PHOENIX, AZ - The first quarter results for natural and organic supermarket chain Sprouts Farmers Market are in. In the grocer’s latest financial update, Sprouts revealed that its net sales for the quarter rose to $1.9 billion, seeing a 9 percent increase from the same period in 2023.

"We were pleased with our impressive financial results this quarter, with strength in comparable store sales, traffic, and e-commerce," said Jack Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market. "These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of our strategy and the exceptional execution by our team members across the country. We are reinforcing our position as a leading specialty food retailer as we build new stores in line with our growth plans.”

The financial report covers the 13-week first quarter ended March 31, 2024, according to a press release. Other highlights demonstrating the chain’s Q1 growth include:

• Comparable store sales growth of 4 percent
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.12; compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.73 and Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.98 in the same period in 2023
• Opened seven new stores, resulting in 414 stores in 23 states as of March 31, 2024

Click here for more details.

As the retailer grows its physical footprint and retail prowess, AndNowUKnow will fill you in on the latest strategies and more.

YUMA, AZ & SALINAS, CA - A valuable online resource has been shared with the industry as the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (AZ LGMA), California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (CA LGMA), and Yuma Safe Produce Council collaborate on a vital tool providing free training on multiple topics.

The learning management system offers resources and online training regarding the following topics:

• Arizona LGMA Metrics 101 (English): Interactive, online training that helps employees learn about the Arizona LGMA food safety requirements through 16 modules
• California LGMA Pre-Harvest Testing (English): A course providing an overview of risk-based, pre-harvest testing through six modules
• Yuma Safe Produce Council Supervisor Training (English and Spanish): The Food Safety Top Ten for Leafy Greens Supervisors course helps employees meet annual requirements of food safety best practices and features the supervisory role in implementing and reinforcing food safety practices

Called Doctum, the innovative platform and all courses on the new online food safety training program were designed by Food Safety CTS. New trainings are expected to be added to the platform in the future. According to a press release, one currently under development will train the user on how to conduct pre-season, pre-harvest, and daily harvest assessments.

All online courses are free for anyone in the fresh produce industry to take and can be done at the user’s own pace. Upon finishing, an individual will be issued a certificate of completion.

Click here to register and view all the available training courses.

As more industry resources become available, ANUK will be here with the latest.

LOS ANGELES, CA - It’s that time of year shoppers look forward to: California avocado season! As the Golden State begins harvesting and packing the in-demand fruit, Giumarra Companies anticipates excellent quality despite lower volumes throughout the season.

“We provide a reliable supply of premium California avocados from now through the summer, tailored to the specific needs of our retail and foodservice customers,” explains Gary Caloroso, Regional Business Development Director. “Our customized service ensures consistent product satisfaction, and we are ready to support our customers with marketing and promotion.”

Giumarra sources its California avocados from growers throughout the Golden State. The avocados are then harvested and packed in one of its two facilities: Escondido, which serves growers in the southern region of the state, or Ventura, which serves growers in the northern region.

So far, the supplier is seeing excellent quality. However, Giumarra’s projections indicate that its volume of California avocados is expected to be lower than last year.

With the season underway, Giumarra recommends that its retail and foodservice partners promote California avocados throughout the spring and summer, highlighting their desirability due to their limited availability and high quality. The company provides support in the produce department to help.

“As one of the largest avocado suppliers in the United States—offering both conventional and organic products—our Giumarra team provides tailored marketing support to our retailers and foodservice partners,” adds Gary. “In response to the increasing consumer demand for bagged avocados, we have developed a range of new bags that showcase the appeal of avocados, available on request for our retail customers. We invite our customers to contact our avocado team for further information.”

Now is the prime time to start merchandising green gold from the Golden State in your produce aisles. Get in touch with Giumarra Companies for supplies and support.