Port of Melbourne, Australia’s largest general cargo and container port, has secured a long-term lease of additional land from the Victorian Government to improve the state’s supply chain efficiency.
The port will lease approximately 290,000 sq m of the former Melbourne Markets site until 2066 in line with its existing 50-year port privatisation lease. This is the port’s largest-ever expansion since the long-term lease was granted in 2016.
Based on current planning, the Port of Melbourne expects to invest more than AUD 200m ($136.2m) into the development of the site. The integration of the site into the port will support a freight sector that employs 260,000 people.
This expansion should, according to the port, reduce congestion and minimise impact on surrounding communities. Consistent with the Victorian Government’s 2018 Victorian Freight Plan, the Port of Melbourne will invest in developing the site for a range of uses, including truck parking facilities and container storage.
“With container volumes at Port of Melbourne expected to double by 2050, access to additional land at the former Melbourne Markets site unlocks opportunities that are critical to the future needs of Victoria,” said Saul Cannon, Port of Melbourne CEO.
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The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
Public scrutiny of Kroger’s effort to merge with Albertsons has centered on how the proposed deal could impact issues like food prices and community access to supermarkets, but the Federal Trade Commission has for months made the case that the transaction is unacceptable because it would give the companies undue power over grocery workers.
The pact between the FTC, the Justice Department’s antitrust division, the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board lays out how the agencies will share resources to strengthen their efforts to protect workers. The announcement about the intragovernmental arrangement doesn’t mention the Kroger-Albertsons deal, but it’s hard not to connect them.
Kroger has also drawn attention to the welfare of grocery workers as it seeks to dislodge the FTC’s bid to torpedo its deal to combine with Albertsons, but takes the position that the merger would be good for its workers because it would lead to higher wages and better benefits.
In a statement provided to the media hours after the court fight got underway on Monday, Kroger sought to position itself as a defender not only of unionized workers but also of people who work for companies whose workforces do not have representation. “If the merger is blocked, the non-union retailers like Walmart and Amazon will become even more powerful and unaccountable,” Kroger declared.
Would allowing Kroger and Albertsons to merge make them too strong — or enable them to serve as a much-needed check on the competition? That’s a question that could help decide the fate of the supermarket mega-merger. And it’s one that only the judge will be able to answer.
Courtesy of Kroger
In case you missed it
Instacart links with Pfizer ahead of cold season
Instacart announced Tuesday the launch of PfizerForAll, a digital platform through which consumers can order diagnostic tests such as COVID-19 and flu tests from the pharmaceutical company and have them delivered in as fast as an hour.
Stop & Shop shutters first Massachusetts store as part of chainwide closures
The Ahold Delhaize-owned banner closed its store at 165 Needham St. in Newton, Massachusetts, on Thursday, Boston 25 News reported. The store marks the first of eight in the state to shutter as the chain looks to shutter 32 stores by Nov. 2, the news outlet reported.
Stop & Shop announced in July its plans to close stores across the Northeast, including two in Rhode Island, five in Connecticut, seven in New York and 10 in New Jersey, amounting to 8% of its total store count.
Meijer opens pharmacy inside a hospital
Meijer announced this week it now has its second pharmacy inside a hospital operated by non-profit health system Corewell Health. The retailer opened a 3,100-square-foot pharmacy inside Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Meijer-owned-and-operated pharmacy includes over-the-counter products often requested by hospital staff, patients and their families, as well as services such as immunizations, specialty pharmacy services and prescriptions tailored to patients’ needs.
The retailer opened its first Corewell pharmacy in 2015 inside Butterworth Hospital, which is also in Grand Rapids.
Meijer expanded its partnership with Corewell Health with the opening of a new, full-service retail pharmacy on-site at Blodgett Hospital.
Courtesy of Meijer
Number of the week: 28
That is the number of Fred Meyer stores impacted by an ongoing strike. The strike, authorized by the grocer’s unionized workers over unfair labor practice allegations, began Wednesday morning and could last through Labor Day weekend.
What’s ahead
Dollar Tree earnings
The discount retailer plans to share its second-quarter earrings and host an investor call on Wednesday morning.
Latest jobs report
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release its latest employment report next Friday, giving insight into the grocery industry workforce during August.
Impulse find
Orange lobster pardoned for Labor Day
An “extremely rare” orange lobster was spared a deadly fate at a Long Island, New York, Stop & Shop store when Humane Long Island returned it to the ocean earlier this week, according to local magazine Dan’s Papers. According to HumaneLI, lobsters only have a 1-in-30 million chance of being orange, Dan’s Papers reported.
The lobster — affectionately (and appropriately) named Clementine — was discovered in a shipment of regular brown lobsters just before the Fourth of July, according to the local news outlet. The Stop & Shop store it was sent to attempted to give Clementine to a local aquarium, but it declined to take the lobster.
HumaneLI, after working to re-acclimate Clementine to cold saltwater, released her into the Long Island Sound and made sure “she was swimming, she was foraging — all sorts of lobster behavior,” John Di Leonardo, HumanLI director, told the paper.
THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Nature’s Own, America’s No. 1 selling bread brand*, announced a multi-year partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, naming the brand a Proud Partner of the Dallas Cowboys.
“As America’s leading bread brand, we are honored to forge a partnership with the iconic Dallas Cowboys,” said Tyler Cannada, brand manager for Nature’s Own. “We look forward to collaborating with one of the world’s most esteemed sports franchises to create authentic and unforgettable experiences for fans.”
Kicking off the partnership’s first year, Nature’s Own will host a VIP tailgate party at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 22 against the Baltimore Ravens. Offering one lucky winner and their guest the chance to attend, Nature’s Own and the Dallas Cowboys have launched a sweepstakes, encouraging fans to join the fun by entering to win a grand prize trip to the game on Sept. 22. The prize will include two game tickets along with complimentary access to the VIP tailgate and parking. The exclusive tailgate will feature bites and brews on behalf of Nature’s Own, along with photo opportunities and interactive games for those select attendees. The sweepstakes is live now until Aug. 26, 2024.
Nature’s Own will also be hosting a branded pop-up at the AT&T Plaza at AT&T Stadium before the game and inviting fans to come by for the opportunity to win prizes and branded swag.
In addition, fans can swing by participating retailers throughout Texas and Oklahoma to find Nature’s Own and Dallas Cowboys branded displays featuring another upcoming sweepstakes where consumers can enter for a chance to win Dallas Cowboys season tickets for 2025. Visit NaturesOwnBread.com/Tickets beginning September 6, 2024.
“Our goal is to elevate the game day experience by making Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Buns the cornerstone of unforgettable tailgates,” says Krystle Farlow, director of brand management for Nature’s Own. “Through innovative activations and engaging campaigns, we hope to increase brand awareness and solidify Nature’s Own as the ultimate choice for tailgating season.”
About Nature’s Own Upholding a commitment to quality, Nature’s Own Bread emphasizes freshness and irresistibly soft texture, maintaining standards that were first introduced by Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) in 1977. Today, Nature’s Own is America’s number one selling loaf bread brand* – known for providing a variety of products with no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors and high fructose corn syrup. The brand offers a delicious selection of fresh, soft variety breads, buns, rolls and more. Learn more at www.naturesownbread.com. *Circana loaf dollar sales latest 52 weeks ending 07-7-24.
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Tyson Foods named a new chief financial officer on Thursday, replacing heir John R. Tyson, who was suspended earlier this summer after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
The meat giant on Thursday appointed Interim CFO Curt Calaway to take over the position permanently. Tyson remains with the company but is currently on health-related leave, according to a release.
Tyson, a great-grandson of the company’s founder, had the executive role for nearly two years. He was suspended in June after he was arrested in what was the second alcohol-related incident in his tenure as CFO.
In July, Tyson pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including DWI and careless driving, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper reported.
Calaway has been with Tyson Foods since 2006, holding various financial leadership roles throughout his career. He was CFO for Tyson’s prepared foods business, where he oversaw M&A and corporate development efforts.
“Curt is a proven leader with deep industry knowledge and a wealth of experience in financial strategy and reporting,” Donnie King, Tyson president and CEO, said in a statement. “I am confident Curt will continue to help drive our operational excellence and shareholder value.”
The Springdale, Arkansas-based company posted strong profits in its latest quarter, following “a remarkable turnaround” in its chicken and pork businesses driven by operational efficiencies and lower feed costs, King said in an August investor call.
Adjusted operating income totaled $491 million in the third quarter, up 174% over last year, after the company shuttered nine processing plants. According to its earnings report, Tyson is bullish on profits for the rest of the year.
In celebration of Universal Pictures’ upcoming film adaptation of Wicked, the beloved musical that has thrilled and delighted audiences for two decades, Betty Crocker is debuting two new Wicked-inspired treats – its first-ever “mix-to-reveal” kits for cookie dough pops and cupcakes.
Fans will get to experience the magic of Wicked with these mixes. Since pink goes good with green, the vanilla-flavored mixes change colors as the ingredients are stirred, revealing if bakers will be conjuring up a green treat like Elphaba or a pink treat like Glinda.
“For more than 100 years, fans have trusted Betty Crocker to bring joy into the world through homemade love, and baking with Betty Crocker is the perfect way for families to build up excitement for the new Wicked film,” says Jenny Jonker, Betty Crocker brand experience manager. “The opportunities for baking are truly ‘unlimited’ with Betty Crocker’s very first color-revealing innovation and new magical baking mashups. We can’t wait to see everyone’s enchanting and delicious creations.”
Additionally, fans can find six classic Betty Crocker products now featuring Wickedly Better Together recipe combinations. Each Betty Crocker brownie, cake, and cookie mix, as well as frosting, is packaged in special Wicked-themed boxes and features fun recipes that combine two baking mixes for one treat, including:
Thrillifying Cupcake – Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix and Fudge Brownie Mix
Outstandiful Cookie Pie – Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix and Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting
Betty Crocker Wicked-themed “mix-to-reveal” kits for cookie dough pops and cupcakes are available at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $5.98.
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Slim Chickens has inked a deal with second-generation franchisee Slims Midwest, which owns 23 Arby’s locations in Eastern Michigan, to open 12 locations in several counties in Michigan and Northern Ohio.
The group, which plans to introduce Slim Chickens to Jackson, Monroe, Saginaw and the Toledo Area in Northern Ohio, will open its first location in the latter half of 2025.
“We have been looking to diversify our portfolio, and Slim Chickens stood out as a great fit for us due to its strong brand reputation, unique market presence and high-quality offerings,” a representative from Slims Midwest said in a company press release. “The brand’s emphasis on quality, consistency and speed aligns perfectly with what we know consumers in the Midwest are looking for. We are excited to bring this stand-out chicken concept to our communities and expand our business portfolio with Slim Chickens.”
The better-chicken brand has over 280 locations in the United States, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
“We are thrilled to continue to see our name extend further in the Midwest region and are looking forward to how the group continues to thrive in their community with stores in Michigan and Northern Ohio,” Jackie Lobdell, Slim Chickens VP of franchise development, said in the release. “We are so thankful for operators like them who are dedicated to sharing our Southern hospitality and cooked-to-order chicken tenders with more members of the community.”
Slim Chickens has experienced a 70% restaurant growth over the last three years, a nearly 40% increase in same-store sales over the last four years and has reached an AUV of $3.8 million.
MADISON, WIS. – With labor challenges persisting in the dairy processing industry, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) aims to bring professionals together and generate more solutions.
WCMA announced that its Sept. 12 workforce and education committee meeting will focus on connecting those in the industry to share their thoughts in an effort to forge actionable strategies.
Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA’s senior director of programs and policy, said she anticipates a day of insightful discussions and emphasized that all interested professionals in the dairy processing industry are welcome to attend the hybrid meeting.
“Hearing directly from WCMA members about the workforce challenges they face each day is critical to crafting meaningful advocacy strategies and useful tools,” Sweeney said.
The trade association shared that the meeting will feature an expert panel, including Jeff Pertl, secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families; and Rebecca Giroux, community and economic development officer at the Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority.
In-person attendees for the meeting, hosted at the Novonesis corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, may also get a tour of the facility, as well as a human resources discussion from the company’s leaders.
The hybrid session will offer presentations on the labor outlook and address barriers to employment, such as childcare, housing access and affordability, immigration restrictions, and workforce training challenges. The agenda also calls for small group discussions to identify necessary tools and policy changes.
Registration information and a detailed agenda are available on WCMA’s website.
TORONTO — Tim Hortons has launched its new seasonal lineup featuring a Nutella chocolate hazelnut twist on class menu items.
The seasonal debut includes a Dream Cookie with Nutella, a Dream Doughnut with Nutella, a croissant with Nutella, a latte with Nutella, an Iced Capp with Nutella and a Cold Brew with Nutella.
“Nutella offers a unique taste that Canadians know and love, so we wanted to combine some of our iconic Tims beverages and baked goods to create the ultimate seasonal combination,” says Carolina Berti, VP of Category and Innovation for Tim Hortons.
Also returning this fall are the Pumpkin Spice latte, Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp and Pumpkin Spice Muffin.
This new look for the brand will help make Birds Eye’s products more uniform, positioning the brand’s red leaf logo at the top of packs to serve ‘as a beacon’ in store for each category across the range.
Products will be described simply, displaying a clear hierarchy of claims which are a priority to shoppers – such as cooking times, nutritional information, recyclability guidance and sustainability claims.
‘More than visuals’
Jim Shearer, marketing director at Birds Eye, said: “A great packaging design is more than visuals, it’s about showcasing how frozen food can provide households with a convenient, nutritious and delicious range of food across multiple different meal occasions.
“Our new packaging design gives us a fantastic opportunity to communicate our quality and the benefits of the category even more clearly to our shoppers and to help them reappraise the frozen food aisle.”
Bird Eye’s new packaging will also feature NaviLens technology on front of pack to help improve accessibility for the blind or partially sighted. Consumers can download a companion app that can get information from optical codes which is then presented both visually, audibly and though haptics – effectively though touch.
New technology
The adoption of the technology follows fellow Nomad Foods brand, Aunt Bessie’s, who, in 2022 became the first frozen brand in the world to implement NaviLens codes on pack.
“Introducing NaviLens technology to our Birds Eye packaging is another important step in making our products more accessible to more people,” Shearer added. “We’ve seen the impact that the NaviLens app has made to our Aunt Bessie’s’ shoppers and we’re delighted that we have now been able to bring the technology to our Birds Eye brand.”
This month has seen a number of food and drink manufacturers launch new looks for their brands – Hobgoblin has a new brand identity, while Nim’s Fruit Crisps has been renamed as Nim’s…Naturally.
