SAN FRANCISCO & MODESTO, CA - One retail partnership in particular is being strengthened this week. Save Mart announced it has expanded its partnership with Instacart, implementing solutions such as Caper Carts and FoodStorm. The retailer will also upgrade to Instacart’s Storefront Pro, bringing superior e-commerce capabilities with advanced advertising options to its business.

"As a seasoned grocer with deep California roots, we’re committed to delivering fresh, local, and quality products at affordable prices. Our collaboration with Instacart has significantly expanded our online presence, reinforcing these core values within our local communities," said Tamara Pattison, Chief Digital Officer at The Save Mart Companies. "Embracing new revenue streams through Storefront Pro offers us a solid foundation to enhance our business online. By introducing Caper Carts and FoodStorm, we’re allowing customers to access what they love most about shopping online and bringing those elements into our stores.”

According to a press release, with the debut of Instacart’s Caper Carts, FoodStorm, and Storefront Pro, the online and in-store shopping experience for customers is further connected.

The retailer first partnered with Instacart in 2019 to launch same-day delivery across its banners, and the two are now deploying a number of technologies to digitize its stores and serve its customers:

• Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart carts, will roll out at select Save Mart and Lucky stores in the coming months, followed by a broader rollout later this year
• FoodStorm, Instacart’s order management system that helps streamline retailers’ food service, perimeter offerings and catering operations, will roll out across Save Mart and Lucky stores
• By upgrading to Storefront Pro, all three banners within The Save Mart Companies now have access to premium e-commerce features like customizable homepage and merchandising layouts, robust self-serve marketing tools, in-depth analytics, a dedicated Instacart support team, and support for third-party integrations

"We're committed to giving grocers the technology they need to better serve their customers, no matter how they choose to shop,” said Chris Rogers, Chief Business Officer at Instacart. “We're proud to partner with The Save Mart Companies on innovative in-store and online solutions that enable them to create a truly omnichannel experience that helps their business grow and makes shopping more unified, engaging, and personalized for their customers."

Keep reading ANUK as we bring you more retail news.

SEATTLE, WA - We always keep our eyes on Amazon’s quarterly results to see if any nuggets of insight appear about the company’s grocery plans. Amazon dropped its Q1 2024 financial report earlier this week, in which it outlines impressive growth across its operations. Although Amazon continues to gain in net sales and operating income, most of this growth appears to come from its e-commerce platform.

“It was a good start to the year across the business, and you can see that in both our customer experience improvements and financial results,” said Andy Jassy, President and Chief Executive Officer. “[…] It’s very early days in all of our businesses and we remain excited by how much more we can make customers’ lives better and easier moving forward.”

Within the highlights provided by Amazon, the retailer included one mention of grocery, in which it noted that it launched a grocery subscription for unlimited delivery on orders over $35 from Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, as well as local grocery and specialty retailers.

Additional highlights from the release include:

• Net sales increased 13 percent to $143.3 billion in the first quarter
• Operating income increased to $15.3 billion in the first quarter
• Net income increased to $10.4 billion in the first quarter

To read the release in its entirety, click here.

As Amazon continues to strategize its grocery game, we’ll keep an eye on how its overarching business operates.

FRESNO, CA - We received some good news in regard to the Farm Bill yesterday afternoon. The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) announced its support of the two Farm Bill proposals that were issued by Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative G.T. Thompson, the chairs of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees.

“CFFA is grateful to Congressman Thompson and Senator Stabenow for their bipartisan leadership in moving the 2024 Farm Bill forward,” President Daniel Hartwig stated. “The Association is a proud member of Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) which has played a vital role in ensuring that key priorities of the American agriculture industry are included in the 2024 Farm Bill. We look forward to continuing our work with leadership in the House and Senate as framework details become available with hope that a Farm Bill will be signed into law this year.”

The Farm Bill plays a significant role in the agriculture industry while providing Americans with healthy food options, a press release stated. Specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery, and greenhouse commodities, contribute significantly to the U.S. economy each year.

CFFA looks forward to continuing its work with SCFBA to help ensure that the needed enhancements are made to Farm Bill programs to maintain a sustainable agricultural industry for years to come.

ANUK will keep you informed as we learn more about the bill.

SALINAS, CA - In a recent blog post celebrating the ten-year anniversary of Measure to Improve (MTI), Chief Executive Officer and Founder Nikki Cossio reflected on how MTI got its start and where it’s headed.

In 2014, Cossio created Measure to Improve with the express goal of shaping a sustainable fresh produce industry that is resilient, healthy, collaborative, and prosperous.

“When I first started thinking about the business concept for Measure to Improve, sustainability was a relatively niche concept in the fresh produce industry. However, from my experience founding and leading sustainability programs at my family’s business, Gills Onions and Rio Farms, I knew this could evolve into something bigger. I could see the immense potential of sustainability for the industry,” Nikki writes.

When she first started MTI, the focus was on building awareness and support for sustainability programs. As the company grew, so did the attention to sustainability.

“Today, the landscape of sustainability in produce is quite different. It’s less about generating awareness and selling the value proposition of sustainability, because it’s now seen as an inherent part of doing business. Sustainability is discussed at every level of an organization and has become a core driver of business decisions,” Nikki shares. “Today, Measure to Improve works with our clients to advance their existing sustainability programs, build capacity, and prepare for what’s next in sustainability.”

Over the years, Nikki has created a team of passionate experts who guide clients through every stage of their sustainability journey.

As MTI looks ahead, Nikki reflects on what’s to come.

“The fresh produce industry is poised for significant growth and innovation, and sustainability is a catalyst for that. Trends like regenerative agriculture, data-driven decision-making, and consumer-driven demands for eco-conscious practices are taking center stage,” she observes. “Measure to Improve was ahead of the sustainability curve when we launched in 2014. Because of that we now have 10 years of experience and a proven track record of working on sustainability in the fresh produce industry. Now, more than ever, we are positioned to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape and continue empowering our clients and the industry towards a sustainable future.”

Congratulations to MTI on this milestone! We can’t wait to see what’s next for sustainability in our industry.

DELTA, BC, CANADA - Vancouver, Canada, was the most recent location for a fresh produce trade show. At the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Convention, WINDSET FARMS® welcomed industry members to its beautiful city for the first time since 2018, showing off several items including its award-winning ECO Paper Packs.

“These environmentally friendly, 100 percent recyclable packs not only contribute to our sustainability efforts but also offer excellent merchandising opportunities with exceptional product visibility,” said Ryan Cherry, Director of Sales. “We’re excited to provide this pack option for our Organics line, a testament to our commitment to high quality, sustainably grown products.”

Windset Farms went home with the award for Best Organics for its ECO Paper Packs.

The company also presented a diverse range of products, including the innovative YUM YUMS™ Cherry Tomatoes. These super sweet, candy-tasting red and orange tomatoes are delicious and feature a fun, colorful design. Also introduced were SWEETIES™ Seedless Mini Peppers, a tri-color pack of sweet-flavored peppers that offer the convenience of no seeds, a feature that sets them apart from traditional peppers. These products are available year-round in western Canada, British Columbia, and Santa Maria, California, a press release stated.

Windset thanks everyone for stopping by its booth during the show to learn about what’s new and looks forward to continuing to lead the industry with innovative products, packaging, and growing practices.

Congrats to Windset on the big win!