Welcome to our 2024 Market Study issue! Phew! Another year passes by and another market study hits the newsstands, so to speak. Happy reading.
We here at Food World haven’t done much else over the past month outside of gathering data and creating charts, so I don’t have much to report.
Still, we always get news from around the trade about the good work that supermarkets do in the communities they serve, and we have news from both Publix and ShopRite this month. Publix just kicked off its 22nd bi-annual Publix Produce For Kids campaign in partnership with the Healthy Family Project. During the campaign, which wraps up later this month, 12 produce companies are donating 600,000 meals to 35 Feeding America network food banks within Publix’s market area. Over the past 22 years, this campaign has raised more than $4 million to support causes that benefit families and children in Publix communities and helped to provide more than 14 million meals to local Feeding America area food banks.
Additionally, colorful recipe-centric signs are currently positioned in 1,300 Publix stores (including 20 in the Richmond-Norfolk-Tidewater market) near participating produce vendors with QR codes leading shoppers to a free digital cookbook with recipe inspiration and nutrition tips. In addition, products featured in the campaign are highlighted in weekly ads throughout the campaign.
Produce companies supporting the campaign include Ayco Farms, Bay Foods, CMI Orchards, Coast Tropical, Crunch Pak, Driscoll’s, Fresh Express, GT’s Living Foods, Sunset, Tomato Thyme, Mucci Farms, Shuman Farms, RealSweet Onions and Wonderful Pistachios.
“At Publix, our goal is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve,” said Dwaine Stevens, director of community relations. “The Healthy Family Project’s Produce for Kids campaign fits perfectly with this mission, and we are excited to partner again this year.”
“We are incredibly proud of the Publix Produce for Kids campaign and its continued success in promoting healthier eating habits and supporting our communities,” said John Shuman, founder of Healthy Family Project and president of Shuman Farms. “This initiative not only encourages families to choose fresh, nutritious produce, but also raises essential funds to combat food insecurity. The positive impact we are making together with Publix, our produce partners ad our dedicated customers is truly inspiring.”
Feeing America estimates that one in five children in the U.S. experience hunger, which means that this campaign will help a lot of families. Kudos to Publix and the produce companies that partner with them in this endeavor.
ShopRite this year continued its decades-long tradition of supporting women’s golf and giving back to community-based organizations at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer by donating nearly $1.5 million to food banks, hospitals, education and youth programs and other community champions at its annual charity luncheon held June 7.
The ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer brough the world’s best professional women golfers to Seaview’s Bay Course in Galloway, NJ to compete. It has been a tournament tradition to bring together and recognize community champions who fight hunger, help families, and invest in research for the treatment of life altering diseases.
“Our annual luncheon is a cherished tradition within the LPGA, and each year we look forward to honoring the organizations and advocates who contribute so much,” said Karen Meleta, chief communications officer for Wakefern Food Corp., the logistics and marketing arm of ShopRite stores. “Our ShopRite and Wakefern teams take great pride in our longstanding partnership with the LPGA tour. Over the last three decades, the ShopRite tournament has raised more than $40 million for charitable causes in the communities where our stores operate.”
“ShopRite and Wakefern’s support and generosity are vital to the success and impact of the LPGA, especially when it comes to giving back to the community,” said Jeremy Friedman, media director for ShopRite LPGA Classic. “We are incredibly proud to have them as our partners and longest standing title sponsor on the LPGA Tour.”
We heard from the folks at Goya about a new partnership with Vima Foods. The nation’s largest Hispanic-owned company utilize its distribution network to bring Vima Foods’ extensive line of premium frozen seafood to grocery stores throughout the Eastern U.S.
“We’re proud to help Vima get their products to more shoppers,” said Joseph Perez, senior VP at Goya. “We know they’ll be as impressed with the quality of Vima’s products as we are.”
Now, shoppers will have access to Vima Foods’ wide variety of products. Packed with Omega-3s for hearth health and rich in essential nutrients, Vima’s products offer great taste as well as the benefits of a nutritious choice.
Among the products that Vima distributes are tilapia and swai filets, wild pink salmon, tuna steaks, raw and cooked shrimp, Mahi Mahi, squid rings and a seafood mix.
“We’re so excited to be able to offer our premium seafood selection to grocers in the U.S.,” said Victor Moro, Vima’s executive vice chairman. “As the leading Latin food brand, Goya shares our passion for high quality products, so they’re the perfect partner to help us distribute our products.”
Sounds interesting – I’ll keep my eyes open for the products when I shop. I’m already thinking about looking for a good cioppino recipe I can make with Vima’s fish varieties and the seafood mix….
That’s it for me – have a great July 4th weekend!
