FOWLER, CA – With winter on the horizon, cold and flu season is fast-approaching.

And while the flu shot might assuage those stabs of panic each time a coworker sneezes, doctors recommend additionally incorporating vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods into one’s diet to help boost immunity. Eating more citrus is a great way to help boost the body’s natural defenses, and Bee Sweet Citrus is hoping to capitalize on the opportunity to deepen consumer ties while promoting wellness.  

“Citrus fruits are amazing because they’re not only delicious, they’re incredibly healthy as well,” said Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Bienvenue. “One medium orange contains about 70 mg of vitamin C, and one half of a grapefruit contains about 40 mg of vitamin C. In fact, eating one whole grapefruit will provide you with the recommended amount of vitamin C for the day.”

The National Institutes of Health recommend a daily intake (RDI) 90 mg and 75 mg of vitamin C for adult men and women, respectively. Vitamin C is water soluble and a powerful antioxidant that fights off free radicals in the body and strengthens the immune system.

“Because vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it’s important for people to consume foods that contain large amounts of it,” continued Bienvenue. “Fortunately, there’s a plethora of ways for people to consume citrus. Whether it’s incorporating mandarin segments into salads, eating grapefruit as a whole or infusing your favorite citrus variety into a smoothie, there are plenty of creative ways for you to get your daily dose of vitamin C.”   

Bee Sweet Citrus is making it a priority to help consumers stay healthy this winter by offering nutritional information and healthy recipe suggestions on the company’s website and through social media, and of course, by offering shoppers healthy, vitamin-rich citrus products.

For more on Bee Sweet and the health benefits of citrus fruit, check in with AndNowUKnow.

Bee Sweet Citrus

GOODLETTSVILLE, TN – As the discount banner looks to bring its store count up, Dollar General has announced that its store formats may be shifting down. Dollar General plans to debut a new pilot store with a new focus on small format. 

The new concept, bearing the name DGX for now, will open its doors in early 2017 in downtown Nashville, TN. According to PYMNTS.com, the chain is building the pilot to appeal to the busy consumers of bustling metropolitan areas.

DGX will be more reminiscent of a convenience store than a standard Dollar General, and will boast a concise 3,400-square-feet of floor space. The chain is looking to offer typical convenience items, along with a supply of fresh groceries and other household, beauty, electronic, and seasonal items that Dollar General is known for. 

If the pilot is a successful one, Dollar General already stated that it will look to build another DGX in Raleigh, N.C.

This new consumer focused concept is just the latest in a string of strategic moves by the chain as it looks to move further into the competitive buy-side segment.

Dollar General is currently aiming to open 1,900 stores by the end of next year, and a total of 20,000 stores by 2020. Dollar General also scooped up 41 former Walmart locations to sell produce. To support this growth, Dollar General is laying the groundwork for new facilities, and hiring a high number of associates.

PYMNTS.com also speculated that this move towards a smaller store strategy is one that could save the chain additional costs as they move further towards its end expansion goals.

What steps will the banner take next to further its impact? Stay with AndNowUKnow as we keep an eye on all things buy-side.

Dollar General

HOUSTON, TX – As the company further expands its business and reach throughout the globe, Sysco Corp. has just released a lucrative report to adorn its financial history. The company announced in its fiscal first quarter, ending October 1, that its profits rose 33 percent. 

“I am pleased with our first quarter performance which built upon the favorable results we have achieved over the past several quarters,” stated Bill DeLaney, Chief Executive Officer. “We continued to focus on supporting the needs of our customers and achieved strong earnings growth through solid execution in a softening industry environment. We remain committed to achieving our three-year plan financial goals.” 

This period of profitability was due in part to the company’s recent acquisition of U.K.-based distributor Brakes Group. Officially acquired in July, Brakes Group has a reach spanning several countries in the U.K., and was acknowledged by Sysco in a press release to have contributed significantly to the company's rise in financial numbers.

Additional highlights to the company’s financial report saw the following movement, including the company’s recently acquired Brakes business: 

• Sales increased 11.2 percent to $14.0 billion
• Gross profit increased 20.3 percent to $2.7 billion
• Operating income increased 14.9 percent to $567 million
• EPS rose $0.17 to $0.58, or $323.9 million 

The company reported that if Brakes were not to be taken into account, its quarterly sales rose by 1 percent to $12.7 billion. In this same vein, the company’s gross margin increased to 18.5 percent which was noted by the Wall Street Journal to be double the average growth over the previous five quarters.

While the Wall Street Journal also noted that the company’s sales by volume wasn’t as strong as seen in prior quarters, DeLaney was noted as saying during a call with analysts that there are “ebbs and flows in many cycles of economies, and I think we’re going through that right now.”

As companies continue to engage in strategic acquisitions throughout the foodservice and buy-side industry, AndNowUKnow will report on their subsequent impact.  

Sysco

WENATCHEE, WA - As Stemilt Growers comes up on the final days of this season’s Pink Lady® harvest, Communications Manager Brianna Shales took some time to share with me how the harvest has been, what to expect in coming weeks, and what retailers can do to boost those apple purchases in-store.

“We are coming to the end of the 2016 apple harvest, and, luckily, we’ve been benefiting from some warmer weather while we wrap up,” Brianna says, commenting that some rain had delayed picking towards the end of October.

But Mother Nature has since turned things around to produce what looks to be a promising close to one of the earliest apple harvests Stemilt has seen.

“We started picking apples earlier than we ever have before, and are wrapping up right on time. Quality is exceptional, which is always good for driving repeat purchases with consumers,” Brianna tells me. “Fruit sizing is also up this year, giving a lot of room for promotion, especially on bulk.”

Adding to those larger fruits is a brand new bag the grower just launched at Fresh Summit: a 5 lb pouch bag fit for Apple Lovers.

“Our Apple Lovers packs are available in key varieties and ideal for capturing the once-a-week shopper, as well as those people planning for holiday meals that are right around the corner,” Brianna explains, adding that as holiday deals come out on Thanksgiving and Christmas staples, apples should be on the list.

Perfect to pair with those promotions is the company’s There’s an Apple for That merchandising platform, which helps consumers to find the varieties that serve whatever dish they are making best.

“Retailers can create multi-variety ads tying to There’s an Apple for That. Right now is the perfect time to sketch out late winter ads and begin planning for the New Year,” Brianna shares.

To check out There’s an Apple for That yourself, click here.

Stemilt Growers

ARLINGTON, VA - More details about Aldi's planned growth have been revealed, with the company seemingly choosing South New Jersey as a hub for four new planned locations. As the German discounter seeks to take the U.S. by storm with 2,000 proposed locations, Aldi is proposing a bit of a takeover into the increasing competitive Jersey market.  

According to news source Press of Atlantic City, Aldi is planning locations in the following new cities: 

• Middle Township, NJ
• Manahawkin, NJ
• Tom's River, NJ
• Egg Harbor Township, NJ 

The middle township location is set to open on November 17, and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and prize giveaway. The other facilities have no announced opening dates as of yet, but the Manahawkin and Tom’s River locations will hold a hiring event on November 15. 

This new foray into New Jersey may not exactly factor in perfectly with its previously revealed strategies, however. As we reported in October, Aldi seems to be targeting wealthier, suburban areas. Wall Street Journal stated that this strategy marked a shift from Aldi’s previous moves to attract budget-focused consumers, with the company now inching closer towards suburban consumers with spending room for higher end foods, such as organics.

The majority of its recent 500 stores have been opened in large suburban retail centers in middle-income or higher neighborhoods. Aldi currently has about 1,600 locations in 34 states in the U.S. market. Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to grow to nearly 2,000 stores in the country by 2018. 

With analysts scrambling to figure out what Aldi’s main strategy will be as it continues to insert itself into different markets, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the details.

Aldi U.S.

POMPANO BEACH, FL – Seeking to appeal directly to consumers, particularly millennials, Southern Specialties, Inc. announced the launch of a new website highlighting the company’s Southern Selects line of specialty produce.

“We created the Southern Selects brand, in 2001, in response to a single customer’s request,” said Robert Colescott, President and CEO of Southern Specialties, according to a press release. “Today, we are proud to have Southern Selects products on the shelves at many leading retailers and club stores in North America. Our new Southern Selects website is part of our ongoing mission to bring additional value to consumers.”

The new Southern Selects website has a variety of attractive features, showcasing the line's convenient “microwave in minutes” products. Features include:

• High-impact graphics
• Delicious recipes
• Nutritional information
• A blog to help consumers stay abreast of new product developments

Southern Specialties’ fine produce offerings have long been prized by celebrity chefs and fine restaurants. The Southern Selects brand offers restaurant-quality, value-added produce to a wide range of consumers, and the new website is the next step in bringing quality specialty produce to increasingly savvy consumers.  

“Our most recent ad campaign notes Southern Selects products are 'Perfect for today’s fresh generation!'” said Charlie Eagle, VP of Business Development. “We believe our new Southern Selects website will hit the sweet spot for millennials, and others. It too, is ‘Perfect for today’s fresh generation!’”

For more on all things produce, check back with AndNowUKnow.

Southern Selects Southern Specialties

SALINAS, CA – This fall marks nearly a full season of a new and intensive cooperative between industry leaders D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of California and Driscoll’s. The produce titans have spent the last several months receiving, cooling, and shipping the full line of Driscoll’s berries out of the D’Arrigo cooler in Spreckels, California.

“Envisioning how the collaboration between D’Arrigo and Driscoll’s could benefit customers, and then seeing this vision become reality has been very gratifying,” stated John D’Arrigo, President and CEO and Chairman of the Board of D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of California.

The collaboration is intended to ensure optimal quality and efficiency, and better serve customers domestically and international by storing and shipping the freshest possible berries alongside Andy Boy commodities.

D’Arrigo and Driscoll’s first began the partnership by expanding a 100,000-square-foot facility in Spreckels to 152,000-square-feet. The expansion allowed both companies to more effectively ship millions of cases of fruits and vegetable while minimizing their carbon footprint and maximizing sustainability and efficiencies. The expansion included a 2.2 MW solar power system, the largest of its kind in Monterey County, further reducing CO2 emissions in order to help mitigate climate change.

“The Save Mart Companies has a long history of sustainable practices. By utilizing the synergies of D'Arrigo and Driscoll’s in one central location, we have reduced the carbon footprint on our inbound trucks. We have also reduced freight costs by ensuring trucks are at capacity. This is truly a great partnership because it's a win-win," said Ed Corvelo, Senior Manager of Fresh Procurement for The Save Mart Companies.

Customers and logistics partners have been impressed with the results of the parternship, too.

Scott Komar, Vice President of the Supply Chain, added, “Driscoll’s mission is to delight consumers with fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. We continue to seek solutions that improve our supply chain so we can optimize maintaining our fresh flavor and transport our berries in a more sustainable approach. These are exciting times and both companies look forward to building on this program to better serve customers.”

Furthermore, the partnership is engineered to both lower costs and reduce the complexity of the logistics environment by identifying efficiencies within the procurement segments. The two companies aim to provide consistent and efficient means to secure product at a single destination thus eliminating disruption to customer operations.

“With daily pickups coming out of the D’Arrigo cooler, this collaboration greatly improves our operations in terms of time savings, costs savings, efficiency savings, and ultimately, a better, fresher product for our end user,” stated Steve Argiropoulos, Transport Logistic Manager at Canadawide.

“From the moment that it was announced, the development of the shipping partnership between two of the best in their category was enthusiastically met by our team. The D’Arrigo-Driscoll’s cooperative has streamlined our logistics, eliminated miles and time, which equates to savings, and is a step forward in customer-focused business. PRO*ACT is proud of our partnership with both companies, and see this innovation as one more way they are both working to serve us more effectively,” stated Joe Cimino, PRO*ACT Director of Procurement.

For more developments on this continuing partnership, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.

Driscoll's D'Arrigo Bros.

ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods has confirmed plans to trim its structure over the next year and a half by streamlining operations.

This announcement comes weeks after the Wall Street Journal reported that the distributor delivered an intention to restructure its headquarters, including cuts to jobs in corporate roles like accounting, IT services, and human relations.

"On October 20, we announced plans to improve the efficiency of our corporate support functions," US Foods’ Senior Director of Corporate Communications Debra Ceffalio said in a statement from Tuesday, Novevmber 8, according to the Chicago Tribune. "This is a continuation of work we did before our IPO to streamline our field operations and something we believe will further support our long-term growth."

Sources stated that an undisclosed number of layoffs will take place in both the Chicago headquarters and its Tempe, AZ-based support office over the next 12 to 18 months, according to the news source. Hundreds of positions are said to be eliminated in the move, though Ceffalio did not wish to reveal a specific number.

She did comment however, that combined with "expected attrition," it would affect only a "small percentage" of corporate employees between the two offices, the Tribune reported.

US Foods released its third quarter report of fiscal 2016 yesterday, beating expectations for the quarter, while raising its expectations for the year.

US Foods

CHICAGO, IL – Fresh food supply chain executives can continue to expect double-digit growth in the use of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs), according to Hillary Femal, Global Vice President of Marketing for IFCO.

“All points along the fresh food supply chain are seeking to become more efficient and reduce costs and their environmental footprint,” said Femal, who also serves as Chairperson of the Reusable Packaging Association. “RPCs are an ideal platform for achieving these goals because they are operated under a shared and reusable model that helps move the fresh food supply chain toward its goal of a circular, zero waste supply chain.”

Femal addressed a group of supply chain executives this week as part of a panel discussion of fresh food packaging experts at PACK EXPO. In a presentation entitled “Reusable Packaging Innovations for Retail Supermarkets,” Femal outlined the way in which RPCs will continue to grow because the containers are more efficient, cost-effective, food safe, and more sustainable than single-use packaging.

Customers prefer RPCs to other packaging solutions by a wide margin, IFCO noted in a press release. The company stated they are also easier to handle than one-way packaging and require less energy and water than single-use carboard containers.

“The benefits of RPCs helped IFCO achieve a 16% growth rate last fiscal year. That is because forward-thinking growers and retailers are turning to RPCs as their fresh food packaging of choice. Simply stated, RPCs represent the future of the fresh food supply chain,” concluded Femal. 

For more updates on packing and shipping trends, check in periodically with AndNowUKnow.

IFCO

SUNBURY, PA - 2016 has been a very eventful year for Pennsylvania-based retailer, Weis Markets. The company has now completed the switch from 44 of its recently acquired stores into official Weis locations, increasing both the company’s footprint in the key markets of Virginia and Delaware, and the total number of stores it operates by 25 percent.

Just this year, Weis has acquired a Nell’s Family Market in Pennsylvania, five stores from Mars Super Market, and 38 from Food Lion as part of a divestiture following its parent Delhaize's merger with Ahold. 

"We are pleased with the timeline and conversion process that took place over the past three months to bring these 44 units on line as Weis Markets stores—all of which are now open and proudly serving their local communities," shared Jonathan Weis, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This was a tremendous undertaking for our organization and we are very proud of our associates who helped make it possible."

According to a press release, Weis Markets had completed the conversions for the majority of these stores, including the 38 former Food Lions, in September, October, and early November. In total, the company interviewed and hired more than 2,000 team members who were previously employed at the acquired locations. 

Weis Markets now operates 204 stores in seven states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia.

How will Weis' stronger ventures into these markets pan out for the rapidly growing company? AndNowUKnow will keep providing you with the latest.

Weis Markets