthy foods to people in need. Last year, the company made 40,497,190 pounds of food available to Florida citizens in need. 

As companies continue to better their surrounding communities, AndNowUKnow will report on their innovative measures and impacts.

Shuman Produce 

CHINA and JAPAN - Kale, Cuties®, garlic, and now—pineapple? It seems the tropical fruit is the latest produce item the McDonald’s is putting on its international menus. The fast food giant has introduced both a pineapple burger and a pineapple shake to its repertoire, prompting the question: will this new food trend catch on? 

The Empress' Pineapple Burger, as it has been dubbed by McDonald’s China, is a chicken breast burger topped with a sweet and sour barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and of course, a large ring of pineapple, according to news source the Beijinger. While it seems to be a hit in its host country, the pineapple-graced burger is reminiscent of the often controversial food choice of Hawaiian-style pizza. Some argue pineapple and meat just can’t be mixed, but I for one, am intrigued.

The company has also introduced a 30-second ad spot heralding the new burger, with agency Leoburnett China using the Empress name and the pineapples’ intimidating appearance in a play off of popular Chinese court dramas. You can watch the short ad below.

This isn’t the first time McDonald’s has brought a pineapple-focused item to its Asian market locations either. Called a Summer Shake, McDonald’s introduced a new pineapple shake that uses 100 percent Okinawan-grown pineapples in June of 2016, according to Rocket News 24.

As a fan of both pineapple and increased produce consumption, I have to say, I like where this is going! While there is no word on these treats coming stateside any time soon, AndNowUKnow will do our due diligence and provide you with the latest.

McDonald's

CINCINNATI, OH – On the heels of its recently announced workforce expansion, Kroger has unveiled another strategy coming to its executive lineup. As its current Mid-Atlantic Division President looks to retire, the retailer has enlisted Harris Teeter veteran Jerry Clontz to take up the role.

"Jerry is a proven leader who is passionate about this business and the success of his associates," said Sukanya Madlinger, Kroger's Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions. "Jerry has a strong track record of success as a leader at Harris Teeter and we look forward to his contributions in our Mid-Atlantic division."

Jerry’s new executive role with Kroger will begin on February 1, according to a press release. Most recently, Jerry served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Harris Teeter, where he initially joined as a bagger in 1971.

From there, Jerry held various positions of increasing responsibility as a Store Manager, Store Director, District Manager, Regional Director, and Regional Vice President. In his executive role at Harris Teeter, Jerry was instrumental in the chain’s entry into the highly-competitive Washington DC market.

Joe Fey, Kroger’s outgoing Division President, will retire after 44 years of service on February 10. Joe began as a Meat Clerk with Kroger in 1972, while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Indian University. 

"Joe has accomplished much in his distinguished career spanning several supermarket divisions and Kroger's corporate office," said Fred Morganthall, Kroger's Executive Vice President of Retail Operations. "Joe is a true leader who exemplifies our values and focuses on doing what is best for our associates, customers and company. The people he has developed throughout his career will continue his legacy for many years. The entire Kroger family thanks Joe for his many contributions and wishes him and his family all the best in retirement." 

Throughout his career with Kroger, Joe quickly moved through a plethora of leadership positions including Store Management, Deli/Bakery Merchandising, and Meat/Seafood Merchandising for both the company’s Central division and corporate office. Joe was named Vice President of Merchandising at Dillons in 1999, and Vice President of Merchandising for Michigan in 2008. From there, Joe was promoted to President of the QFC division in 2011 before assuming his final leadership role in 2014.

As we recently reported, this is just the latest in a string of strategic directives by the company. Kroger also unveiled new in-store technology, and released plans to boost its workforce by 10,000. 

As executives continue to shift in the competitive buy-side sector, which retailer will have the next big appointment? AndNowUKnow will have the latest.  

Kroger 

CHELAN, WA - Sometimes to go big, you have to think small. While you look to keep ahead of eating trends, here’s What’s In Store for Chelan Fresh.

With a collective experience going back more than 100 years, we at Chelan Fresh know a hit fruit when we see one. That’s why we, in partnership with Borton Fruit, are excited to bring you the miniature Rockit™ apple.

Known for its naturally petite stature and “distinctively fresh” crunch, Rockit™ apples launched onto the world from New Zealand’s east coast in 2010, and has since climbed sky-high as a consumer favorite.

Born from a Royal Gala and Gala Splendour cross, this all-natural, red-blushed apple is the perfect snack for millennial parents looking to hook their kids on healthy foods. 

And now this delightful fruit has dug its roots into U.S. soil. Growers of both Chelan Fresh and Borton Fruit are bringing this gem to you and your shoppers directly from the heart of apple-growing country in Chelan, Washington.

As momentum continues to Rockit, don’t miss your chance to take a bite out of the crunchiest little apple on the market.

Chelan Fresh

ST. LOUIS, MO – Bolstering its operations with strategic new hires, Anchor Packaging, Inc. has added four Process Engineers to its manufacturing operations. The company has tapped Nick Gross, Paul McGhee, Aaron Troll, and Jerome Stegall for these positions. 

“Our company’s vision for manufacturing excellence, operational leadership, and delighting our customers, begins and ends with our people” stated Jeffrey Wolff, President of Anchor Packaging. “We look for talented individuals who not only excelled in their education, but who are inspired to continuously learn, while driving the enterprise toward future growth.”

Jerome is an ASU Graduate with over ten years of experience to bring to the Anchor Packaging team. Nick, Paul, and Aaron have all come to the Anchor team as Graduates of Missouri University of Science and Technology. All four took up their new positions within the last four months.

According to a press release, these new team members will be responsible for the following as Process Engineers, in addition to a focus on achieving high levels of quality, service, and performance:

• Process optimization
• Continuous improvement
• Operator training and development

Anchor Packaging stated that it actively recruits new hires from various institutions in order to continuously seek out graduates with fresh ideas who are also looking to learn from talented industry veterans. Anchor Packaging’s culture is built on cornerstones of people, safety, quality, and value-driven, innovative products that drive increased sales and profits for Anchor and its partners.

For the latest in new hires, strategic appointments, and company growth, continue to count on AndNowUKnow. 

Anchor Packaging 

CINCINNATI, OH – The arms race is on, with several grocery chains heralding high-tech operations at the shelf level as the key strategy to ensnaring more consumers. Kroger is the latest to tap in on this particular plan, with new sensors and analytics technology to connect shoppers directly with products.

“We want to bring technology to life in the store … We know what’s in the aisle and what the mobile shopper has told us and fuse all that data,” stated Kroger CIO Chris Hjelm to CIO Journal’s Kim S. Nash, according to the Wall Street Journal.

These new systems connect the consumer with shelves of product either through their mobile devices or a display. The new systems will identify consumers who have installed the Kroger app, and cater to their shopping experience by emphasizing special products, highlight items on the shelf that are on their mobile shopping list, and flashing information on nearby displays.

This merge of the digital shopping experience with brick-and-mortar stores seems to be a lasting trend, as retailers experiment with ways to make grocery shopping a more personalized experience. Amazon first made news with its fully automated Amazon Go store. As we recently reported, Walmart is also testing a new Scan & Go app to streamline shopping. 

Kroger already began testing the product late last year, with consideration to expand the program by the end of 2017. According to PYMNTS, the high-tech pilot is currently testing performance in various Kroger locations throughout the nation.

Kroger is doubling down on its consumer-focused strategies as the retail chain also announced it will be boosting its operations by 10,000 team members, looking to add permanent employees who are passionate about people and food.

Will Kroger’s new technological endeavors and customer service initiatives put it in the front running of convenience for consumers? AndNowUKnow will continue to report as the buy-side melds service with electronics.

Kroger