HLB Specialties first to import Goldenberries without cold treatment
Pompano Beach, FL-based HLB Specialties, a U.S. importer and tropical fruit specialist, has resumed importing fresh Colombian goldenberries, also known as cape gooseberries
Haggen files Chapter 11, parts ways with top executive
Retail operator Haggen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware Sept. 8 and announced that it has parted ways with the executive it hired in December to lead its expansion plans.
The Bellingham, WA-based retail chain made headlines earlier this year when it took over 146 stores in California, Nevada and Arizona from Albertsons and Safeway as those large grocers were undergoing a merger. The additional locations joined Haggen’s 18 units in the Pacific Northwest and were a bid to become a major player in the Southwest.
Union, trustee object to A&P retention plan
A plan to pay $5 million to key employees of A&P as the chain winds down its operations has met objections by a union representing workers as well as a trustee involved with the bankruptcy proceedings.
A&P filed a Key Employee Retention Plan motion in late August that sought to incentivize 495 key employees to stay on. Among the employees were 83 corporate and 412 non-union employees. A&P argued it was necessary to complete the Chapter 11 “sale strategy” based on the auction of its locations.
Early start to IEOOC season brings good quality to onion pipeline
While not every onion operation in the Treasure Valley of Idaho-Eastern Oregon reported an early planting of this year’s Spanish Sweet crop, the majority of shippers have told The Produce News their season kicked off 10 days to two weeks ahead of a normal year’s schedule.
Moreover, the shippers were also describing the onions as having adequate-to-good size and excellent quality. Triple-digit temps during the summer were followed by cooler evenings in August, allowing the storage onions to field cure.
Mann adds two employees to its team
Mann Packing announced the hire of two new employees to its sales and marketing department on Sept. 9.
GABRIEL GONZALEZ filled a newly created position as data systems specialist for sales operations, reporting to Craig Grantham, director of sales operations. In this new role, Gonzalez will support Mann’s business through product information management, data governance, category management, and data analytics.
Sutherland Produce launches expanded organic potato program
Sutherland Produce Sales Inc., sales agent and distributor of organic fruit and vegetables, announced Sept.8 the availability of its 2015-16 lineup of Stukel Mountain organic potatoes, including a full complement of Red, Russet and Yellow as well as some new additions, including specialty varieties like Russian Banana Fingerlings and Huckleberry Purple from grower partner, Carleton Organics.
After summer rains, Krichmar looking forward to fall season
VINELAND, NJ — The produce-growing areas of southern New Jersey saw “a lot of rain, which was disastrous there for a while,” Jay Krichmar, president of Krichmar Produce Co., here, told The Produce News Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19. “But then the weather straightened out.”
Eastern Fresh: Bell pepper volume down
Weather glitches always have an effect on fresh field-grown produce, but it’s not always a matter of what the weather does to the plants. In some cases weather problems result in disease, which is what has happened this season at Eastern Fresh Growers Inc. in Cedarville, NJ.
Tom Sheppard, company president, told The Produce News that too much wet weather in June caused certain varieties of bell peppers to be decimated by disease.
Michigan Apple Committee gets social with new campaign
The Michigan Apple Committee launched a social media campaign Sept. 1 with the help of global PR and marketing firm, Weber Shandwick. The campaign will increase Michigan Apples’ online engagement, in an effort to educate and converse with consumers to increase brand awareness.
Ahold USA announces grand opening of new concept store
Ahold USA will hold a grand opening of its first ever bfresh market on Friday, Sept. 18 in Allston, MA.
The owners of Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores, Martin’s Food Markets, and Peapod, unveiled the new, urban-scale grocery store at a community preview last week. The new 10,000-square-foot space puts a strong emphasis on fresh produce and cuts back on the dry goods section. It’s wide assortment of take-out style cuisine appeals to neighborhood college students, and its layout is much smaller than a traditional supermarket.