JUPITER, FL – Locus Traxx and Paramount Citrus have announced a new partnership. Going forward, SmartTraxx GO™ will be used in all of Paramount’s Direct Delivery Carriers to increase the efficiency, visibility and live load temperature and location tracking of Paramount’s TMS solution, according to a press release.

“Paramount Citrus is excited to announce that the SmartTraxx GO™ of Locus Traxx Worldwide will be used with all of our Direct Delivery Carriers,” shared Jeff Cottingham, Director of Transportation at Paramount Citrus. “As the only citrus grower, packer and shipper utilizing this solution, it reinforces our commitment to food safety by tracking the location and temperature of our direct delivery trucks, and also ensures that the freshest citrus arrives at your door.”

“We are excited to join forces with Paramount Citrus, one of the leading companies in the produce industry,” agreed David Benjamin, President and CEO of Locus Traxx Worldwide. “This company grows, packs, and then ships their own product; it is imperative for them to track and monitor their precious cargo. They are unique because they are able to see their product from its infancy all the way to the shelves in a supermarket. Locus Traxx Worldwide is happy to assist them in helping them achieve ultimate product quality by integrating with their TMS system.”

Congratulations on the commencement of this exciting new partnership, Locus Traxx and Paramount Citrus!

Locus Traxx

Paramount Citrus

SALISBURY, NC – Food Lion has rolled out its new, easier shopping experience for customers in 45 stores in the greater Greenville, New Bern and Jacksonville, N.C., market.  The stores have received remodels as part of the retailer’s “Easy, Fresh and Affordable…You Can Count on Food Lion Every Day” strategy.

“Our customers told us that they want a grocery experience where it’s easy to shop, easy to save and easy to figure out what is for dinner tonight,” said Meg Ham, President of Food Lion.  “In these stores, we’ve worked to deliver just that.  We invite our customers in the greater Greenville, New Bern and Jacksonville area to come out and experience grocery shopping reimagined at Food Lion and let us know what you think.”

To celebrate the launch of the new format stores, Food Lion is giving away $10 gift cards to the first 50 customers at each of the 45 locations every day from Wednesday, Nov. 12, through Saturday, Nov. 15, according to a press release.

Also, Food Lion Feeds has donated 225,000 meals, or $45,000, to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and 49 local feeding agencies in the region to mark the launch of the 45 stores.

The new format has expanded the selection in stores with thousands of new items with a dedicated Gluten Free section and a wide selection of quality fresh produce and meat to make shopping and saving easier for customers.

This is the second rollout in Food Lion’s expansion plans.  As we previously reported, the retailer remodeled 31 stores in the greater Wilmington, N.C. market in August of this year.

Food Lion will continue to roll out storewide enhancements in markets over time, including remodels in approximately 150 stores in 2015.

Food Lion

ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold released its Q3 2014 financial report on, Thursday, November 14^th, reporting a 1.9% increase in overall sales to €7.5 billion and a 7.9% increase in net income to €178 million.

Jeff Carr, Ahold's CFO, shared his insights into this company's performance in a video for investors. You can check out his perspective for yourself below:

Some highlights from Ahold's United States operations include:

• A 1.6% increase (0.4% given constant exchange rates) in net sales to €4,501 million, compared to Q3 2013.
• A 1.2% increase in identical store sales, excluding gasoline.
• A 1.3% increase in comparable store sales, excluding gasoline.
• A 3.8% increase in underlying operating margin.
• A 16.929% increase in EBITDA to €297 million from €254 million.

“This quarter we reported improved sales trends in the United States and the Netherlands while our margin was stable versus the prior quarter, excluding the impact of the SPAR acquisition,” CEO Dick Boer shared in a press release. “In the United States, the rollout of our program to improve quality, service and value for our customers is progressing well. By the end of this quarter, the program was active in over half of our stores.”

"We expect that ongoing investments in our customer proposition and further development of our formats and assortment will continue to result in improving sales trends," he continued.

Congratulations on an excellent Q3, Ahold!

Ahold USA

BURLINGTON, ON - EarthFresh is debuting three fresh potato products under its new Celebratoes line.

Celebratoes are convenient recyclable trays of gluten-free fresh baby potatoes with savoury seasonings packs. These potatoes can be either microwaved, or oven roasted, to compliment a simple, wonderful meal for up to four people, according to a press release.

Celebratoes currently come in three different flavors: White Cheddar & Rosemary, Lemon & Garlic, and Jalapeno & Cheddar.  

“With the convenience factor influencing eating occasions for North American consumers, we felt the need to provide our customers with a fresh, convenient potato option,” said Stephanie Cutaia, Marketing Manager for EarthFresh. “Our market research shows that changing consumer demographics and ‘time-starved’ consumers are having a dramatic influence on food preparation and consumption. Consumers are spending less time planning and preparing meals, but still demanding high quality, tasty food.”

Celebratoes are available in select stores now.

EarthFresh

Celebratoes

IRVING, TX - DMA Solutions, Inc. has released a new set of free resources aimed at giving marketers a head start on planning for 2015. Input from blog subscribers and industry colleagues went into crafting these tools, which the company hopes will simplify the annual process of planning and budgeting.

To check out these tools for yourself, you can view them on DMA's website here.

“We created the 2015 planning resources because we are committed to providing free and helpful resources to marketers in our industry,” shared President and CEO of DMA Solutions, Dan’l Mackey Almy. “When our company’s tools are enlightening fresh produce marketers to work smarter and in a way that helps them increase demand of their products and services, then everybody wins from the produce grower all the way to the consumer.”

“Mission Possible: 5-Steps to Get More Marketing Dollars,” the newest addition to this set, is geared towards showing marketers the best way to approach planning and budgeting when there are insufficient funds for current team goals. It demonstrates to readers how to receive approval for new funding from senior management.

Another one of the resources, “The 2015 Produce Marketer’s Master Calendar,” features twelve months of key dates relevant to fresh produce industry marketing teams. Trade events, professional marketing conferences, major blogging events, foodie celebration days, noteworthy holidays and eating occasions are listed out to help teams stay ahead of the game on tradeshow planning, social media content management and influencer management.

Excellent work on these new resources, DMA Solutions. 

DMA Solutions

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Nate Thomas, former Operations Manager at Allen Lund Company’s Charlotte Office, is being promoted to Assistant Manager.

“Nate has been a tremendous producer since he started working with us in 2002,” said Jim McGuire, Manager at the Charlotte office. “His expanded role will allow him to mentor others and help take our office to the next level.”

Nate joined Allen Lund Company Charlotte Office as a Broker in 2002 and became Operations Manager in 2012, according to a press release.

“Nate is a well rounded broker that has been an integral part of the Charlotte office’s growth and success this year,” said Eddie Lund, Vice President of Sales/Branch Operations. “His promotion is well-earned; he and Jim make a great team. We look forward to great things from Nate and the Charlotte office for years to come.”

Nate shared his excitement, noting that he’s honored to be part of a great office and team. “They are my Freight Family! I have learned a lot from Jim and my co-workers over the years and see a bright future ahead,” he said.

Congratulations on your promotion, Nate!

Allen Lund Company

Robert “Bob” Craves, Costco Co-Founder and Philanthropist, has passed away at the age of 72.  College Success Foundation, a nonprofit he co-founded in 2000 to provide scholarships and mentorships to low-income youth, announced his passing.

The Foundation said, “Our hearts are heavy as we say a final farewell to our dear co-founder and former CEO and chair of the College Success Foundation (CSF) - Robert “Bob” E. Craves. Our visionary leader passed away on November 5, 2014, following a brief struggle with cancer. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that Craves worked as a marketing executive in Los Angeles for Builders Emporium when Jim Sinegal, the man who hired him, recruited him to become a founding officer of Costco in 1983.  He spent the next 17 years with the company as a Senior Vice President.

Sinegal, the now retired Costco CEO, spoke to the Times about Bob, saying, “He could always find the good thing in every situation.  Most people couldn’t.”

After he left Costco, Bob led CSF for the 13 years since he co-founded it.  The Foundation says that he raised $600 million to further educational opportunities for vulnerable youth in that time.  By the end of 2013, over 12,000 scholarships were disbursed and almost 4,000 CSF Scholars had earned bachelor’s degrees, with thousands more still attending college.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gerri; their daughter, Stacie, of Seattle; sisters Teri Renz, of Napa, Calif., and Mary Holland, of Des Moines; brother Jim Craves, of Portland, Maine; and two grandchildren.

AndNowUKnow would like to offer our heartfelt sympathies to Bob’s family and friends. He will certainly be missed.

CHICAGO, IL – TOMRA Sorting Solutions is launching its ZEA sorter at ASTA Seed Expo at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, IL on December 8 – 12, 2014.

TOMRA continues to expand its ZEA sorter range, which was developed specifically for the seed and fresh corn industry.  According to a press release, this latest innovation includes the design and implementation of a second camera module for the inspection of both sides of an ear of corn.

Maurice Moynihan, Market Unit Director at TOMRA Sorting Food, says, “The ZEA is a flexible sorter with gentle handling assured. It contains simple controls, supplies straightforward feedback, provides consistent, long-life accuracy and requires only low maintenance.”

Moynihan added, “Benefits the system offers customers include unrivalled husk and superior defect removal, significant labor reductions, reduced operational costs and easy installation.”

The ZEA works when the product is spread uniformly on the infeed belt in an aligned fashion before being scanned by the cameras.  Top-and-bottom mounted color and near-infared optical sensors scan the surface of each item, allowing for unobstructed inspection. The color vision sensors analyze features like size, shape and color, and the NIR sensors scan for gross defects and foreign materials.

Milliseconds later, second and third grade produce is redirected to individual streams by intelligent, low-wear paddle ejectors at the end of the infeed belt.  The first grade material will the pass along the sorting line and through the machine.

“Some important differences between the ZEA and certain broadly competitor machines on the market are that our sorter includes two-sided cameras, which view products from both sides, and a unique [patent applied for] three-way rejection system,” said Moynihan.

The integrated shaker and infeed belt feeding system keeps installation and running costs low and reduces the risk of stoppages, according to a press release.  An easy-to-use touch screen allows for control and feedback as well. 

TOMRA will be showcasing the ZEA sorter in booth 600 at ASTA Seed Expo.

TOMRA Sorting Solutions

LOS ANGELES, CA – LA truck workers affiliated with Total Transportation Services Inc. and Pacific 9 Transportation walked off the job on Thursday, November 13th.

This is the second such action these truck workers have taken, according to the LA Times. The last strike, which occurred in July, was temporarily called off after LA Mayor Eric Garcetti requested a “cooling-off” period. Alleged “retaliation” by the trucking companies has since reignited the strike, with drivers organizing picket lines at company yards in Compton and Carson, according to Barb Maynard, a Spokeswoman for the Teamsters Union. The Teamsters have reported that they will be supporting the strikers during this action.

According to the LA Times, further picket lines could be made in the event company trucks were to attempt to conduct business through the Port's terminals. As of this time, however, the LA Times is reporting that these terminals have turned away any such drivers and no new picket lines have been established.

Green Fleet Systems, another trucking company affiliated with the July strikes, has not been involved in these latest actions. Organizers shared that “productive discussions” between Green Fleet and the Teamsters Union have made such action unnecessary.

Mayor Garcetti released a statement Thursday afternoon sharing that Total Transportation Services has agreed to enter talks with the Teamsters in his office in order “to find a way to get its operation back to work.”

“We urge Pac 9 to come to the table as well,” he continued.

This action comes at a time of heightened tension on the West Coast ports. Dock workers and terminal operators affiliated with the powerful International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been negotiating with the Pacific Maritime Association for months over a new labor contract. The previous labor agreement between the two parties expired in July. With no contract currently on the books, the LA Times reported on speculation over whether these dockworkers would launch a strike of their own in solidarity with the truck workers.

Considering that the LA and Long Beach ports alone handle about 40% of U.S. imports, any such action could have profound affects for American retailers and importers. Especially with the holiday season almost upon us, this is a story which many in the industry will be paying close attention to.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for any future updates on action at the West Coast Ports as they occur.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama is said to be considering executive action on immigration reform as early as next week.

This news led to Republican lawmakers blasting the White House after Fox News reported that Obama is planning to unveil a 10-part plan for overhauling U.S. immigration policy via executive action.

The New York Times is reporting that Obama will ignore the protests from Republicans and continue with the action.

As we previously reported, Obama delayed executive action on the issue in September, choosing to wait until after the November midterm elections.

At that time, Obama told NBC’s Meet the Press, “When I take executive action, I want to make sure that it’s sustainable.  What I’m saying is that I’m going to act because it’s the right thing for the country.  But it’s going to be more sustainable and more effective if the public understands what the facts are on immigration.”

Administration officials have told the NYT that under this potential overhaul, up to five million undocumented immigrants would be protected from the threat of deportation and many of them would be provided with work permits.

Officials also added that Obama intends to order changes to significantly refocus the activities of the government’s 12,000 immigration agents by allowing many parents of children who are American citizens or legal residents to obtain legal work documents.

The NYT cites an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute that says part of the plan alone could affect up to 3.3 million people who have been living in the U.S. illegally for at least five years.

Fox News has listed the 10 actions being weighed by the President and what they mean.  They are:

• Expand ‘deferred action’ for young illegal immigrants – This change to existing law would change the cutoff date for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children before the cut-off from June 2007 to January 2010.
• Expand ‘deferred action’ for parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents – This would give a reprieve to illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. over 5 years and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
• Prioritize deportations for serious criminals – This would be a Department of Homeland Security-wide enforcement polity to prioritize deportations for serious criminals or individuals deemed a threat.
• End ‘Secure Communities’ and start a new program – The controversial Secure Communities plan would be removed entirely.
• Boost pay for ICE officers – This calls for a pay raise for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to “increase morale.”
• Expand high-tech visas – This would expand visas for foreign-born workers with high-tech skills, to support U.S. business.
• Strengthen border security – This would commit additional resources to the U.S.-Mexico border to deal with illegal immigrant traffic.
• Expand provisional waivers to spouses and children of legal permanent residents – This would expand the program that was announced in January 2013.  The waiver lets them stay in the country.
• Expand ‘parole’ – The government currently allows ‘parole’ for illegal immigrant relatives and spouses of U.S. military members, letting them stay in the country.  This proposed change expands the program for illegal immigrants whose children are citizens.
• Promote the naturalization process – The naturalization fee is $680.  To encourage people to being the process, DHS would take 50% off of the fee for the first 10,000 applicants.

Republicans aren’t the only ones concerned over the immediacy of this potential action.  The Huffington Post reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, said yesterday that he has urged the President not to take any executive action on immigration until December.

Reid asked Obama to wait until December because many are concerned that if he acts before a December 11 deadline for passing a new spending bill, the immigration debate could be thrown into the budget process which could potentially trigger a partial government shutdown, according to Fox News.

"The President has said he's going to do the executive action – the question is when he can do it. It's up to him," Reid told reporters on Capitol Hill. "I'd like to get the finances of this country out of the way before he does it."  Reid did also note, however, that the decision is totally up to Obama.

Fox is reporting that Rep. Matt Salmon, R-AZ, has already gathered dozens of signatures on a letter calling for no funding for “the President’s reported intentions to create work permits and green cards for undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.”  GOP leaders are also considering a bill to block that action. 

This is certainly a hot-button issue.  Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track this story.