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George Hajjar

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    Specialty Food Association

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  1. The most popular articles with SFA News Daily readers in January focused on outlooks on industry trends, retailer-brand relationships, and the Red Sea conflict. In case you missed it, the following were the five most read stories in November. 1. Danone to Sell Horizon Organic, Wallaby to Private Equity Firm French food producer Danone signed an agreement to sell its U.S. organic dairy brands Horizon Organic and Wallaby to private equity firm Platinum Equity. 2. Targeted Strike Escalates Shipment Conflict in Red Sea After Houthi members defied an ultimatum to halt their attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea, a U.S.-led coalition launched more than a dozen strikes on the Yemeni force. 3. Supermarket Giant Drops Pepsi, Lay’s Price increases from global brands PepsiCo and Lay’s compelled one of the biggest supermarket chains in the world, French-owned Carrefour, to stop merchandising the brands throughout France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. The conflict arose after more than two years of price increases from both brands. 4. Report Reveals Nuanced Packaging Insights For generic brand products, simplicity does not sell; however, for most other food offerings, minimalist packaging tends to increase the item’s perceived purity, show the findings of a Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University study. 5. Trends on the Radar: Winter Fancy Food Show Preview Denise Purcell, VP of resource development at Specialty Food Association, and Jen Cohan, PR consultant, previewed for attendees the categories, flavors, and ingredients likely to be displayed at the Show.
  2. At the Specialty Food Association's recent Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, George Hajjar, associate editor at the SFA, spoke with Cathy Strange, ambassador of food culture at Whole Foods Market. In this episode of Spill & Dish, they discussed how to teach others to taste with their five senses, what grocery buyers look for in specialty products, and standout trends for the year. Listen now.
  3. Denver-based beverage brand Frescos Naturales fills their beautiful cans with traditional aguas frescas with a twist, featuring classic flavors like tamarind, hibiscus, and mango. In this Spill & Dish podcast episode, Gretchen VanEsselstyn, SFA’s director of education, speaks with founder Juan Stewart about his journey to taste success, including his Shark Tank appearance! Listen now.
  4. Lewis Road Creamery is a New Zealand-based maker of the 10 Star Certified Salted Butter that was named Specialty Food Association’s 2023 sofi Product of the Year at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. In this episode, Julie Gallagher, director of content development for SFA, speaks with Lewis Road Creamery’s co-founder and director of marketing and communications, Lynette Maan, and vice president of sales and operations, Steve Muir, about the premium butter space, their product’s sofi win, and how Lewis Road Creamery does right by farmers, animals, and the Earth.
  5. New York-based shiitake mushroom chip company Popadelics is on a mission to bring attention to under-loved vegetables. In this Spill & Dish podcast episode, George Hajjar, associate editor at the SFA, speaks with co-founders and life partners Marilyn Yang and Michael Casali about transitioning to the food world from a finance background, the origins of the pandemic-born snack, and their recent success, particularly in alternate channels including Urban Outfitters. Additionally, Yang highlights some of the brand’s philanthropic achievements, including its partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research. Listen now.
  6. The most popular articles with SFA News Daily readers in November focused on retail executives’ outlooks on the current economic environment, industry trends, and the closing of a special grocery store. In case you missed it, the following were the top five most read stories in November. 1. Target CEO: Grocery Shoppers Pull Back Stressed budgets going into the holiday season have caused shoppers to pull back on all goods, including groceries, shared Target CEO Brian Cornell in an interview with CNBC. 2. Grocers Adjust Self-Checkout Strategies As backlash against self-checkouts continues to grow, retailers are responding by adjusting their approach. 3. PCC to Close Seattle Store PCC Community Markets, a community-owned grocery cooperative in Washington, said that its store in Downtown Seattle will close permanently on January 31, 2024. 4. Walmart CEO Expects Holiday Deflation Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said deflation could be coming in time for the holiday season as key grocery items like eggs, chicken, and seafood get cheaper. He added that general merchandise items are also feeling economic relief. 5. KeHE Unveils 2024 Macro Trends KeHE Distributors said that it has identified the top macro trends in the food and beverage industry to inform retailers’ product selections for 2024. Experts from KeHE identified seven predicted trends for the coming year.
  7. The most popular articles with SFA News Daily readers in October focused on consumer trends, inflation, and the Kroger-Albertsons merger. In case you missed it, the following were the top five most read stories in October: 1. Slideshow: Whole Foods Forecasts 2023 Trends Whole Foods Market unveiled anticipated food trends for 2023. The company is also making a Trends Discovery Box available, featuring 10 items that allow consumers to sample the trends. 2. SFA Trendspotters Name 2023 Specialty Food Trends Alternative seafood, nuanced heat, and naturally occurring sweeteners are among next year’s specialty food trends, according to the Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel. 3. Perceived Food Inflation Rate Outpaces Reality Americans believe inflation for food-at-home has hit 22.8 percent, 9.7 points higher than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics annual rate of 13.1 percent. 4. Regulators Seen Studying Kroger-Albertsons Merger Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. will likely face market-by-market scrutiny from federal regulators in its proposed merger with Boise-based Albertsons Cos., as the two companies have significant overlap and would gain considerable clout in the market. 5. Vongerichten Brings Global Influences to NYC Food Hall Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has opened a multi-restaurant culinary marketplace/food hall at the Seaport on Pier 17 in Manhattan, the former home of the Fulton Fish Market.
  8. New Zealand-based Heilala Vanilla was co-founded by a father and daughter who show their commitment to the people and land of Tonga with every bean and batch. In this Spill & Dish podcast episode, Gretchen VanEsselstyn, SFA’s director of education, speaks with Jennifer Boggiss about Heilala’s connections with chefs, journey to retail, B-Corp certification, and positive impact.
  9. Sam Mogannam is a chef and second-generation owner of San Francisco’s Bi-Rite Market and founder of the B Corp-certified Bi-Rite Family of Businesses, which includes two specialty markets, a creamery, catering commissary, and a nonprofit cooking school and education space. In this Spill & Dish podcast episode, Julie Gallagher, director of content development for the Specialty Food Association, speaks with Mogannam about the rich sensory experience that can be had at Bi-Rite, how he strives to maintain its B Corp status, and plans for a new store opening. Listen now.
  10. Dominic Biggi is a third-generation owner of Beaverton Foods, a gourmet condiments maker that also co-packs. In this episode of Spill & Dish, SFA’s 2023 Hall of Fame inductee talks about carving out his niche in a family business, the company’s more than 500 recipes, and what’s next for the specialty food business.
  11. The most-read SFA News Daily articles in September explored mergers and acquisitions between top retailers, retailers’ efforts to combat theft, and state legislation on food. In case you missed it, the following were the most popular stories last month. 1. Kroger, Albertsons to Sell Stores to C&S Kroger and Albertsons entered into an agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers to sell select stores, banners, distribution centers, offices, and private label brands in connection with their proposed merger for $1.9 billion. 2. California Advances Bill to Ban Four Food Additives The California Legislature passed a bill, titled Assembly Bill 418, to ban four food additives that have been linked to adverse health outcomes. 3. Target to Close Nine Stores Due to Theft Target shared that it will close nine stores across four states on October 21, citing theft as the main driver of the decision. Stores in Manhattan, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon are slated to close. 4. Retailers Employ Radical Tactics to Deter Theft Some stores have become the target of shoplifting, flash-mob robberies, break-ins, and thefts mid-supply chain, compelling retailers to take a radical approach to product shrink. 5. Boozy Versions of Beverages Blur Lines Brands such as Mountain Dew, SunnyD, Simply Orange Juice, and Eggo are marketing spiked beverages that some regulators fear have the potential to create consumer confusion and lead to inadvertent underage drinking.
  12. Good afternoon, You may find something useful by filtering by Texas in the SFA member directory. I hope this helps! Best, George Hajjar
  13. Good afternoon, You may find something useful in the SFA's 2022 Co-Manufacturer Resource Guide. The resource is free for members! Best, George Hajjar
  14. Cold-pressed grapeseed oil produces a high-quality, nutrient-rich product that can be used to bake, sauté, fry, and more. Salute Santé’s upcycled, chef-inspired grapeseed oil is a recent 2023 Gold Sofi Award winner and has been a leader in the alternative oil category for decades. The company also makes infused oils and grapeseed flour. In this episode of Spill & Dish, George Hajjar, content development associate at the Specialty Food Association, speaks with co-founders and life partners Valentin and Nanette Humer about the company’s mission to bring sustainability to the industry, how it began, and how its suite of products is produced. Listen now.
  15. The most-read SFA News Daily articles in August explored topics including mergers and acquisitions between big-name brands and retailers alike, retailers’ strategic efforts, and a shortage of rice that can have global consequences. In case you missed it, the following were the most popular stories last month. 1. Campbell Soup to Acquire Rao's Parent Campbell Soup and Sovos Brands, Inc., the parent company of soup and sauce brand Rao’s, shared that Campbell will acquire the premium brand for $23 per share in cash, representing a total value of approximately $2.7 billion. Sovos Brands specializes in premium pasta sauces, dry pasta, soups, frozen entrées, frozen pizza, and yogurts marketed under the Rao’s, Michael Angelo’s, and Noosa brands. 2. Giant Food Eliminates Fulfillment Centers Giant Food is closing its fulfillment centers, which facilitate home grocery delivery, in Hannover, Maryland; Manassas, Virginia; and Milford, Delaware. The 80,000-square-foot location in Manassas opened three months ago. 3. Aldi to Acquire Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarket Aldi shared that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket as part of a larger divestiture of Southeastern Grocers. 4. India’s Rice Ban Could Provoke Global Food Crisis On July 20, India banned exports of non-basmati white rice to quell domestic inflation; however, the removal of the food staple’s supply from international markets could trigger a global food crisis. 5. Whole Foods Accelerator Cohorts Announced Whole Foods Market has shared the participants in its two tracks of the Local and Emerging Accelerator Program LEAP: Early Growth and On the Verge. The LEAP initiative launched in 2022 with the inaugural Early Growth cohort and continues to advance Whole Foods’ core value of seeking win-win partnerships with suppliers, according to the company.
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