CARPINTERIA, CA - Retailers looking to court veggie loving consumers with exceptionally fresh and healthy produce options this winter can count on Hollandia Produce’s greenhouse-grown, living, roots-intact greens.

“One of the many benefits of our greenhouse-grown lettuce is the consistency in quality, taste and value,” Brian Cook, Vice President of Sales, tells me. “This advantage becomes especially powerful in extreme weather conditions during the winter and summer. Retailers can feel comfortable with product availability and unflagging quality during those times.”

Hollandia’s Live Gourmet Living Upland Cress and Grower Pete’s Organic Living Watercress are two such varieties that retailers and consumers alike are sure to enjoy during the cold winter months.

The company’s varieties of cress and watercress feature a peppery flavor and distinctive zing. The herbs can be used in soups, salads, and sauces, on sandwiches, or as a garnish, and this versatility makes them an excellent opportunity for cross-promotion, and a driver of repeat purchases.

Both varieties of herbs are certified as Antioxidant Superfoods by SCS Global Services and are grown using sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices. Grower Pete’s Organic Living Watercress is all-natural, USDA and CCOF certified organic, and with Hollandia’s Live Gourmet Living Upland Cress are verified by The Non-GMO Project.

Greenhouse-grown herbs and specialty lettuces can be particularly attractive offerings, too, after New Year’s when consumers’ priorities shift toward healthy eating: “As we head into the new year, many of us rededicate ourselves to live healthier lifestyles,” Brian notes. “Exercise and diet are major focuses. The consumption of fruits and vegetables increase as consumers look to eat low carb and paleo style meals. Butter Lettuce tacos and cups become a staple in families’ menus during this time.”

Hollandia has a variety of recipe ideas suitable for any occasion available on their website, here.

For more on all things produce, check in with us at AndNowUKnow.

Hollandia Produce

ORLANDO, FL – Boasting some new strategic focuses, Darden Restaurants Inc. is coming out of its Q2 report for 2017 with increased sales reports. Thanks especially to its Olive Garden business, the company reported a 2.1% total sales rise to $1.64 billion.

"We had another strong quarter with same-restaurant sales growth significantly outperforming the casual dining industry benchmarks, especially at Olive Garden," said CEO Gene Lee. "We remain laser-focused on our operating philosophy rooted in food, service and atmosphere, and creating memorable experiences for our guests." 

Darden also reported an increase to its reported diluted net earnings per share to $0.64, along with a rise of 18.5% from last year’s adjusted diluted net earnings per share. The company reported a profit of $79.5 million for its second quarter, ending in November. 

Darden’s same-restaurant sales rose 1.7% for the quarter, led by a 2.6% rise in sales at Olive Garden alone, according to a press release. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stated that analysts expected a 1.8% total same-restaurant sales increase for Darden, with Olive Garden surpassing analyst projections of a 2% increase.

Olive Garden’s increases come from a shift in strategy to deliver on consumer demand for quick and on-the-go meals instead of just a sit-down experience. With a heightened focus on carryout online ordering, the restaurant saw a rise in to-go sales of 21% for the quarter. The company stated that Olive Garden sales were also influenced by successful marketing campaigns such as the “Pasta Pass,” and lunch specials. 

For the rest of its string of restaurant chains, Darden saw the following movement to each segment’s respective same-restaurant sales: 

• LongHorn: +0.1%
• The Capital Grille: +1.2%
• Eddie V’s: 2.7%
• Yard House: +0.7%
• Seasons 52: -0.3%
• Bahama Breeze: +2.6%

WSJ stated that following the release of Darden’s Q2, the company’s shares rose 2.7% during morning trading.

What's next for Darden as the foodservice and restaurant industry continues to shift in the sway of consumer demand? AndNowUKnow will have the latest.

Darden Restaurants 

MEXICO - Grower Direct Marketing is highlighting its 2016-2017 asparagus season in the run up to the New Year with increased production in Mexico as more health conscious consumers look to add flavor, versatility, and differentiation to their shopping lists.

Managing Director Jim Hanson joined me to share the latest on Grower Direct’s season, and how the asparagus category is primed for growth.

“We have begun our robust Mexican asparagus period that stretches from Baja in October, through Caborca’s peak in February and March, and a promising California season this spring,” Jim shared with me. “We are seeing above average sizing for traditional green asparagus varieties, as new fields come into production. Generally, after a few weeks of harvest, the sizes return to normal and peak with standard and large.”

Quality this season from Mexico has been very good and Grower Direct anticipates that the asparagus in Caborca will continue with increased quality through the season.

Consumers have become increasingly more health conscious, the company added. Asparagus is low in calories and very high in fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K and an excellent source of folate, which may fight cognitive decline, and is also loaded with antioxidants.

“Retailers that have been following Grower Direct’s promotional recommendations have seen excellent growth in the asparagus category. Supply is steady and will grow significantly as the main portion of the Mexico season comes into production,” Jim said. “Grower Direct has steadily become one of the largest distributors of Mexican asparagus to coincide with our distribution from California. Retailers have come to trust the planning that they are receiving from GDM sales staff.”

When I asked Jim what some of his tips and best-practices were for retailers, when it comes to helping drive sales in the asparagus category, he said to display product in high traffic areas in the produce department and always supply moisture to avoid dehydration. Include cross-merchandising opportunities that include deli items, oils and recipe ideas, he added, and, continue to offer varieties in sizes including large and extra-large to vary your display.

With a great season on the books so far and a fruitful season ahead, 2017 looks to be a year of growth for Grower Direct Marketing.

Grower Direct Marketing

BERLIN, GERMANY - A new retail format is helping Lidl ring in the new year. Dubbed Lidl Express, the latest iteration of the Germany-based retailer seeks to streamline each store’s offerings to fit in a small format, but allow for an expanded inventory to be ordered online for pick up.

The pilot Lidl Express is located in the company’s home country of Germany, in a locality of Berlin, and, according to the Lebensmittel Zeitung, contains several express cash desks sans conveyor belts, a small selection of produce, a bakery counter, and a deli counter.  

This is a significantly smaller offering than shoppers will find in the typical Lidl store, but the twist is, each shopping experience is complemented by online ordering and in-store pickup. This way, Lidl customers will be able to order limited shelf-life products like certain types of fruit and vegetables, milk, and more online, and not have to shop around for them in store. 

As reported by Business Insider, Lidl began selling groceries online in Germany just two months ago, but the company sees adding a click and collect option helping to possibly boost this portion of its business significantly. 

As you may have noticed from your avid reading of AndNowUKnow’s retail news, online grocery shopping has made huge jumps in growth over 2016. Some, however, still have qualms with the idea of not being able to physically pick out items like fresh produce for themselves. 

Business Insider suggests that click and collect could be one of the more effective ways to combat this common issue, providing an in-person contact to allow shoppers to address issues before actually leaving the store. And as a further comfort, having an additional inventory of stock offers Lidl the chance to potentially cross-sell any items that weren’t included in the original order.

While Lidl Express is currently only in Germany, a successful pilot may lead to not only Lidl Express locations in the U.S., but potentially an uprising of similarly formatted competitors. Keep watching AndNowUKnow as we keep our eyes on this and other growing retail trends.

Lidl

TAMPA, FL - We are on the brink of the one-year mark since IFCO launched its Wood Grain Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs). Now, the company announced that it’s celebrating a key milestone, having surpassed 11 million shipments since that debut.

“We are proud to partner with Walmart and its fresh produce suppliers to provide them with innovative, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable reusable packaging that transitions easily to in-store display,” said Daniel Walsh, President of IFCO North America, in a release that noted over 300 growers supplying Walmart with a variety of fresh produce items have placed orders.

Walsh continued, “Surpassing the 11 million Wood Grain RPC threshold so quickly is an impressive accomplishment made possible through strong collaboration between Walmart, the grower community, and IFCO.”

The company entered an agreement with one of the world’s largest retailers in October of 2015 to use Wood Grain RPCs to ship fresh produce to Walmart.

“Walmart chooses to use Wood Grain RPCs to deliver produce for a variety of reasons,” said Shawn Baldwin, SVP of Produce, Floral, and Global Food Sourcing for Walmart USA. “They have better ventilation, they’re ergonomically designed, and very easy to use. And, our customers really like the new Wood Grain RPCs because they look more like a farmers market or roadside fruit stand, which provides a level of comfort during the shopping experience.”

The company said that its RPCs were designed to Walmart specifications, as well as incorporating feedback received from the grower community. IFCO also noted that, like all its RPCs, the Wood Grain product is:

• More efficient
• Protect and cool product better
• Are more environmentally sustainable than one-way packaging

As we recently reported, IFCO and its Wood Grain RPC were featured on global TV show Worldwide Business with kathy ireland®. You can see this shining moment for the company and the industry in the video below:

In the U.S. alone, IFCO demonstrates its strong commitment to supporting local economies, companies, and workers by sourcing and manufacturing 100% if its Wood Grain RPCs in America and meet the FTC’s standard for its “Made in the USA” country of origin label.

The product is also cleaned and sanitized at one of six U.S. service centers throughout its life cycle. Keep checking in as we continue to report on this and other key milestones for those that make up the product industry.

IFCO Walmart

DONNA, TX - With the industry moving the holidays and looking to tap in on consumer demand in new and innovative ways, Kingdom Fresh Produce is looking to wrap up the current season of its vine ripe variety before moving into the next. 

As CEO Alberto Gonzalez recently told me, Kingdom Fresh capitalizes on its two peak stages of seasons in order to offer its customers year-round production on vine ripes. The company’s current peak season began this fall and will wrap this month, with the next slated to begin in the spring to run into summer.

“We have a unique variety growing methodology that we have perfected over the last couple of years, and today we can say that we have the best tomatoes that we have ever had at Kingdom Fresh,” Alberto tells me of Kingdom Fresh’s vine ripe tomatoes. “This year’s crop yields were good and quality is excellent.” 

General Manager Guillermo Martinez elaborated on what makes the company’s selection so unique to its retail partners, stating that Kingdom Fresh’s vine ripes make for perfect merchandising opportunities. 

“What makes this variety unique is that they have the flavor of a vine ripe tomato, but are very sturdy. They don’t fall apart when sliced,” Guillermo says. “That’s why we say they are ‘the perfect slice.’” 

To further launch its variety straight into consumers’ baskets, and palates, Kingdom Fresh is gearing up for a differentiated marketing campaign to solidify its brand. The campaign will launch in January through the company’s website and social media outlets.

“Our unique campaign will not only talk about the product, but also tell the stories of our company’s offerings in a new way to consumers,” Alberto divulges. “The campaign will also cover the entire Kingdom Fresh line from vine ripes, organic grapes, and roma tomatoes, to conventional grape tomatoes.”

EAST GREENWICH, RI - Apple shoppers at Dave’s Marketplace this holiday season are putting food on hungry families’ tables with every purchase of JAZZ™, Envy™, and Pacific Rose™ apples.

Dave’s Marketplace, a nine-store independent grocer based in Rhode Island, has launched a creative campaign called “Put the Crunch on Hunger” in partnership with the Oppeheimer Group; for several popular ENZA apple varieties, the program will donate $.20 per pound of apples sold to the Rhode Island Food Bank through the end of December.

“It’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to sharing with those less fortunate,” said Susan Budlong, Marketing Communications Manager at Dave’s Marketplace, in an Oppy press release. “This is a great opportunity to support our community and give our shoppers the chance to enjoy these three great-tasting apples while giving back a little, too.”

Oppy Business Development Representative, TJ Wilson, expressed his satisfaction with the campaign and touched on how much good can be done when many people undertake a small but meaningful gesture.

“It’s terrific to work with such a great partner and their generous shoppers. Together, we hope our efforts will make things a bit brighter for people needing a little extra help this holiday season,” said Wilson. “An apple a day really can help keep hunger away. That’s pretty powerful.”

Wilson noted that Dave’s is displaying JAZZ, Envy, and Pacific Rose apples in shipper units and on bulk tables with signage encouraging people to “Put the Crunch on Hunger” by buying delicious and crunchy apples so those less fortunate can enjoy a warm meal.

The initiative is also being supported by social media activities on all three apples’ platforms, as well as Dave’s.

For more on the benevolent side of the produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow. 

Oppy

AUSTRALIA – What started as an undersea tremor quickly turned into a series of shaking movement felt on Australia’s mainland. Northern Australia felt a strong rattle yesterday as a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck near the Banda Sea off of Indonesia’s coast.

“Most of the motion is on our plate. It was probably felt less in the immediate region where the epicentre is than it was in Darwin,” stated Senior Seismologist Dan Jaksa from Geoscience Australia, emphasizing that seismic waves travel more easily on Australia’s tectonic plate than Indonesia’s.

The earthquake occurred early Wednesday morning local time, with an epicenter of around 110 miles (or 180 km). According to The Guardian, this put the quake’s point of origin around 630 miles north of Australia.

Though there are no reports of damage at this time, Australians took to social media and news sources to elaborate on the extensive shaking felt through Darwin and beyond to Katherine. Mangos and grapes are grown throughout these regions.

Jaksa stated that over the past 20 years there have been more than 140 quakes with a strong magnitude of six felt in the Northern region. Earthquakes occurring at that depth in the ocean typically don’t produce damaging surface wave as they are less likely to rupture the sea floor, Jaksa said. 

“The biggest earthquakes that have occurred are in the Northern Territory,” he finished. Australia’s largest quake was a 6.6 magnitude quake in Tennant Creek in 1988.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre ruled out the threat of a tsunami for the quake. 

As earthquakes roll in and roll out of growing regions in our industry, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest in subsequent reports.

SCHENECTADY, NY - Price Chopper’s attorneys are reported to be in talks to settle a two-year-old case of both current and former employees claiming the retailer failed to pay them overtime.

The plaintiffs are out of New York, Pennsylvania, and New England, according to news source Timesunion, who reports that it is unclear how much the plaintiffs are seeking.

A conservative number estimated, not including interest and legal fees, was around $4 million, based on an “informal calculation.”

There has been hearsay of Price Chopper being for sale since last summer, with the most recent rumors listing Albertsons as an interested buyer for the chain in an acquisition of as much as $1 billion.

Those discussions are still unconfirmed by Price Chopper, which also refuted the reports of shopping for buyers in August.

The current case has been stayed pending the outcome of revisited settlement talks that took place Dec. 12, after the employees and Price Chopper worked with mediation.

"Mediation has begun and is continuing," Mona Golub, Vice President of Public Relations and Consumer Services for Price Chopper said Monday, according to Timesunion.

While the Dec. 12 meeting did not see a settlement, the letter filed with the court Monday stated the two sides continue to talk with "substantial progress" achieved.

The next status reports to the court are due Jan. 6, 2017.

Price Chopper

LOXAHATCHEE, FL - With winter fully arrived, and a string of cold weather systems and effects sweeping the nation, the world seems to be at the whim of Mother Nature. However, while consumers may be frowning at recent weather reports, J&J Family of Farms is praising Florida weather as ideal for growing conditions. 

As Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy Chris Coffman recently told me, the company is a little over a month into its current season and expects to harvest late into May.

“We are growing green bell peppers, field-grown red and yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, summer squash, green beans, specialty peppers, and eggplant,” Chris tells me of the company’s current produce lineup.

Chris says that the colder weather in Florida has equated to great weather for growing. This has been reflected in excellent yields and quality for the J&J Family of Farms crop, with all harvest projections on time.

“The current market is low on most categories due to the high yields from the fantastic growing weather. In a longer term view, we expect continued good crops and ample plantings throughout Florida in the spring,” Chris says. “Promotable volumes will continue to be available in the next few months as they are right now. We see customer promotional activity increasing on our items in January and February.” 

For the rest of the season, Chris says that the company expects the market to remain steady and competitive as produce is packaged and shipped to consumers. J&J Family of Farms’ own fresh offerings have reflected this as well, with a better overall year thus far than last.

“Our quality and volume are excellent, and we have a beautiful crop with exceptional yields to support promotions and features in each category,” Chris continues. “Last year was an El Nino weather pattern year, which saw more rain and wind that impacted yields significantly.”

As J&J Family of Farms continues to move through its season, and Florida winter weather continues to shift, stay with AndNowUKnow for all significant updates. 

J&J Family of Farms