Upbeat Tone Belies Data Establishing That Fresh & Easy Appeals Only To A Small Niche
Although the report is relentlessly upbeat in tone, we find the data much less encouraging as to the prospects for Fresh & Easy. In fact what these researchers report as proof of “broad appeal” we interpret as telling us — if the data is actually accurate — that Fresh & Easy appeals only to a […]
Retail Produce Managers
Honored By United And Ready Pac
Many times the things that get done get done because they are easy to do rather than because they are the most important things. So many times the industry reaches out to VPs and Directors of Produce because their names are on a list, because it is a reasonable number and because we are welcome […]
Tesco Uses Smoke And Mirrors
To Hide Search For Fresh & Easy CEO
Our piece, Tesco Searches For American CEO Of Fresh & Easy, broke some important news: Now, however, we have learned that Tesco is actively recruiting for a new American CEO for its Fresh & Easy division. It is expected that Tim Mason and several other key executives will be returning to Britain. We went on […]
Farm Bill Passes House…
Good For Produce,
A Problem For America
It is “high five” time among those the produce industry retains to represent its interests in Washington D.C. Whereas traditionally the Farm Bill was succor for program crops and had little or nothing for the fruit and vegetable industry, skilled lobbying and persistent effort brought about $3 billion over the next five years for produce […]
Food Shortages?
Blame Governments
Whenever you read about shortages of food or energy, you will find many “experts” rushing to the table to point out that capitalism has failed and that we need a big dose of government to solve the problem. It is the nature of markets, though, that shortages are almost always caused by government policies, and […]
United Fresh Looks
To Foodservice For Future Success
The United Fresh convention in Las Vegas was quite successful. The fresh produce portion of the show was not as large as some were looking for, but the combination of United’s FreshTech show — which is a vestige of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association merger — and the larger FMI show certainly made the overall […]
Sainsbury’s Bribery Probe
And US Buyer’s Bad Behavior
Point To Need For Discussion
The talk of the produce trade in the UK for the past two months has revolved around a very large and public corruption investigation whirling around Britain’s second largest supermarket chain. The Daily Mail explained it this way: Sainsbury’s potato buyer arrested in £3m corruption probe A Sainsbury’s executive is being investigated over claims he […]
Produce For Kids Research
Shows Opportunity For
More Fresh Produce Marketing
It is said that in the early days following the European discovery of a primitive tribe, an English shoe company sent two separate salespeople to study the tribe and do a market analysis. It is said that the first salesperson arrived, did a quick inspection and turned around and got back on the boat. He […]
Will Wal-Mart’s Energy
Efficient/Hispanic Store
Make A Real Contribution?
Earlier this month, Wal-Mart opened a new HE.2 (High Efficiency — 2nd version) Supercenter in Garland, Texas. The company’s decision to introduce energy-efficient stores and its first “Hispanic Community” store opens the door to many possibilities. Wal-Mart promotes the new store this way: GARLAND SUPERCENTER FOCUSES ON LOCAL PREFERENCESINNOVATIVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT STORE ANCHORS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION Distinctive […]
Pundit’s Mailbag — Flavor Consistency
We’ve clearly touched a nerve in the industry as we have tried to wrestle with issues surrounding flavor. We have run many pieces on the subject and most recently these four pieces: Lousy Fruit Undermines Consumption Pundit’s Mailbag — More On Lousy Fruit: Where’s The Management? Ripening Workshop Set For May 20 Pundit’s Mailbag — […]
