MINNEAPOLIS, MN – It seems as though the speculated future of the Save-A-Lot chain has finally been decided, as SuperValu Inc. has announced the sale of its banner to private-equity firm Onex Corporation. Onex and SuperValu have reached a definitive agreement for the firm to acquire Save-A-Lot business for $1.365 billion in cash. 

“The sale of Save-A-Lot is another important step in SuperValu’s transformation. It provides us with a stronger balance sheet that will allow us to further build on our core strengths and growth opportunities,” said SuperValu President and CEO, Mark Gross. “It has been a pleasure to work with the Save-A-Lot team, and, once this transaction is completed, I look forward to continuing to work with them as one of our largest professional services customers.” 

SuperValu first started speculating that it would sell or spinoff its Save-A-Lot chain last year. Amid much debate, rumors surfaced last week that Onex was in talks to acquire the banner. This news today will put the 1,360 stores and sale price of the discount chain at close to SuperValu’s existing market value, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

SuperValu reiterated that its focus after the sale will be on grocery wholesale distribution, according to a press release. WSJ projects that while wholesale has only made up 45% of SuperValu’s sales over the past several years, the company now expects that number will grow to over 60%. 

“Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough process to maximize the value of the Save-A-Lot business and best position SuperValu for future success,” said SuperValu Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, Jerry Storch. “SuperValu is successfully executing on its long-term strategic vision and positioning the Company for continued growth and value creation. We are confident that this transaction will create exciting opportunities for both SuperValu and Save-A-Lot.” 

Since the announcement, SuperValu's stock have risen by 5.19% as of October 17, 2017 at 2:07 pm (EST). The company's price to earning ration is now 9.04.

The sale of the chain is expected to be completed by January 31, 2017. The acquisition is subject to customary closing adjustments, with the companies entering into a five-year professional services agreement. The sale is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

As announcements continue to roll in regarding the sale of the Save-A-Lot chain, and its impact on the industry, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest. 

Save-A-Lot SuperValu

ORLANDO, FL - The Sunshine State was flooded with the makers of the produce industry this past weekend as the PMA solidified its 67th Annual Fresh Summit, shattering previous East Coast records with 20,889 attendees from 65 countries.

“I have been going to the PMA for over 25 years and I am humbled by the evolution of the produce industry,” Tommy Wilkins, Director of Sales for Grow Farms Texas, shares with me from the floor. “To see old friends and make new friends is key to the future being in good hands. Many issues face the industry, but I see the industry taking these issues seriously, and at the same time offering a healthy alternative. I love this business and the people involved.”

More than 1,200 exhibitors showcased what their companies were all about by expressing culture and product via their signature booths.

The ribbon has been cut and the expo floor is now open! #FreshSummit pic.twitter.com/UhRQw26jfQ

— PMA (@pma) October 15, 2016

To acknowledge such festivities, PMA awarded the following titles to those on the floor:

• Best of Show, in-line booth: Veggie Noodle Co., booth #4344
• Best of Show, island booth:  Gems Group, Inc., booth #4087
• Best Produce Promo: SUNSET, booth #3549 for their Dill-it-yourself Pickle Kit
• Best First-Time Exhibitor: ArizonaEast, booth #4150

The event kicked off honoring 33-year member, veteran, and PMA leader, Bryan Silbermann, who will be retiring later this year. Cathy Burns, current President, will step in officially to fill in the role of CEO in addition to her presidential role.

“Throughout his career, Bryan brought a collaborative spirit that engaged and motivated industry leaders to work together to create opportunities and solutions to challenges, so much so that collaboration has become a defining characteristic of PMA,” Cathy said in a press release when announcing the new PMA award in Bryan’s honor. “We want to honor Bryan with this award as PMA continues to expand its role as a prominent voice for the fresh produce and floral communities worldwide.”

As one of the must-attend shows of the year, Fresh Summit held its Impact Awards to showcase items pushing positive industry initiatives with innovative launches.

Among twenty industry finalists, the five slots were won by the following companies:

• Mann Packing Co. Inc.–Nourish Bowls™
• Mastronardi Produce Ltd./SUNSET®–Dill It Yourself™ Pickle Kit
• Mucci Farms–CuteCumber Flow Wrap Re-seal
• Mucci Farms–Smuccies Sweet Strawberries Top Seal Tray
• Ocean Mist Farms–Season & Steam Sweet Baby Broccoli

Exhibitors and attendees alike enjoyed networking and establishing connections among festive food and drink, as everyone brought their best to meet the best.

“It was one of the best PMA conventions in terms of traffic in our 43 years of exhibiting,” Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, tells me. “Customers were very interested in talking business. And on a side note–people went crazy for our Stokes Purple Sweet potatoes brownies and power bites. The keynote speakers–both Johnny Cupcakes and Josh Linkner–were right on in terms of content and pushing our creativity as an industry.”

The show floor is bustling! Expo is open today until 5! #FreshSummit pic.twitter.com/QztnCjDeKq

— PMA (@pma) October 15, 2016

With emphasis on marketing strategies, food safety, new industry technologies, and more, while still emphasizing the passion and people of our industry, this is one event that continues to get better with age. I, for one, can not wait for next year’s Friday-Saturday Fresh Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana, already slated for October 19-21, 2017.

Whether you were a part of this year’s show, or learning about it here, be sure to pencil in next year’s Fresh Summit as the PMA continues to look to out-do itself as a key event on the fresh produce calendar.

PMA

ORLANDO, FL – With PMA Fresh Summit just beginning, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has announced a new award to honor the outstanding legacy and leadership of retiring CEO Bryan Silbermann, and Jan DeLyser as the recipient for the 2016 Robert L. Carey Leadership Award.

“Throughout his career, Bryan brought a collaborative spirit that engaged and motivated industry leaders to work together to create opportunities and solutions to challenges, so much so that collaboration has become a defining characteristic of PMA,” said PMA President Cathy Burns. “We want to honor Bryan with this award as PMA continues to expand its role as a prominent voice for the fresh produce and floral communities worldwide.”

The new Bryan E. Silbermann Collaboration Award will be presented next year in its inaugural occurrence. The award was created in order to honor Bryan Silbermann's 30+ career with PMA, and 20 years as President.

The award was unveiled today by PMA President Cathy Burns, with plans to first bestow the award upon a recipient during next year’s PMA Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in New Orleans, LA. The recipient for the award will be chosen by a five member panel of judges, according to a press release.

The recipient of the Bryan E. Silbermann Collaboration Award will be chosen from a pool of nominations submitted by PMA members, and honored for a specific example of collaboration throughout their career, according to the following requirements:

• Past or present PMA member
• Significant collaborative volunteer contributions in service to solutions-based answers to industry issues
• Conducts business within the global produce and/or floral industry supply chain with integrity, dedication and distinction
• Provides motivational and inspirational leadership to advance the industry through the use of collaboration

Winners will receive the award engraved with their names, presented to them at PMA Fresh Summit, along with a press release announcing the award and exposure on PMA’s website.

In other resounding award news, PMA has also announced Jan DeLyser, Vice President of Marketing for the California Avocado Commission (CAC), as its 2016 recipient for the Robert L. Carey Leadership Award.

PMA noted in a press release that Jan has been an active industry leader for years, with the following contributions:

• PMA Chair
• Chair of the Produce for Better Health Foundation Board of Trustees
• Chair of the Fresh Produce and Floral Council. Served on the Center for Growing Talent by PMA (CGTbyPMA) Board of Directors
• Served on PMA’s former Retail Board
• Served on the Buy California Marketing Agreement Board of Directors

“More important than the list on a resume, though, are the qualities she has brought to our industry and our association,” said Bruce Taylor, Founder and CEO of Taylor Farms, and last year’s award winner. He was one of a panel of five judges who selected DeLyser as this year’s winner and presented her with the award.

Jan was recognized for her collaborative spirit, and recognition that everyone at the table has something to contribute, Taylor also stated. Jan initially joined CAC in 1998 as Merchandising Director for the Southwest region, and was promoted in 2000 to Vice President of Merchandising. Jan was promoted to Vice President of Marketing 2003. Jan has been well decorated with worthy titles throughout her time in the industry.

The Robert L. Carey Leadership Award was established in 2012 to honor former PMA President Robert L. Carey for his service from 1958 to 1996, bringing the organization from less than 100 members to an integrated association of thousands.

For more on PMA Fresh Summit, keep up with AndNowUKnow.

PMA Fresh Summit

LEAMINGTON, ON – PMA Fresh Summit is an event that promises to pull out all the stops. From new products to strides in R&D and marketing initiatives, there is never a dull moment at this annual trade show. With the event just days away, Double Diamond Farms is ramping up for the Orlando spotlight with a fresh new look and full-line of great opportunities to transform produce departments.

Double Diamond Farms is recognized in the hothouse industry as one of the leader's in flavor, quality, and service. As the grower, packer, and shipper of premium hydroponic produce, the company's unrelenting passion for healthy produce, great flavor, and unsurpassed quality makes Double Diamond notable in the North American hothouse industry.     

Caitlyne Johns, Director of Marketing, shares the recent developments with Double Diamond, and how the new tagline, “Flavor Grows Here ™” helps define the company’s vision. 

“Our flavor-forward approach to product innovation has allowed us to continually succeed in bringing new elements of our program to market,” Caitlyne tells me. “With our goal of bringing quality, consistency, unique varieties, and fresh new packaging to our retail partners, we look forward to another amazing PMA Fresh Summit.”

So what are some of these exciting elements Caitlyne is talking about? Along with Double Diamond’s new tag line “Flavor grows here™,” a new user-friendly colorful and informative website to be launched this weekend, as well as an array of vibrant and tasty greenhouse produce offerings; the company is also debuting a new look across its portfolio of packaging. 

“Our new packaging designs help to better represent our brand and differentiate our products among the competitive greenhouse segment,” Emidio Cappussi, Director of Sales, shares. “The new look is vibrant, eye-catching, and high-graphic and speaks to our goal of continuing to drive innovation forward.”

Amongst the new booth and display cases, you will be drawn in by the pops of colors, cool pastels, warm and dynamic color combinations, and of course the produce.

Double Diamond will also be highlighting a variety of products under the company’s gourmet and organic lines.

“We consider our team at Double Diamond experts at bringing the fresh flavor of greenhouse-grown produce to consumers across North America and our hand-picked specialized varieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and eggplant, speak to that commitment,” Chris Mastronardi, President/CEO, shares with me. 

Under the company’s gourmet line, Double Diamond will be presenting items that include its Cimelio heirloom tomatoes, Diamond Sweet mini pepper, and Zebrino tomatoes.

Meanwhile on the organic front, “Double Diamond is excited to showcase organic mini cucumbers, Diamond Sweets^TM, bell peppers, and TOV just to name a few of the many,” Director of Sales/New Business Development Paul Sabelli shares. 

Need to see it to believe it? Check out the Double Diamond team and their array of new and unique products in Orlando, Florida, at PMA Fresh Summit booth #2981. 

Double Diamond

REIDSVILLE, GA – Further bolstering its team with experienced veterans, Shuman Produce has announced Johnny White at its newest addition in his new role as Sales Manager.

White brings over 25 years of industry experience with an added background in production agriculture. The company stated in a press release that White is excited to join the team and its well-suited business model, and is looking forward to servicing the company’s customers. 

White has served in a sales role with the vegetable division of Asgrow Seed Company, which later became known as Seminis Vegetable Seeds. White also has over 10 years sales experience with other fresh produce businesses as well. 

“With the addition of Johnny to our Shuman Produce team, we will continue to build strong relationships with our retail partners and provide the best customer service possible,” said John Shuman, President of Shuman Produce. “The timing is right as we have entered our Peruvian sweet onion season and will begin preparing for the 2017 Vidalia® season.” 

White is a graudate of Mississippi State University, and currently resides in Statesboro, GA, with his family.

Catch the year-round grower and shipper of sweet onions will be at PMA Fresh Summit this weekend at booth #3213, so stop by for more information on RealSweet® brand sweet onions. 

Shuman Produce

NEW KENSINGTON, PA – Continuing to add further innovations to produce and herb labels, Yerecic Label is unleashing a new label construction duo to cause further “pop” in the produce aisle with the FlagTag! label.

“FlagTag! allows retailers and growers to add dimension to produce clamshells to attract attention,” explaned Yerecic Label's President, Art Yerecic. “Most importantly, FlagTag! may help increase your sales by inspiring impulsive purchases.”

The FlagTag! label offers two options for promotions or products to distinguish themselves on the store shelves and create impulsive purchases, according to a press release. The FlagTag! label can drop down on the shelf, or raise to stand-up and grab attention at the point of purchase. 

“Our best ideas and innovations come from our customers,” said Yerecic Label Marketing Manager Kristin Yerecic. “This customer was looking for a label that would stick up from their product sleeve and catch shoppers’ attention while walking through the produce department.” 

The FlagTag! label looks to fulfill a diversity of needs for the industry, from providing consumers with dinner inspirations on the label, or highlighting low-price promotions for an included product. 

The company stated that its newest product is already getting rave reviews for the product, which the industry first saw a peek of at the Southern Innovations Bright Ideas Platform in Williamsburg, VA. 

“Adding a finished recipe tag to our potted living herbs has helped drive impulse purchases,” said North Shore Living Herbs director of marketing Micki Dirtzu. “Having the recipe on the back gives consumer's confidence in successfully cooking with fresh herbs when making the transition from dried to fresh.” 

Learn more about the opportunities Yerecic Label’s newest product provides at PMA Fresh Summit, booth #1477. 

Yerecic Label

SANTA PAULA, CA – Calavo Growers’ proprietary Intense Tomato™ has gained another esteemed industry distinction, being approved for fair trade certification by the third-party certifier, Fair Trade USA. As described by the certifier itself, this certification seeks to “empower family farmers and workers around the world, while enriching the lives of those struggling in poverty.”

“Calavo takes great pride in ensuring the people, and their families, who farm Intense Tomatoes™ are treated respectfully, from creating the safest working conditions, to earning a decent living wage, while protecting the environment and local ecosystems,” said Brian Bernauer, the company’s Director of Operations in Nogales, AZ. “We are confident that this innovative, exclusive tomato will fill a need for new products to add incremental sales to produce and deli departments, while giving consumers confidence and peace of mind that they are purchasing a product with integrity.”

A unique hybrid variety, Intense Tomato™ gives the appearance of a Roma tomato, but when cut, consumers will find a thicker, meatier wall. The result? Fewer gel cavities and zero juice purge, making the fruit almost 100 percent usable. Since its 2015 debut, Calavo has been positioning these rare attributes as making the Intense Tomato ™ the most diverse tomato in the market—and ideal for professional and at-home chefs alike.

Intense Tomato™ is shipped in eye-catching, zip-lock, gusseted bags, and can be easily merchandised into any produce department. The bag also contains a suggested recipe for Intense Marinara sauce, creating added value to the customer. And now, luckily for foodservice operators, Intense Tomato™ is available in bulk packs, designed for higher yield and lower waste in deli departments.

Buyers and consumers alike can learn more about Intense Tomato™ on its new website, which differentiates the product from other tomatoes in the marketplace, and provides additional recipes for Garlic Grilled Intense Tomatoes and Intense Pico de Gallo.

See Intense Tomato™ for yourself at Calavo's PMA’s Fresh Summit booth #1643 on October 15th and 16th.

Intense Tomato™ Calavo Growers

VALENCIA, CA – What’s hot and what’s on the way are always on the brain for marketers and sellers of the fresh produce industry as we look to stay ahead of the curve.

In a recent video interview, Sunkist’s Director of Communications, Joan Wickham, shares some of the zesty sensations and trends happening in citrus, particularly what the company is offering for the foodservice industry.

“We’re showcasing a new 1 lb pack of Meyer lemons and zebra, which are pink variegated lemons, and the reason those packs are so exciting for chefs is it allows them to experiment with something that’s a little bit more niche and specialty,” Joan explains to me during our interview.

She tells me that smaller is better for specialty-type items for chefs, who look to explore how to better push items in new and exciting ways. The opportunity to do this with a smaller bag, Joan shares, gives our culinary artists a way to do what they might not wish to with a larger pack size.

Hear all about this approach and see some of the recipe ideas yourself in the short video interview above.

Sunkist

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Target’s plan to hire more than 70,000 workers to ensure strong customer service during the holiday rush is underway. The retailer’s spree is kicking off in California with a plan of hiring about 14,300 workers.

The company’s nearly 1,800 locations will all host hiring events this month, Chief Stores Officer, Janna Potts, told news source Pasadena Star News, meeting with tens of thousands of potential employees over a two-day period.

According to the report, pre-scheduled interviews will be conducted by individual store leaders, as they explain company culture and potential candidacy, with the possibility of on-the-spot job offers.

Target is also looking to fill 7,500 seasonal positions for its distribution and fulfillment facilities for the holidays, and current openings listed on the company’s website include several positions in Georgia, as well as some in South Carolina and Virginia beginning to pop up.

To view available job listings, click here.

This is the most recent in Target’s strategy to hone in on service, having also announced last month that it is planning on bolstering its permanent grocery staff in order to offer more in its fresh department.

With big food days like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and sport-fueled Sundays in between, AndNowUKnow will report on any developments in this and other retail strategies to boost the industry.

Target

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

According to a recent USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Global Sunrise Import Export LLC, operating out of Miramar, FL, for failing to pay a $21,054 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alejandro Machuca was listed as a member of the business.
• Commodities Exchange LLC, operating out of San Antonio, TX, for failing to pay a $27,360 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eduardo Trevino was listed as a member of the business.

The 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.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.  All oversight of actions related to PACAare conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service