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September 11 Webinar Highlights New Channels for Supplier Engagement

WASHINGTON – Equitable Food Initiative, the workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, announces the launch of a supplier program within the Learn, Assess, and Benchmark (LAB) platform of the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP), which is available to suppliers beginning this week. 

Until now, the learn, assess, and benchmark channels have been available exclusively to growers. Starting on September 3, suppliers will gain access to Supplier LAB, which includes a host of resources to support their grower partners to align with the Ethical Charter. Suppliers will be guided through carefully designed assessment questions and will be able to benchmark and prioritize areas for improvement. Most importantly, Supplier LAB will enable suppliers to demonstrate their alignment with the Ethical Charter to their retail and food service customers. 

Diona Monroe, Data Manager for EFI, emphasizes the significance of this expansion. “Currently, there is no standardized platform for major produce buyers to assess the extent or impact of social responsibility efforts within their supply chain. This new component of ECIP gives suppliers the ability to demonstrate their leadership and receive recognition for their hard work to promote responsible labor practices. Retailers also get a comprehensive view of labor management systems in their supply chains, moving beyond traditional audits to build capacity and assess labor practices.” 

Participating buyers will benefit from aggregated data and industry-wide reports that can help them identify trends and develop targeted resources to support their suppliers. In addition, retailers will begin to see supplier engagement scores calculated through the use of the new Supplier LAB in early November. 

“We are excited about the impact this next phase of ECIP is expected to deliver by engaging our suppliers in new actionable ways,” said Jim Hancock, Vice President of Produce & Floral at Sam’s Club. “As suppliers begin to self-assess their own management systems, it will allow us to better support them and their growers with additional tools and resources, and to ultimately recognize the suppliers who are most engaged in developing responsible labor practices.”

To introduce the new ECIP supplier program, EFI will host a webinar on Wednesday, September 11, at 11:00 a.m. PDT. The webinar will include a demonstration of each of the learn, assess, and benchmark channels, guest speakers and a live Q&A. More information and the link to register can be found at equitablefood.org/webinars. 

Piloted in 2021, and fully launched in 2023, ECIP LAB is an online platform that provides tools and resources to suppliers and growers to strengthen labor management systems and align with the industry’s Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor. ECIP is designed to connect buyers, suppliers, and growers in a uniform commitment to improving labor management systems and highlighting best practices across the fresh produce supply chain.

Learn more about ECIP’s tools and resources at ethicalcharterprogram.org.

About EFI 

Equitable Food Initiative is a capacity-building and certification nonprofit that works to improve the lives of farmworkers and drive business performance by integrating worker voice and engagement throughout the supply chain. As a multistakeholder organization, EFI brings together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to create assessment, training and organizational development programs that support continuous improvement and address the industry’s most pressing problems. For more information about Equitable Food Initiative, visit equitablefood.org.

About ECIP

The Ethical Charter Implementation Program is a collaboration among retailers, grower-shippers and nonprofit organizations to create greater transparency regarding labor practices in the fresh produce industry, using capacity-building rather than audits. ECIP helps the industry capture, measure and enhance efforts to fulfill the principles of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. 

The 15 winning entries in the Produce Business 36th Annual Marketing Excellence Awards program are leading the way in marketing for the fresh produce industry.

These produce marketers successfully reached consumers, created brand awareness and increased sales through social media, media outreach, retailers, influencer events, advertising, mailers and other creative channels.

Marketers in the produce industry let loose a little bit with their latest marketing efforts, creating unique brand storytelling moments, while having some fun in the process.

This Produce Business 36th Annual Marketing Excellence Awards program could have been called “Leading the Way,” as marketers are truly leading the way as they showcase their brands’ unique strengths, value propositions and marketing messages to reach consumers and retailers through the clever use of packaging, retail displays, social media, influencer partnerships, videos and other traditional and nontraditional paths.

Special thanks go to all of the entrants for taking the time to submit and share the required material and results for judging. The record number of imaginative and compelling entrants made the judges’ task especially challenging, and we encourage those companies that did not win to apply next year.

In celebration — and for inspiration and learning — the top 15 campaigns awarded with Marketing Excellence are presented here.

Laird Superfood is ready to spice up fall with pumpkin spice products back in stock starting. Created by iconic big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and fitness icon Gabby Reece, these products intend to address fall cravings, while keeping consumers at peak performance throughout the day.

Say goodbye to sugary coffee-shop drinks. Laird Superfood products contain only clean ingredients with no artificial (or “natural”) flavors, colors, syrups, refined sugars, or additives.

The product lineup includes:

– Instant Latte (also available in NEW single-serve packets)
– Superfood Creamer
– Superfood Creamer + Adaptogens (liquid, sold only in stores)
– Superfood Protein Bar + Adaptogens

Laird Superfood is also available on Amazon. 

US-based Trident Seafoods has made a clutch of executive appointments, including creating the position of COO.

The company, which has sold off assets this year, has named board director and former Microsoft executive Mike Quinn to the new role.

Two Trident Seafoods veterans – Jeff Welbourn and Kenji Nasu – have been appointed president of the company’s US business and president of its unit Alaskan unit respectively.

Quinn has spent 25 years at Microsoft, where, most recently, he was VP of sales – global account management. He has been a Trident Seafoods director for five years.

“Creating this new position and adding a proven leader like Mike is the next step in Trident’s evolution to a customer-centric, business unit-led strategy that will return value to all stakeholders,” CEO Joe Bundrant said.

Quinn added: “Trident has been an industry leader for over 50 years and, despite the unprecedented challenges in the seafood sector, I see tremendous opportunities ahead.”

Before moving into his new role, Welbourn was the company’s SVP for its Alaska operations. Nasu was most recently the SVP for global species.

Privately-owned Trident Seafoods is one of the largest companies in the sector in North America. Based in Seattle, it employs around 9,000 people worldwide with operations in six countries.

Earlier this year, US peer Silver Bay Seafoods bought two facilities in Alaska from Trident Seafoods.

In March, Trident Seafoods sold another processing plant in the state to US group E.C. Phillips & Son.

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Poor cocoa harvests in Africa due bad weather impacting growing conditions were a factor in hiked cocoa prices last year and into 2024​.

Consumers worldwide were frustrated by price inflation, but Europeans were more understanding and less likely to leave the category over increasing prices, Mondelēz CEO Dirk Van de Put said in an interview at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples conference this week.

There was “more optimism” around higher prices in Europe as consumers had “good wage increases” alongside easing inflation. “Overall, the consumer feeling [in Europe] is good”, he said.

A good second half to Mondelēz’s financial year was expected, with new pricing in the market rolled out a month ago already showing positive results. Additional mechanisms would also be put in place soon to deliver further sales, including the launch of “new items at different price points” rather than general line price increases.

Will Mondelēz increase chocolate prices?

Line price increases would occur, but in steps to ensure consumers reacted in the “right way”, he continued. “Most consumers don’t want to give up chocolate on a regular basis[…] it’s an affordable luxury[…] if you paid €2 and now €3 it’s still affordable.”

Cocoa prices had come down “quite a bit from most recent historical highs”, said Mondelēz CFO Luca Zaramella, who added the market believed this year’s crop in Africa was “going to be quite good”, with yields up around “20-25% from what happened last year”.

Africa’s main coco crop was evolving well, with soil moisture at ideal levels and all the indicators showing “the supply side is quite good”, said Zaramella. “But still, there’s a few weeks [to go] so we can’t declare, but all indicators are good.”

Having some cost protection for the end of 2024 would signal a “material reduction in some cocoa pricing”, Zaramella added, saying light on what the cost of cocoa would be in 2025 would likely be shed in the business’s third-quarter financial report.

No cocoa formulation changes would be made to leading products including Cadbury and Milka, he confirmed.

“The chocolate category is the most loyal and best snacking category and we will be careful with pricing so as not to lose penetration,” he said, echoing Van de Put.

Mondelēz’s ambitious growth plans

If cocoa prices stabilised it would allow for more flexibility and “2026 should be a good year if this happens”, and where the business should have been without the recent inflation pressure, Zaramella added.

Mondelēz had ambitious growth plans, including opening up and expanding into new markets, such as developing further in Brazil, China, India and Mexico.

The business was targeting millions of new stores across its target countries, adding hundreds of thousands of listings in the first half of the year alone, said Van de Put.

Other areas of growth potential included in cakes and pastries, which Van de Put said Mondelēz had a right to move into as, in Europe, this category often sat alongside biscuits and other products in its portfolio.

“It’s a natural extension of the biscuit space and a fragmented, billion dollar market globally. We have a natural right to play in this space,” he said.

In this week’s new products roundup, Myna made its first foray outside of the cookie set, Wenzel’s expanded its portfolio of smoked meat snacks, and Bubbies, Chamberlain Coffee and McConnell’s jumped on the pumpkin spice bandwagon.

Myna Snacks

Myna Snacks, the brainchild of CPG veteran Darcey Macken and Twitch streamer Pokimane, has added Pizza Crackers to its snack portfolio. The new offering is made with ingredients like cheese and Italian herbs and has 7 grams of protein per serving. Myna Snacks Pizza Crackers are available for purchase on the brand’s website for $24 per 4-pack of 4 oz. bags. For more information, visit mynasnacks.com.

Pipcorn

Better-for-you heirloom corn snacking brand Pipcorn has announced its latest creation, Fries. Available in three flavors – Fiery Cheddar, Cheddar and Truffle – the new snack is made with ground cornmeal and sunflower oil. Pipcorn Fries are now available for purchase on the brand’s website for $20 per 4-pack of 5 oz. bags. For more information, visit pipsnacks.com.

Bubbies

With Spooky Season just around the corner, Bubbies has brought back its limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Mochi Ice Cream. The better-for-you frozen treat, which has 90 calories per serving, is now available through Fresh Direct for $14 per 6-piece box and will roll out to select retailers, including Harmons and H-E-B, starting later this month. For more information, visit bubbiesicecream.com.

McCormick

McCormick is seeking to help consumers “sprinkle holiday celebrations with joy and nostalgia” with the launch of six new limited-edition Holiday Finishing Sugars: Candy Cane, English Toffee, Salted Caramel, Hot Cocoa, Gingerbread Spice and White Frosting. The new range will be available at grocery stores nationwide beginning in October. For more information, visit mccormick.com.

Wenzel’s Farm

Wenzel’s Farm has expanded its portfolio of smoked meat sticks with the addition of Venison Snack Sticks in Original, Teriyaki and Jalapeño varieties. The snack sticks, which are made with grass-fed venison, will be available in a single-serve, 1.5 oz. package with a SRP of $2.49. For more information, visit wenzelsfarm.com.

Private Selection

Amid the boom in consumer demand for private label products, Kroger’s Private Selection brand has announced the launch of three new fall seasonals: Caramel Apple Popcorn, Caramel Apple Blondie and Kettle Cooked Spiced Apple Cashews. All three limited-edition products can now be found at the Kroger family of stores. For more information, visit thekrogerco.com.

Tic Tac

Hard mint producer Tic Tac has ventured into the sugar candy space with Tic Tac Chewy, which was previewed at Sweets & Snacks in May. The new confection features a crunchy exterior and, as its name suggests, a chewy inside. Tic Tac Chewy is available in two varieties, Fruit Adventure and Sour Adventure, with each one offering a mix of five flavors: Cherry, Apple, Orange, Lemon and Grape. For more information, visit tictac.com/us/en.

Forever Cheese

Forever Cheese, which touts itself as a specialty cheese pioneer, has revamped the look of its bestselling goat cheese, The Drunken Goat. The updated label centers around the “drunken” goat character, a nod to the Murciana goats that provide the milk for the cheese and the red Monastrell wine in which the cheese is soaked. The Drunken Goat is available in wheels, mini wheels and wedges at cheese shops and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, visit forevercheese.com.

Chamberlain Coffee

Chamberlain Coffee has dropped two new fall-inspired products: Sneaky Bat Pumpkin Spice Blend coffee and Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte. The former (SRP $16) is available in fresh ground and whole bean varieties and features tasting notes of cinnamon and cocoa. The latter (SRP $19) features ceremonial grade matcha made with oatmilk and paired with a pumpkin spice flavor. Both products are available for a limited time on the brand’s website. For more information, visit chamberlaincoffee.com.

Copper Cow

Copper Cow Coffee has added two new flavors to its lineup of Vietnamese ground coffee: Vanilla Chai and Coconut. The former is a warming blend made with organic Madagascan vanilla beans, cardamom from India and Vietnamese cinnamon. The latter is inspired by one of Vietnam’s most popular coffee drinks, Cà Phê Dừa (coconut coffee), and features organic coconut sourced from Sri Lanka. Both ground coffee varieties will soon be available for purchase on the brand’s website for $18 per bag. For more information, visit coppercowcoffee.com.

McConnell’s

Just in time for fall, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams has announced the upcoming launch of its Pumpkin Spiced Latte flavor. The frozen treat blends cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice with pumpkin ice cream, a kick of espresso and swirls of caramel. McConnell’s Pumpkin Spice Latte is set to launch on October 4 and will be available in scoop shops and on the brand’s website for nationwide shipping. For more information, mcconnells.com.

Jollibee is the second-fastest-growing restaurant brand in the world, according to the 2024 Brand Finance Awards. This ranking is no small feat in today’s highly competitive world, considering the massive popularity of leading chains like Chipotle, Starbucks, and McDonald’s.

Indeed, Jollibee has enjoyed a stellar run of success of late. In July of 2024, the editors of USA TODAY 10Best, along with a panel of experts and readers, selected the best fast-food fried chicken. Jollibee was the top pick, with editors calling out specifically to Jollibee’s signature Chickenjoy. The chain’s annual revenue now tops pre-pandemic levels and profits are back, up 16% year-over-year, to 8.8 billion pesos in 2023, according to Forbes.

Jollibee’s menu offers additional creative and inspired items, like Peach Mango Pie, Fiesta Noodles, Aloha Yumburger, and Banana Langka Pie.

In June 2024, a press release noted the store opening of Jollibee in Seattle. On the day of the opening, Maribeth Dela Cruz, President of Jollibee North America expressed excitement: “.. We cannot wait to be part of such a diverse yet close-knit community that has also become a culinary destination in its own right.”

Jollibee’s celebration of diversity and community values is a key focus for the restaurant chain. The Filipino-inspired menu appeals to a large and diverse array of diners around the globe, a quality that its leadership takes to heart.

In a February 2024 statement, Richard Shin, CFO of Jollibee Group, spoke to the importance of the brand connecting with its diners: “Jollibee’s ability to resonate with consumers across diverse markets and cultures opens opportunities for further expansion and growth, enhancing the potential for better shareholder value to investors and franchisees.”

The diverse menu offerings at Jollibee are a key reason for the store’s growing popularity, but not the only strength. With a firm set of core values, Jollibee expresses a warm message to its consumers. Its corporate values include Customer Focus, Spirit of Family and Fun, Humility to Listen and Learn, Integrity, and Speed with Excellence.

It is this commitment to creating a diverse, affordable, and consumer-minded menu that puts Jollibee in a position of extreme growth today.

While the chain has around 100 stores combined in North America, it boasts more than 1,500 stores around the world – and counting. Other recent Jollibee storefront openings in the U.S.  include Arlington, Texas, Manhattan, New York, and Brooklyn Kings Highway, New York.

The Food Institute Podcast

U.S. grocery retailers are facing regulatory scrutiny on pricing, ever-increasing shrink and a financially stretched consumer, but how can they adapt to these new market pressures? Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss the Kroger-Albertsons merger, the rise of private label, and more.

T. Hasegawa USA Inc. acquired Abelei Flavors, Inc. The purchase fits into T. Hasegawa USA, Inc.’s strategy to broaden its flavor portfolio within North America.

Tom Damiano, CEO, T. Hasegawa USA, Inc., stated “The acquisition of Abelei Flavors, Inc. expands our geographical footprint, technical capabilities and overall flavor portfolio so we can better serve our customers. We welcome their entire team, which is well known for their customer service excellence and aligns with our customer centric focus.”

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“We couldn’t find a more perfect partner in joining the T. Hasegawa USA, Inc. team in continued growth and expansion within the US marketplace. The collaboration of resources, talent and innovation will be a tremendous recipe for success expanding upon our existing capabilities” says Shelley Henderson, vice president, operations of Abelei Flavors, Inc. “We know that T. Hasegawa USA, Inc.’s leading-edge technology, flavor modulation, reaction & thermal processing will benefit our customers.”

Marcia Arb, vice president, finance & operations of Abelei Flavors Inc., said “The approach that T. Hasegawa USA brings to customer responsiveness and order fulfillment is remarkable. I know our customers will benefit from their expertise in supply chain management. The customer-first vision and culture that both companies share through quality, operations, technology & innovation will continue to provide world class service and capabilities to our valued customers.”

Staff at an Oscar Mayer ready-meals factory in the UK are planning to start strike action next week amid a row over changes to contracts.

Workers at the facility in the Welsh city of Wrexham have lined up a series of walkouts to take place over a month beginning on Thursday (12 September).

The Unite trade union said Oscar Mayer has threatened to “fire and rehire workers on new contracts” if they do not accept the changes. Unite claims the changes will leave staff £2,000 ($2,626) a year worse off.

Oscar Mayer, which supplies major UK retailers with ready meals, has not responded directly to the “fire and rehire claim” but did outline how it has been looking to alter some pay and working conditions.

Strikes are set to take place from 12 September to 10 October. Unite said more than 550 Oscar Mayer workers voted “by 98%” in favour of strike action through a ballot with a 76% turnout.

Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Oscar Mayer’s behaviour towards these already low-paid workers is despicable. There is no justification whatsoever to slash their pay or for the threats of fire and rehire – an abhorrent practice that should be banned outright. Our members are absolutely right to strike and they have Unite’s unflinching support.”

A spokesperson for Oscar Mayer said the changes put forward were necessary.

“In May 2024, we put a number of proposals to our colleagues in our Wrexham factory around changing some paid breaks to unpaid for weekly paid colleagues, and the removal of enhanced rates on bank holidays and the provision of time off in lieu for all colleagues,” the spokesperson said.

“These proposals are not made lightly but we believe are necessary to protect the long-term sustainability of our business and the jobs we provide in the local community. These changes would put us in line with most other businesses in our sector and similar businesses in the local area.”

The spokesperson said the “proposals have been subject to a full and proper consultation process with our colleagues, which is ongoing”.

They added: “We have engaged fully with Unite during this process. The fact that we have agreed to a number of alternative proposals put forward by colleagues underscores the fact that there has been effective dialogue throughout and that consultation has been constructive. We remain committed to an ongoing dialogue as we work to reach agreement with our colleagues.”

By contrast, Unite said it has “repeatedly approached” Oscar Mayer to find a resolution to the dispute and claimed the manufacturer “has refused to engage in good faith negotiations and is now refusing to communicate with the union at all”.

Unite regional officer Jono Davies added: “Strike action is the last resort and Unite’s door continues to remain open for talks with Oscar Mayer. Burying your head in the sand is not the solution to resolving this dispute.”

Should the strike action go ahead, Oscar Mayer claims it has “robust contingency plans in place and does not envisage any disruption to customer supply”.

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Ukraine is Europe’s largest soy exporter. Its soy exports make up 0.9% of the global supply, according to Statista. While this is miniscule compared to Brazil (49.7%) and the US (36.8%), it is the​ key source for soy grown in Europe.

According to Vitaliy Golovnya, Ukraine’s deputy minister for agrarian policy and food, soybean yields have seen a significant increase in recent years, despite the challenges of the war and despite a decrease in other key crops.

How can Ukrainian soy help Europe?​

According to the organisation Donau Soja, Ukraine is the most important soy supplier in Europe. This is because, the organisation suggests, Ukraine’s soy can fulfil the need for deforestation-free and GMO-free soy demanded by the upcoming EUDR regulation. According to the organisation, the EUDR is expected to shift demand away from Brazilian soy towards soy like Ukraine’s, which has a lower deforestation risk.

The EU’s soya self-sufficiency rate is currently 8%, which, Donau Soja suggests, poses a threat to EU food security.

Ukraine is working hard to fulfil the requirements of the EUDR, according to Golovnya. He predicts that they will be ready by the 30 December deadline.

How has recent weather impacted Ukrainian soy?

The hot weather seen in Europe recently has decreased soy yields compared to Donau Soja’s forecasts, despite an increase in soy sowing in all major regions. Its revised prediction for Ukraine suggests the country’s soy area will grow by 10% in 2024, reaching two million hectares. Donau Soja predicts an output of 4.6 million tonnes, which is 3.2% less than the previous season.

Ukraine’s agrometeorological conditions improved during August, according to Donau Soja, meaning that growing conditions for soybean improved. Rainfall in western and northern Ukraine helped the crop flourish as it increased the moisture in the topsoil, while the absence of rain in southern, central and eastern Ukraine caused the depletion of the crop. In the Poltava region, the plant was completely desiccated. In some regions, the situation was worsened by weeds and crop pests.

How does the war affect agriculture?​

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The country is still at war, which among other things makes agriculture more challenging. Since then, about 19% of land has been lost to Russia. However, soybean production has increased 2.2 times since the 2020/2021 marketing year, despite other crops decreasing.

The biggest priority, Golovnya suggested, is de-mining agricultural land. As of today, over 400,000 hectares of land have been de-mined. Farmers receive full compensation for the de-mined land when they have a contract with a de-mining company.

Through its use of the Black Sea corridor, Ukraine’s agricultural exports began to return to their previous frequency. In fact, Golovnya suggested, in the period of January to May this year, the country exported more agricultural goods than before the war.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 12 members to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms, effective Nov. 1, 2024, through Oct. 31, 2027.

Newly appointed members are: 

• Adrienne Allen, Oregon (Region 1)
• Paul M. Danbom, California (Region 2)
• Arlene J. Vander Eyk, California (Region 2)
• Lauren Collier, Texas (Region 4)
• Tasha K. Schleis, Wisconsin (Region 6)
• Mark A. Fellwock, Missouri (Region 7)
• Ashley N. Stockwell, Indiana (Region 9)
• Sheila Marshman, New York (Region 12)

Reappointed members are:

• Suzanne N. Vold, Minnesota (Region 5)
• Sara S. Bahgat-Eggert, Wisconsin (Region 6)
• Paxton Robinson, Idaho (Region 8)
• Caleb E. Crothers, Maryland (Region 11)

The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board is composed of 36 dairy farmer members who represent 12 geographic regions within the United States and one importer member who represents dairy importers. The board was established by the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for dairy products and ingredients.

More information about the board is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Dairy Promotion and Research Board webpage.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.