ORLANDO, FL - West Pak Avocado launched two new consumer brands at the well-attended PMA Fresh Summit, AvoMonsters and I Love Avocados. Doug Meyer, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, took a moment to share with me the innovative, fun new face the company is giving the popular fruit.

“The 'I Love Avocados' brand is targeting the millennial shoppers, who are avid users of avocados and are very focused on learning more about where avocados come from, all the nutritional elements of avocados, and the multi-uses of avocados,” Doug explains.

As for the AvoMonsters, Doug tells me that the brand targets parents and children to boost avocado buying as a family food.

“Avocados are such a nutrient-rich fruit, we think it’s going to drive repeat sales and help our customers grow the bag category even further,” Doug says.

Hitting growing retail trends like brands for kids, millennial targeting, and bagged fruits, it will be interesting to see what this latest launch does for the company and the category. To see my full interview with Doug, watch the brief video above. 

West Pak Avocado

PROVIDENCE, RI - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) has announced that its President and CEO Steven L. Spinner has also been appointed as Chairman, effective in December, 2016 after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

“I appreciate the Board’s recognition of the company’s success and its confidence in our future,” said Spinner, according to a press release. “We have accomplished a great deal in building our business and developing an incredibly talented team of people and we believe we are beginning to see the results of our strategic initiatives.”

The executive, who has served in his current role as UNFI’s President, CEO, and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors since September, 2008, is stepping in to succeed Co-Founder, former Chief Executive Officer, and current Chairman Michael S. Funk.

“After 40 years of being involved with UNFI, I am as excited as ever about our future,” said Funk. “Steve and I enjoy a great working relationship and I look forward to continuing to work with him as a member of UNFI’s Board.”

James P. Heffernan, UNFI’s lead Independent Director, commented, “Thanks to Steve’s leadership over the last eight years UNFI has undergone a dramatic evolution. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we have confidence in Steve’s ability to continue to execute upon UNFI’s strategic vision for growth. I would also like to thank Michael for his exemplary leadership of our Board and his continued guidance, input, and leadership.”

In Spinner’s eight years with UNFI, the company noted that its net sales have grown from approximately $3.5 billion in fiscal 2009 to nearly $8.5 billion in fiscal 2016.

Congratulations to him and the company on this new chapter in the business.

UNFI

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – In further efforts to shakeup the buy-side sector and engage more consumers, Raley’s has unleashed plans for a new and innovative store concept with its newly announced Market 5-ONE-5. The new store is a hybrid of small format, indoors farmer’s market, and a natural foods hub all rolled into one. 

“I want to go back to the basics and create a store that is reminiscent of a neighborhood corner market but with a focus on nutritious food at a fair value,” Raley's CEO and President Michael Teel said in a written statement. “Market 5-ONE-5 will be an unpretentious, inclusive, and straightforward shopping experience.”

The new store will exist as a subsect of Raley’s, but operate independently of the chain, according to the Sac Bee. The unconventional store format was the creative invention of Teel, who will act as owner.

Market 5-ONE-5 will be located in a thriving district in Sacramento, California, and boasts a smaller format layout of 11,000-square-feet. The company described the new concept as an indoor farmer’s market for natural foods, and will have fresh products delivered daily to the location. 

“[Market 5-ONE-5] will strive to source products that meet the highest quality standards – minimally processed, organic (when available), sustainably sourced, and free of elements not found in nature,” stated a company news release, according to Sac Bee. 

Sacramento Business Journal reported that the acronym “ONE” in the store’s name stands for its three values; organic, nutrition, and education. Similarly, the number 5 was chosen for its titles to refer to a consumer’s five senses. City councilpeople have named the project as appealing to downtown residents. 

The new concept is slated to open its doors in spring of 2017.

Also on the docket for Raley’s is a prospective plan for a new 55,000-square-foot supermarket on Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento, serving up grocery options for consumers in a more traditional full-service supermarket setting.

Will this new store format soon expand further into Raley’s than its pilot, and will other banners pick up the innovative torch? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated.

Raley's Family of Fine Stores

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CA - While the fall months may bring cooler temperatures and overcast days to the Sunshine State, Sun Pacific is brightening up produce departments with its full line of citrus offerings. The company is forecasting an amazing season of growth with increased Cuties® supplies, strategic partnerships, and a host of promotional opportunities to drive citrus sales at retail. 

Victoria Nuevo-Celeste, Vice President of Marketing, joins me to discuss the company’s varietal spread, and what opportunities retailers can tap into during the California citrus season.

“The demand for Sun Pacific citrus is exceptional.  Our farming and packing expertise allows us to deliver the highest quality and best tasting products that consumers and customers appreciate,” Victoria tells me. “In addition, Cuties consumption continues to grow, with $/store/wk increasing every single year. This past season the growth was 18% compared to a year ago. This is the result of a perfect combination of great quality, excellent in-store display execution, and exciting consumer marketing.” 

Victoria also shares that Mandarins are the segment with the highest dollar sales representing 40% of the total citrus category with double-digit annual growth year over year.     

“We have significantly increased our supply of Tango and Murcott Cuties varieties with new strategic alliances with outside growers, and existing acreage coming into peak production. Sun Pacific continues to capture consumers' attention through our robust marketing support behind Cuties, driving brand preference and category growth,” Victoria says. She also shares that the company is concentrating its media efforts on the top communication platforms that Sun Pacific’s millennial mothers are consuming, especially digitally.

In addition to the highly sought-after Cuties program, Sun Pacific is invigorating the navel category with the launch of Vintage Sweets® Heirloom Navels, grown in the company’s best old-line groves, and carefully selected through sensory aspects like touching, feeling, smelling, and tasting, ensuring juicy, sweet perfection. 

“Consumer feedback for Vintage Sweets has been very positive and its acceptance confirms that consumers are willing to pay a premium price for produce that provides superior quality and flavor,” Victoria adds. “Vintage Sweets combine sensory and scientific inspection that results in an exceptional eating experience from January to May.”

This season, Sun Pacific will bring more vibrant Cuties packaging that brings its Lil’ Zipper icon to life, enhancing the brand experience in-store. And with existing and new acreage coming into peak production and with new stronger outside grower relationships, the company expects to support more promotional activity with its Tango and Murcott variety Cuties in the second half of the season.

Sun Pacific has also developed a display-ready navel orange pallet for bulk or bag navels packed in high-graphic, open top, Euro cartons, and newly designed high-graphic poly/mesh bags to energize the growth of California Navel orange sales.

"We allocate a significant portion of our marketing spend on customer-specific programs," Victoria adds. "We encourage our retailer partners to take advantage of our attractive and functional POS materials and our support for in-store merchandising contests to tap into the creativity of their store personnel, and watch them drive sales. Our marketing team will work directly with retailer teams to develop creative social marketing campaigns that reach and invite their customers to take advantage of our peak season citrus."

Sun Pacific grows Navels, including Heirloom Navels, under the Vintage Sweets™ brand, and Valencias. Production of regular Navels is consistent from November through June, and Valencias from April through October. Vintage Sweets are at their peak between January and June, when the company harvests on demand. Under the Cuties program, Sun Pacific is harvesting Clementines from early November to early January and W. Murcotts and Tangos between mid-January and April. Lisbon lemons are available from mid-October thru April. 

It looks to be a sweet citrus season for Sun Pacific and the company’s retail partners as we move into the holiday push and increasing demand.

Sun Pacific

WATSONVILLE, CA - Further investing into future generations and the growth of its own community, Monterey Mushrooms will award $215,000 in scholarships to 127 children of its employees. Dependent children of full-time employees are eligible for the award, bestowed through the Carl Victor Fields Scholarship Program, to receive $5,000 a year for up to four years.

“We don’t just grow mushrooms; we grow people,” said Shah Kazemi, President and CEO of Monterey Mushrooms. Kazemi said he is committed to giving the next generation of decision makers the tools needed to be successful in the workplace and in society in general.

These scholarships may be awarded to students pursuing degrees at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational and technical schools. To apply, students are asked to share their educational background, academic goals, aspirations, activities, work experience, and personal achievements.

The Monterey Mushroom scholarship program began in 1992. It was renamed the Carl Victor Fields Scholarship Program in 2004 in order to honor the company’s past Vice President of Marketing, a man passionate about the importance of young people achieving their potential. Since its beginning, the company has awarded 1784 grants—a total of more than $2.6 million.

As companies throughout the industry continue to invest in the betterment of our future, AndNowUKnow will have the latest.

Monterey Mushrooms

AVONDALE, PA – Mixing the nexus of our government with the earthy appeal of mushrooms, the American Mushroom Institute recently put the category in the spotlight at the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final Farmer’s Market of the season. 

Attendees of the Farmer’s Market and the USDA’s 7^th Annual Harvest Festival, got a specific and fruitful view of mushrooms at the VegUcation tent.

According to a press release, the American Mushroom Institute and the Mushroom Council displayed numerous varieties of mushrooms and gave the public access to recipes, nutrition information, tips, and mushroom tastings. 

To-Jo Mushrooms entertained the crowd with the styling of Louise D’Amico and Peter Wilder. The duo espoused fun mushroom facts, and gave advice on how to pick and store fresh mushrooms.

In addition to the numerous guests, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a pit stop to the tent to help Dave Santucci of Country Fresh Mushrooms prepare Mushroom Sauté a la Vince with mushrooms, butter, and parsley.

Held this past Friday in Washington, DC, the festival focused on the vibrant colors of the fall season, while also providing area shoppers with access to a variety of locally and regionally sourced produced. The Harvest Festival is hosted by the People’s Garden Initiative and the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). 

Visitor’s pallettes were also treated to samples of the mushroom paella created by Chef José Andrés, and the Jaleo restaurant team. The paella contained over 40 pounds of mushrooms donated by Phillips Mushroom Farms and R.L. Mushroom Co., and was housed in a stunning seven-foot pan.

The AMS manages the USDA Farmer’s Market, and also supports farmer’s markets throughout communities across the nation. This support is given through grants, research, and technical assistance.

What’s next for consumers’ love for mushrooms? Stay with AndNowUKnow to keep abreast with the latest.

American Mushroom Institute To-Jo Mushrooms

KINGSVILLE, ON - November is men’s health awareness month, and SUNSET® is showing its support for the cause by partnering with the Movember Foundation.

“We’re very proud to support the Movember Foundation for the second year in a row,” shared CEO Paul Mastronardi in a press release. “At SUNSET®, we strive to support a healthy lifestyle, from providing easy, nutritious recipes to supporting local walks and runs. Movember is an important cause because men’s health issues often get overlooked or underplayed. We want to help bring attention to these issues and support in any way we can.”

So, for the entire month, SUNSET® Kumato® packages will receive a facelift to feature fun, moustache-shaped labels that encourage consumers to engage in the cause. Shoppers can peel back the label, snap a picture posing with the ‘stache, and post it using the hashtag #MoKumato to be featured on sunsetgrown.com.

SUNSET® will also be hosting weekly giveaways on social media all month long to get consumers more involved. To learn “mo’,” visit the company website here.

Kumato’s packaging facelift is not the only support the company is providing for Movember, having also donated $20,000 to the Movember Foundation to go towards funding men’s health programs.

Keep up with all industry moves for Movember and beyond by continuing to follow AndNowUKnow.

SUNSET®

LAKELAND, FL - In just the third financial report since new President and CEO Todd Jones assumed leadership, Publix has once again reported a drop in stock prices. Despite seeing boosted revenues and sales, the company’s Q3 2016 report saw stocks fall 4.2 percent to $41.90 a share, down from $45.20.

"Unfortunately, our results were not enough to offset the challenges in the stock market," explained Jones upon the announcement. "I continue to be proud of our associates for delivering a premier customer shopping experience."

Although this is the third consecutive quarter that stocks saw a dip, the chain was able to boost both sales and profits. Q3 sales were up 2.4 percent to $8 billion, while net earnings rose 2.1 percent to reach $421.1 million. Earnings per share for the third quarter increased to $0.55 for 2016, up from $0.53 per share in 2015.

The company also reported its results for the first nine months of the financial year in total, revealing a 2.6 percent increase in net earnings to reach $1.5 billion, while warnings per share increased to $1.92, up from $1.86 per share in 2015.

Publix' stock is privately traded and available only to employees and members of its board of directors. According to a report by the Orlando Sentinel, Publix has the ability to set its own stock price based on such economic indicators as its own financial figures and the value of publicly traded supermarkets. 

Publix currently operates 1,129 stores nationwide with around 186,000 employees.

Publix 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Fresh Solutions Network is showing how easy it is to use three different Side Delights® potato products in quick-preparation packaging for some tasty side dishes.

The company has launched three demo videos showcasing Side Delights® Steamables’ Medley, Side Delights® Roastables, and Side Delights® Steamables Sweet potatoes.

“We produced these original content videos, in both English and Spanish, so all shoppers can view the videos via social media on their smartphones while shopping or at home when they reference a recipe,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “These short videos show consumers quick and healthy ways to prepare delicious potato side dishes.”

Looking to sell potatoes to convenience-oriented consumers? Here’s a little inspiration.

Red, White, and Blue Celebration

Side Delights® Steamables’ Medley of red, white, and blue petite potatoes come together to make a festive potato salad. The tri-colored side dish is perfect for the election season, patriotic parties, or just a decorative addition to the daily plate.

Spice Up Your Side Dish

Featuring Side Delights® Roastables, this particular recipe shows how to prepare, cook, and season the produce grilled or oven-baked. Available in “Rad Little Reds,” “Awesome Little Yellows,” or a combo package of Reds and Yellow with Montana Mix seasoning packets, the chef shows the ease of the all-inclusive potato kit that comes with cooking tin, potatoes, and exclusive seasoning packets.

Dinner in Minutes

This brief video shows three preparation techniques for Side Delights® Steamables, including coarsely mashing and seasoning the triple-washed Golden potatoes, the “smashers” technique for tasty Red potatoes, and a quick and easy option for Side Delights® Steamables Sweet potatoes with just a sprinkle of brown sugar.

The three videos and more can be found on the Side Delights Facebook page here.

Fresh Solutions Network