Latest News From Retail

Organic salad category finally slowing down?
Organic salad category finally slowing down?

Although the market for organic produce remains hot overall, demand for packaged organic salads may be cooling off a bit.

SEPC, FMI partner on The Power of Produce retail report
SEPC, FMI partner on The Power of Produce retail report

The Food Marketing Institute will debut its annual The Power of Produce report at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure show.

<p>Hy-Vee Short Cuts&nbsp;</p>
Hy-Vee building facility to support Short Cuts produce program

Hy-Vee is betting big on convenience, with construction projects underway to support more fresh-cut produce, meal kits, prepared meals, e-commerce and faster in-store shopping.

<p>Dole chopped salad new design</p>
Packaged Salads business updates

Read business updates from companies featured in The Packer's Packaged Salads feature.

Stay warm during winter with Pinata apples
Stay warm during winter with Pinata apples

To bring warmth and sales to the produce department during the holidays, Stemilt Growers LLC suggests retailers promote the company’s Pinata apples.

Supervalu launches meal kits
Supervalu launches meal kits

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Supervalu Inc. has a new line of meal solutions, including meal kits, under the Quick & Easy Meals brand.

<p>Bristol Farms</p>
Bristol Farms brings Europe to California

LOS ANGELES — Residents of L.A.’s Woodland Hills neighborhood now can enjoy a taste — and feel — of Europe when they go grocery shopping.

Frieda’s promotes California citrus
Frieda’s promotes California citrus

To boost California citrus sales now that the season’s underway, Frieda’s Inc., Los Alamitos, Calif., has a special promo program for January through March.

Amelia Freidline
The produce night shift

We turn to the reader’s file this week. I received an inquiry from a chain merchandiser, looking for tips to better handle the winter holidays. New Year’s Day and Christmas are very busy weeks in the produce aisle.

Tanimura & Antle launches ‘Artisan’ entertaining campaign
Tanimura & Antle launches ‘Artisan’ entertaining campaign

Tanimura & Antle has launched “The Artisan of Entertaining” fall consumer promotion to increase Thanksgiving demand for the Artisan brand lettuce and romaine.

Expectations high after Amazon buys Whole Foods
Expectations high after Amazon buys Whole Foods

The marriage of Amazon and Whole Foods is a big break for the organics category, marketers and analysts say.

<p>Freshline Foods Paw Patrol</p>
Freshline Foods debuts Paw Patrol line with fresh-cut apples

Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol is coming to the fresh-cut section of the produce aisle.

Innovation critical in crowded salad category
Innovation critical in crowded salad category

With the packaged salad business booming, how does a marketer make its package — and what’s inside it — stand out in a crowded field?

Growers promoting much larger Kanzi crop
Growers promoting much larger Kanzi crop

CMI Orchards and Applewood Orchards both expect to have more than double the Kanzi volume they produced last season.

Amelia Freidline
Produce emerging as grocery’s star

TUBAC, Ariz. — Does fresh produce matter when it comes to retail grocery success?

Amazon cancels AmazonFresh in some markets
Amazon cancels AmazonFresh in some markets

Turns out, Amazon’s not so fresh after all. The Seattle-based company notified AmazonFresh customers in select markets that it would no longer serve them, effective Nov. 30.

LGS Specialty Sales adds mini avocados to lineup
LGS Specialty Sales adds mini avocados to lineup

Mini avocados will soon be available from LGS Specialty Sales, marketed under the Tiny Tim’s label.

Crunch Time, Schwinn partner for SnapDragon promo
Crunch Time, Schwinn partner for SnapDragon promo

Consumers have a chance to win one of five Schwinn bicycles each week in November in a sweepstakes co-sponsored by SnapDragon apples and Schwinn.

Wegmans, Publix, Nugget top Fortune list of retailers
Wegmans, Publix, Nugget top Fortune list of retailers

Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans was the No. 1 retailer, and No. 2 overall Best Company to Work For on the most recent Fortune Magazine list.

Bee Sweet promotes citrus for Thanksgiving
Bee Sweet promotes citrus for Thanksgiving

Fowler, Calif.-based Bee Sweet Citrus is promoting satsuma mandarins and pummelos for Thanksgiving.

Imperfect Produce expanding to Chicago
Imperfect Produce expanding to Chicago

Imperfect Produce has expanded its coverage area to include Chicago.

Ahold Delhaize highlights digital efforts in Q3 report
Ahold Delhaize highlights digital efforts in Q3 report

Ahold Delhaize reported growth in consumer engagement and continued work to improve digital offerings.

Category Partners acquires Beacon Research Solutions
Category Partners acquires Beacon Research Solutions

Analytics firm Category Partners has purchased Beacon Research Solutions, and principal Cara Ammon is joining Category Partners as director of research.

Watermelon display contest winners get creative
Watermelon display contest winners get creative

The National Watermelon Promotion Board has chosen the winners in its ninth annual retail display contest, with a nod to “classic” and “star spangled” themes.

Packer 25 — Scott Schuette
Packer 25 — Scott Schuette

Scott Schuette has stayed plenty busy in his first few years with Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets.

<p>Avocados From Mexico Season's Eating bin</p>
Avocados From Mexico brings avo toast home for the holidays

Avocados From Mexico is encouraging consumers to get into the holiday spirit with its Season’s Eatings promotion, Nov. 10 through Dec. 31, which asks families to put their own spin on avocado toast.

Four produce companies among Top 50 brands for parents
Four produce companies among Top 50 brands for parents

Market research firm Smarty Pants LLC surveyed parents and their children about 347 brands, and four produce brands made the Top 50 list for parents.

September apple sales down from 2016
September apple sales down from 2016

September apple volumes and sales were down this year at retail compared with last year because of a harvest gap, Nielsen Fresh Facts data show.

Albertsons expands partnership with IRI
Albertsons expands partnership with IRI

Analytics company IRI will be providing supply chain services to Albertsons, an expansion of an earlier relationship focused on maximizing point-of-sale data.

NGA seeks Creative Choice Awards entries
NGA seeks Creative Choice Awards entries

Independent grocers: have you done something crazy, and crazy effective, in your departments this year? The National Grocers Association wants to hear about it.

Packer 25 — Mike Roberts
Packer 25 — Mike Roberts

Mike Roberts, the director of produce operations for Harps , started in the business years ago as a part-time clerk. So did Josh Rector, produce category manager, who was a teen when he began there nearly a decade ago.

Whole Foods says to look for these food trends
Whole Foods says to look for these food trends

“Functional” mushrooms, edible floral, root-to-stem and Middle Eastern flavors are among the top food trends to watch in 2018, according to Whole Foods Market’s annual list.

GOPEX Quiz Show session looks at organic retail trends
GOPEX Quiz Show session looks at organic retail trends

Attendees will hear about the latest consumer trends on organic produce at retail at the Fresh Trends Quiz Show Organic Edition Jan. 26 at GOPEX.

United Fresh honors Hugh Topper with Lifetime Achievement Award
United Fresh honors Hugh Topper with Lifetime Achievement Award

The United Fresh Produce Association has chosen H-E-B Group Vice President of Fresh Foods Hugh Topper as the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Daniel Vanderhorst
Resistance is futile

Path of least resistance. As shoppers, we tend to follow this philosophy, don’t we?

Try purple for Thanksgiving this year
Try purple for Thanksgiving this year

Frieda’s Specialty Produce suggests that retailers promote Stokes Purple sweet potatoes during the fall to help bring consumers into the produce department.

Bob Mariano joins Gelson’s board
Bob Mariano joins Gelson’s board

Just over a year after retiring from Milwaukee-based Roundy’s, and the banner that bears his name, Bob Mariano joined the board of directors of Gelson’s Markets.

Produce boosts Sprouts' third quarter
Produce boosts Sprouts' third quarter

Unexpectedly strong produce sales helped boost Sprouts Farmers Market’s third quarter, company officials said during its earnings report.

Analytics gaining steam in grocery
Analytics gaining steam in grocery

Just as a baseball team can put on the shift if it knows a player tends to hit the ball to one side of the field, retailers can deliver more relevant offers to customers if they understand their tendencies.

Eco Pack rolls out produce containers
Eco Pack rolls out produce containers

Israeli packaging company Eco Pack System is rolling out new produce containers for the U.S. market.

Instacart partners with more retailers
Instacart partners with more retailers

Grocery delivery service Instacart launched partnerships with Kings Food Markets, Lowes Foods, Food Lion and several other retailers in of October.

<p>Ocean Mist Farms Season &amp; Steam product line as of Nov. 2017</p>
Ocean Mist launches consumer sweepstakes

Castroville, Calif.-based Ocean Mist Farms plans to kick off a consumer sweepstakes Nov. 13.

Berries, salads continue to set organic sales pace
Berries, salads continue to set organic sales pace

Organics continue to roll up sales gains in the produce category. According to numbers from The Nielsen Co., organic produce grew 9% in dollars year-over-year and represented a 10% share of total produce as of Aug. 26.

<p>Chilean Blueberry Commission retail promo</p>
Chilean Blueberry Committee supports retail sales

The Chilean Blueberry Committee continues to play an important role in promoting sales of Chilean blueberries in the U.S. during the winter.

Daniel Vanderhorst
Learn to be like Mike

Go as far as you can see, and you will see even farther.

NatureFresh to grow 'world's smallest tomatoes'
NatureFresh to grow 'world's smallest tomatoes'

Move over grape tomatoes, there’s a smaller tomato in town.

Rice Fruit’s fuji apples coming soon
Rice Fruit’s fuji apples coming soon

Fuji apples from Rice Fruit Co., Gardners, Pa., are almost ready to hit the market.

Dole unveils new look for salads
Dole unveils new look for salads

NEW ORLEANS — Dole Food Co. wants to make it easier to navigate the salad category, and is using a new, cohesive package design to do it.

Kroger “Restocks” executives
Kroger “Restocks” executives

Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. launched a new “Restock Kroger Plan” earlier this month, and is “restocking” its executive leadership around it.

MountainKing Potatoes brings back Gold Rush promo
MountainKing Potatoes brings back Gold Rush promo

Houston-based MountainKing Potatoes is gearing up for the 11th year of its Gold Rush merchandising promotion for gold potatoes.