ST. LOUIS, MO – Todd Schnuck has been officially named the Chairman and CEO of Schnuck Markets, Inc. Todd will be assisted in this role by Anthony Hucker, who has been named the new President and Chief Operating Officer of the St. Louis-based food and pharmacy company. According to a press release, Anthony is the first non-family member to be named to this executive office.

Earlier this year, AndNowUKnow covered former CEO Scott Schnuck's decision to pass control over the family business to Todd. This announcement will make that decision official, finalizing the title and position change. Going forward, Scott will continue to serve Schnuck Markets as the Chairman of the company's Executive Committee.

As Chairman and CEO, Todd will be responsible for overseeing Schnucks' top leadership team, growing the company's vision of Nourishing People’s Lives and integrating the fourth generation of the family into the business. Under his leadership, the business will continue to grow, having already opened a replacement store in St. Charles, MO. A new store in Farmington, MO will open on November 19th.

Todd Schnuck received his education at University of Virginia and Cornell University where he earned a Bachelors in Psychology and an MBA. He began his tenure at Schnucks in 1987 after working as Associate Vice President of Investment Banking with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. With Schnucks, he played a lead role in the 1995 National, 1998 Logli and 2002 Seessel’s acquisitions.

In addition to his responsibilities with Schnucks, Todd serves as the Executive Committee Finance Chair of the Board of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. He is also on the Boards of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., United Way, Fair St. Louis Foundation and the Urban League of St. Louis, on which he is the former Chairman. Todd additionally serves on the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholars Foundation Board.

Anthony attended University of Manchester where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Retail Marketing. He also earned a diploma in International Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Anthony has continuing executive education from MIT, Harvard, Wharton and the Chicago Booth School of Business where he teaches strategy and retailing.

Before joining Schnucks, Anthony served as President of Giant Food and worked in an executive capacity at Wal-Mart. He was also part of the original team which established Aldi's presence in the UK.

Good luck at this next exciting phase in your careers, Todd and Anthony!

Schnuck Markets

OXNARD, CA - The Fall strawberry season is in full swing in California, where Well-Pict Berries is finishing the harvest of an excellent crop at its Oxnard farms. The quality of Well-Pict's berries has remained strong despite the challenges of the California drought, thanks to the company's experienced and skilled team of growers. Now, Well-Pict is looking forward to a strong end-of-year finish and an excellent overall strawberry season, one that should only gain in strength as the grower approaches the all-important Valentine’s Day holiday.

“I'm confident that the preparations we have in place will allow us to meet increasing demand as the holidays roll around, fulfilling our mission to supply top quality berries twelve months out of the year,” Dan Crowley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, shared with ANUK. “Our focus is on ensuring a successful transition from our fields in Oxnard to Florida, so as to make sure our retail partners have uninterrupted access to our premium strawberries throughout the holiday season.”

Florida's fields will begin shipping their superior varieties in mid-November, and harvest will continue in earnest through March. Complementing the Florida crop will be the start of Well-Pict's Oxnard harvest season beginning in mid-December. This crop will consist of the company’s popular “324” strawberries, a variety known worldwide for its superior size and flavor.

“Well-Pict's diverse growing fields across North America give us the flexibility to continually adapt to changing market conditions as we deliver a top quality strawberry crop to our retail partners throughout the year,” Dan explained.

Dan also shared with ANUK that his company does have plans for acreage expansion in the near future, but for now, Well-Pict's focus remains strongly fixed on this season and its commitment to harvest only the very best strawberries for today’s produce market.

Well-Pict

ORLANDO, FL - Rachel Muñoz has been named the new Director of Marketing for the National Mango Board (NMB). In her new role, Rachel will oversee the NMB's marketing campaigns and guide its consumer, nutrition, retail and foodservice public relations programs. She will also be responsible for managing trade shows, website communications, and working with management to develop marketing concepts, tactics and campaigns.

“We get very few chances to see the development, transition and transcendental growth of an organization,” stated Manuel Michel, Executive Director of the NMB. “Having Rachel on board completes and solidifies the first steps of a new era of evolution that the NMB and mango industry will face in coming years.”

Rachel has years of experience in consumer-focused retailer merchandising and marketing, having worked previously at Home Shopping Network and Best Buy Corporate. She has also been closely involved in the Women of Leadership Forum and Hispanic Business Network, advocating for diversity in the workplace. In addition, she has served as a member of Connect Team. With Connect, she worked to support the organization's employe engagement programs.

Rachel's love for mangos blossomed while living in her farther's homeland of Ecuador as a child. She would later go on to receive her education at the University of Texas-PanAmerican. There, she earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration. When not working to promote the mango industry, she says that she enjoys visiting friends and family in St. Petersburg, FL, volunteers regularly with Sally’s House Foster Care and is a music and concert enthusiast.

Congratulations on your new position with the National Mango Board, Rachel!

National Mango Board

WATSONVILLE, CA – California Giant Berry Farms is continuing to enhance its tools and content while connecting with consumers every day through its new Buzz Blog.

The blog is a stand-alone tool that uses new methods of permission-based marketing to attract consumers and convert them into leads and ultimately build brand evangelists, according to a press release.

“Our Buzz Blog is a great place for sharing news, recipes, tips, videos and more. Consumers subscribe to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings at California Giant Berry Farms, and keep coming back for new content.  Each time we learn more about their preferences and make sure we are on point to provide information they specifically want, which keeps them engaged and feeling a personal connection to our company,” says Cindy Jewell, VP of Marketing.

This new format of permission-based marketing is a tool that California Giant will ultimately convert all of its online tools to in 2015 to better focus on serving the consumer that is buying its berries.

The photography on the blog is meant to grab the consumer right away, and the content is meant to keep them there with things like promotions and prize-winning opportunities, freebies and giveaways, recipes and cooking ideas and nutritional information and health news.

The company also provides opportunities for consumers to learn about philanthropic opportunities, events the company and staff participates and what is happening on the farm.  Readers will also have the opportunity to check out posts and recipes by guest authors and the company’s favorite food bloggers. 

I can’t wait to see the great recipes and content that will be featured in the Buzz Blog!

California Giant Berry Farms

BENTONVILLE, AR – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has released its financial results for its Q3 of FY 2015.  After 6 quarters without growth, this retailer has broken the streak.

For the quarter, which included the negative impact of almost $396 million from currency exchange rate fluctuations, Wal-Mart saw consolidated net sales of $118.1 billion, an increase of 2.8% over last year.  Without those fluctuations, the report says that net sales would have increased 3.1% to $118.5 billion.

"The highlights for the quarter include the positive comp in Wal-Mart U.S., including the strong performance from Neighborhood Markets, the 21 percent increase in e-commerce sales globally and the profit performances from Sam's Club and our International business," said Doug McMillon, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. President and CEO.

The retailer also saw membership and other income increase 13.9% over last year.  Total revenue increased approximately $3.3 billion to $119.0 billion, a 2.9% increase.

"We're investing in key areas of our business, including wages in our U.S. stores and in e-commerce and mobile capabilities. We continue to see opportunities to improve our business," McMillon added. "Being the price leader is an ongoing priority for us and a commitment to customers. As with every year, that is even more important during the holiday season. We have some things in our favor this fourth quarter, including lower fuel prices in the U.S. and other key markets, and we're set to deliver for customers during this time."

Other highlights from this quarter include:

• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. reported third quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (EPS) of $1.15, within guidance of $1.10 to $1.20. This compared to last year's $1.14.
• Wal-Mart U.S. comp sales increased 0.5 percent for the 13-week period ended Oct. 31, 2014. Comp sales for the Neighborhood Market format increased approximately 5.5 percent. Wal-Mart U.S. net sales increased $2.3 billion, or 3.4 percent, to approximately $70.0 billion.
• Consolidated net sales increased $3.2 billion, or 2.8 percent, to $118.1 billion.
• Wal-Mart International grew net sales 1.7 percent to $33.7 billion. On a constant currency basis, net sales would have increased 2.9 percent to $34.1 billion.
• Sam's Club comp sales, without fuel, increased 0.4 percent for the 13-week period ended Oct. 31. Sam's Club increased membership income 10.1 percent for the quarter, and grew operating income more than twice the rate of sales growth.

As of 1:25 pm ET, Wal-Mart stock is up $3.28 to $82.46, a 4.14% increase.

Congratulations on your strong Q3 results, Wal-Mart!

Wal-Mart

OVIEDO, FL – Duda Farm Fresh Foods is ramping up its California citrus harvest in the state’s San Joaquin Valley, just in time for the holidays. The company kicked off harvest with lemons in mid-September, mandarins and navel oranges during the week of October 20th and Meyer lemons during the week of Oct. 27th.  Minneola harvest will begin in early January.

As we move through November, Duda has begun promoting navel oranges with the company’s new ‘Citrus Celebrations’ high graphic 4 lb. retail bag.

“We will be running this promotion in various regions through the first of the year.  We are also promoting Meyer lemons in our recently updated 1 lb. pouch bag,” Paul Huckabay, Western Citrus Sales Manager, tells me.

The company expects to see increased volumes of Mandarins, Lemons and Minneolas.  Meyer lemons and Navel oranges should be slightly below last year, but quality and flavor have been fantastic since the first shipments began, creating great momentum to the season.

Paul also tells me that like many growers in California, drought conditions have resulted in slightly less volume in certain areas, but the most significant effect has been on fruit size on navel oranges.  The entire industry is experiencing smaller than normal fruit size for this time of year but flavor has not been compromised.

Duda’s citrus ranches are spread out through Kern County, all the way up through Tulare County and Fresno County, providing a significant footprint for retailers looking to tap into California Citrus.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow Duda’s California Citrus program.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods

COMSTOCK, MI - Ed Klein, former Director of Sales for Fresh Express, has joined AllFresh GPS, a group of Michigan apple growers. He will work directly with retail and distribution partners to build consumer-focused apple programs, according to a press release.

“AllFresh needs our customers to realize the sales potential of our high quality, unique varieties,” said Scott Swindeman, AllFresh Vice President. “We are thrilled to have Ed Klein on board because he has the experience to do just that. He understands how to build promotional programs and execute merchandising opportunities together with retailers.”

Klein expressed his excitement joining AllFresh GPS, noting that the group is “committed to servicing their customers and making the necessary investments.”

He began his grocery career in 1989 with Stouffer Frozen Foods. He then transitioned to fresh produce with the Chicago company Acosta (PMI Eisenhart). At Fresh Express, he was heavily involved in the Defense Commissary Agency program.

Congrats on joining AllFresh GPS, Ed!

AllFresh GPS

BOISE, ID - Samuel Zell has entered the Albertsons asset sale race. In order to gain FTC approval for its impending merger with Safeway, the retailer is expected to divest roughly a total of 160 stores. According to the New York Times, Zell, the Chicago real estate titan and Founder and Chairman of Equity Group Investments, is vying with two other major bidders for over 100 of these locations. Capital Management and Comvest Partners are also reported to be in on the race.

While Zell himself has little experience in retail, the group which he is backing also includes retail veteran Stuart Sloan, the former Chairman of Quality Food Centers. At this time, both Sloan and Zell have declined to comment officially on the matter.

While the FTC will have to approve whichever company wins this bidding war, Deborah L. Feinstein, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, revealed that retailers have the option of receiving feedback on multiple bidders throughout the process.

“We will try to give the parties some guidance on which bidders would or would not be acceptable,” Feinstein explained. “A full vetting occurs only when we are presented with a buyer and a specific proposal.”

So far, no official word has been released regarding the amounts of the bids being offered by Zell, Capital Management, or Comvest Partners, according to the New York Times. When further news does become available, however, you can count on AndNowUKnow to bring you the latest. Stay tuned.

Albertsons

DES MOINES, IA – Dahl’s Foods Inc. has filed a $41 million bankruptcy petition in federal court asking to be allowed to reorganize and sell its stores. 

The Des Moines Register reports that Kansas City-based Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) plans to purchase Dahl’s assets and rebrand the stores.  According to the court filings, AWG has offered to purchase the 10-store chain’s assets for $4.8 million, which could be adjusted based on the value of inventory.

AWG CEO Jerry Garland said in a statement, “Our intentions for entering into the agreement to purchase Dahl's Foods are to provide an opportunity for a member of our cooperative to successfully enter the Des Moines grocery market, with some good locations, and to gain a strong and experienced workforce.”

The Register reports that Dahl’s currently has over 950 employees and had $136.8 million in sales during the 12 months ending June 28.  In the court documents, the retailer stated that its sales declined because of increased competition and the company was “slow to recognize the competitive threat and to make the operational changes necessary to remain viable.”

"Our board has approved the sale of the company, which will ensure that the stores come out of this stage successfully. Right now, our focus is on preserving our workforce and continuing to provide a competitive and connected store experience for customers," Craig Moore, Dahl's CEO, told KCCI News.

Dahl’s stores are expected to remain open and operate as normal through the process with no interruptions in service to customers.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this bankruptcy and sale.

Dahl’s Foods

Associated Wholesale Grocers