39 minute read
AHEAD OF WHAT’S NEXT
from PG_0622
by ensembleiq
pork chops,” asserts Worpel. “While prices are higher this year than last, pork is still a good value, especially for a crowd. We anticipate a lot of cookout-related activity in the pork category this summer.”
Value-added fresh pork products, including pre-marinated and pre-seasoned items that have become a staple of grocery meat cases over the past two decades, also entice consumers looking to elevate their eating experience while not spending too much time in the kitchen. According to research shared by Tyson, 68% of shoppers purchased value-added meat sometimes or frequently in 2021, up from 37% in 2016.
Several pork brands offer value-added offerings, such as Tyson’s Sweet & Smoky BBQ marinated pork loin and Smithfield’s Steakhouse Mushroom Marinated fresh pork loin filet. Grocers have added flavor to their private label value-added pork items, too, like Wegmans’ bourbon-marinated pork tenderloin.
As consumer demand for sustainably produced and minimally processed foods continues to grow, the natural fresh pork segment has expanded as well. For example, Tyson’s Open Prairie line of natural pork features no antibiotics ever and no added growth hormones or growth promotants, and is made from hogs on a 100% vegetarian diet; according to research cited by Tyson, 72% of meat shoppers now look for meat they consider “better for me or better for my family,” up from 66% in 2019.
As summer grilling season gets underway, so does peak selling time for perenially popular pork cuts, such as ribs, that meet consumer tastes and lifestyles. Tyson Fresh Meats has also noted growing interest in its Open Prairie natural pork spareribs.
What’s Hot in Processed and Specialty Pork
Beyond fresh pork, processed and specialty pork products are providing another kind of lift to the overall pork category. As charcuterie remains a top trend, brands like Columbus Fresh Meats from Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods continue to widen their portfolios with more pork-based processed meats. For its part, family-owned True Story Foods, based in Fairfield, Calif., recently rolled out dry-aged sliced Heritage Breed Prosciutto, available at Sprouts Farmers Market locations.
Bacon, that perennial favorite, keeps on sizzling, with $6.4 billion in sales — a 1.9% lift over 2021 and a 28.1% jump over pre-pandemic 2019, by IRI’s findings. Within bacon, recent new products include lower-sugar or no-sugar varieties like Golden, Colo.-based Coleman Natural Foods’ sugar-free uncured applewood-smoked bacon. Coleman also teamed up with the Hingham, Mass.-based Wahlburgers brand to offer all-natural, crate-free Wahlburgers Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon.
Pork is a common ingredient in meat snacks, too. The ongoing popularity of high-protein and keto diets has buoyed pork rinds from brands like Slim Jim and 4505 Meats, which recently came out with Chile Limon Chicharrones that scored a best new product award at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, in Chicago. Another snack form comes from Salisbury, Md.-based Perdue Farms, which just launched BBQ Seasoned Pulled Pork Bites, ideal for air fryers.
Finally as with other protein sectors, the traditional pork category is contending with plant-based alternatives that have made their way into retail meat cases. For instance, Redwood City, Calif.-based Impossible Foods recently introduced Impossible Pork, a ground product that packs 18 grams of protein, and Impossible Sausage Links in bratwurst, Italian and spicy flavors.
Inspired by the land Down Under with more than 10,000 beaches, Juice Monster Aussie Style Lemonade comes in a colorful can adorned with ocean graphics reminiscent of the Great Barrier Reef.
Energy Boost
THE ENERGY DRINK MARKET SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN AS SHOPPERS CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE
By Marian Zboraj
hether pumping iron at the gym, preparing for weekend activity or simply trying to stay alert during busy workweeks, busy consumers continue to reach for energy beverages to provide a physical and mental boost. According to Dublin, Ireland-based Research and Markets, the U.S. energy drink market was valued at $14.30 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.87% in the forecast period, 2022-26, to reach a value of $21.01 billion by 2026. Part of this rapid growth can be attributed to increasing demand from Generation Z and Millennials. More teenagers and young adults are opting for better-for-you flavored energy drinks, which are filled with multivitamins, over sugar-infused soda beverages. Health-conscious adults needing a boost that they can feel good about are also reaching for energy drinks rather than their standard cup of java. Overall, the growing popularity of energy drinks to improve physical and cognitive performance shows no signs of slowing down, and brand names are looking to fuel this market growth this summer with new drinks that focus on fun fruity flavors while remaining healthy.
It’s a Lifestyle
More than an energy drink, the Monster Energy brand regards itself as a lifestyle. For shoppers inspired by all things “groovy,” the brand recently unveiled its newest addition to the Monster Energy Ultra Family: Ultra Peachy Keen.
Key Takeaways
The growing popularity of energy drinks to improve physical and cognitive performance shows no signs of slowing down, and brand names are looking to fuel this market growth this summer with new drinks that focus on fun fruity flavors while remaining healthy. Several brands in this segment are touting the inclusion of clean caffeine in their drinks, among other better-for-you benefits. Some of the product rollouts include flavors that are exclusive online or at particular retailers, or target a certain demographic.
“The summer of love was about hope, peace and connecting to something bigger than yourself,” notes Dan McHugh, chief marketing officer at Corona, Calif.-based Monster Energy. “We wanted to ignite the passion of this time for our customers.”
Featuring a 1960s-throwback can design, Ultra Peachy Keen joins the company portfolio of Ultra Family zero-sugar beverages.
Meanwhile, the Juice Monster lineup is welcoming Aussie Style Lemonade this summer. Inspired by the land Down Under, which boasts more than 10,000 beaches, Juice Monster Aussie Style Lemonade comes in a colorful can with ocean graphics reminiscent of the Great Barrier Reef. Mixed with Monster Energy Blend, the sweet-tart lemonade is made with real juice and Monster’s energy blend for an energy boost packed with flavor.
Clinically proven to offer cognitive performance, C4 Smart Energy’s new Watermelon Burst variety features a fresh flavor profile that’s ideal for any summertime activity.
Stimulating Investment
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Sunshine Beverages has expanded its portfolio of Sparkling Energy Drinks with the launch of Tropical Pineapple. The summer flavor combines the ripe, slightly sweet flavor of fruity pineapple with notes of citrus. It’s filled with electrolytes; vitamins A, C, D and E; and 70 milligrams of caffeine sourced from organic green coffee beans. Each can offers 100% of the recommended daily value of vitamin B12 to support energy levels, nerve function and the immune system.
The launch comes on the heels of this year’s majority investment from Cypress Ascendant, a San Diego-based strategic capital investment firm, fueling a refreshed business model, operations, and expanded distribution and marketing support.
“The Cypress Ascendant team is helping to kick off an exciting era for Sunshine, a brand with limitless potential,” says Amanda Goers, president of Sunshine. “Tropical Pineapple has long been in the works and is rounding out the portfolio as a highly anticipated summer flavor, sure to become a classic. At the same time, more consumers are buzzing about the brand across the country.”
Clean Energy
Lifeaid Beverage Co. released a new line of clean performance energy drinks in April. The Fitaid Energy collection is the clean-caffeine addition to the brand’s original Sports Recovery product, Fitaid, boosted with 200 milligrams of caffeine from green tea. The naturally sweetened Fitaid Energy + Sports Recovery blend contains only 15 calories, with no sucralose, no aspartame, no fillers and no synthetic caffeine. Available in four fruity flavors – Mango Sorbet, Peach Mandarin, Blackberry Pineapple and online-exclusive Raspberry Hibiscus – Fitaid contains no artificial flavors or colors. According to the company, each of the four flavors has a clean, crisp finish and avoids the synthetic aftertaste often associated with energy drinks.
“This is the evolution of energy: Energy 3.0,” asserts Aaron Hinde, co-founder and president of Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Lifeaid. “Fitaid Energy is unlike any other energy drink on the market. Our clean caffeine from green tea helps fight your fitness fatigue and contains our original post-workout recovery blend, which includes BCAAs; turmeric; electrolytes; vitamins B, C, D3, E; and more. All of our handpicked ingredients have met the highest supplement standards and remain vegan, nonGMO and gluten-free. Coupled with no sucralose, no taurine and no synthetic caffeine, Fitaid Energy is the future of clean performance energy.”
Retailer Exclusivity
The Official Energy Drink of Esports is now bringing a level of exclusivity to Target Corp. In addition to debuting its 16-ounce ready-to-drink cans in nearly 400 Target stores, G Fuel recently unveiled a brandnew flavor exclusive to the Minneapolis-based big-box retailer: Watermelon Limeade. Touting zero calories or sugar, the new flavor allows Target customers to get energized for summertime activities with 300 milligrams of caffeine and proprietary energy- and focus-enhancing complexes.
“We at G Fuel are beyond excited to bring our readyto-drink products to Target stores across the U.S.,” says Cliff Morgan, founder and CEO of New Yorkbased G Fuel. “Partnering with Target and their incredible network of retail stores has us all truly excited! Not only will our fans be able to pick up four of our amazing flavors in-store, but they are going to absolutely love Watermelon Limeade.”
Proven Benefits
In late April, Nutrabolt, maker of the C4 Energy brand, revealed that it was launching C4 Smart Energy Watermelon Burst. The new flavor joins Freedom Ice, Peach Mango Nectar, Black Cherry and Icy Blue Razz as the fifth flavor in the Smart Energy collection.
Sunshine Beverages recently expanded its portfolio of Sparking Energy Drinks with the launch of Tropical Pineapple, which is filled with electrolytes, vitamins and 70 milligrams of organic caffeine.
Coinciding with the release were results from a new clinical trial study that backed up the company’s claims on the cognitive benefits of C4 Smart Energy. Conducted by the University of Iowa, the study tested the mental performance effects of C4 Smart Energy, which contains InnovaTea, a plant-based caffeine ingredient derived from green tea extract that delivers energy and alertness, alongside Cognizin, a patented citicoline designed to support mental focus, attention and recall. The researchers concluded that after drinking one serving of C4 Smart Energy, participants reportedly experienced an array of cognitive performance enhancements.
“These recently published studies illustrate the performance benefits that C4 Energy has stood for from day one – providing better-foryou energy drinks to help unlock the performance potential we know our consumers crave,” says Rajaa Grar, chief digital and marketing officer at Austin, Texas-based Nutrabolt. “The research done behind C4 Smart Energy puts the C4 Energy brand squarely into the mental and cognitive performance market, and consumers can trust that we are continuing to forge a new frontier in creating the best-tasting performance energy products. I can’t wait for our consumers to try the new Watermelon Burst flavor this summer and experience the cognitive performance benefits for themselves!”
A New Contender
Starbucks has entered the energy category for the first time with the introduction of Starbucks Baya Energy earlier this year. The ready-todrink (RTD) beverage is crafted from caffeine naturally found in coffee fruit, as well as antioxidant vitamin C for immune support to give consumers a boost of feel-good energy. The beverages were developed through the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture between Starbucks and PepsiCo to create RTD coffee and energy products. Starbucks Baya Energy is available in three fruit flavors — Mango Guava, Raspberry Lime and Pineapple Passionfruit — and contains 90 calories and 160 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Starbucks Baya Energy to our customers, providing them with a refreshing, fruit-flavored boost of feel-good energy in a way only Starbucks can deliver,” notes Chanda Beppu, VP, channel development Americas at Seattle-based Starbucks. “Over the years, we’ve continued to identify new and exciting ways to expand our readyto-drink portfolio and saw an opportunity to complement our existing coffee beverage lineup with Starbucks Baya Energy, the brand’s first beverage to launch in the energy category.”
A Focus on Equity
PepsiCo brand Rockstar Energy Drink recently launched the Rockstar Punched Aguas Frescas, this summer’s energetic take on a mercado classic. This latest addition is available in two flavors inspired by the freshness found in aguas frescas, Strawberry and Pineapple, while the unique can design was influenced by the traditional hand-painted signs found at taquerías and food trucks. Rockstar Punched Aguas Frescas offers 160 milligrams of caffeine, contains no artificial sweeteners and is made with real fruit juice.
In support of its most recent launch, Rockstar unveiled its new ad campaign, Poder Para Mi Gente (Power for My People), a platform designed to empower a new generation of energetic Hispanics who work hard to give back to their local communities. This first-ever Hispanic equity campaign for the brand spotlights young people inspired by their heritage and embodies Rockstar Energy’s “hustle” mentality.
A commercial, also called “Poder Para Mi Gente” and directed by Rocío Crudo, features Victor Fontanez, professionally known as Vic Blends, who rose to popularity by cutting hair in exchange for good conversation. Blends took his passion for cutting hair in his mother’s garage to become one of the industry’s most renowned barbers, and now uses his platform to help his community through philanthropic efforts.
“This is a huge moment for Rockstar Energy Drink, which has a long heritage of creating beverages that Hispanics love,” observes Fabiola Torres, chief marketing officer of the energy category and general manager at Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo. “With this campaign, we applaud those who work tirelessly for their success and give back to their communities to help them succeed. This is only the beginning for the brand as we continue to explore innovative ways to expand the energy category and support local communities.”
—Aaron Hinde, Lifeaid Beverage Co.
Alongside its first-ever Hispanic equity campaign, Poder Para Mi Gente, Rockstar Energy has launched Rockstar Punched Aguas Frescas, an energetic take on a mercado classic.
Skyscraper Store
A RELOCATED WHOLE FOODS MARKET STORE IS DESIGNED TO WOW SHOPPERS IN AN UPSCALE WINDY CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. By Lynn Petrak
hole Foods Market has received an upgrade in Chicago — literally and figuratively. The Austin, Texas-based natural food retailer recently moved into the second level of a gleaming residential high-rise about a block or so from its previous location in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
A high-end area, the Gold Coast is home to a mix of historic structures and shiny new developments. This particular location, which opened on April 27 inside the new One Chicago condominium and apartment building at 3 West Chicago Avenue, was designed to reflect its surroundings, with the latest grocery technologies and new products, along with architectural nods to the past, such as repurposed vintage tiles. The space was created by Whole Foods with Overland Park, Kan.-based design firm BRR Architecture and Chicago-based general contractor Novak Construction.
Whole Foods Market has moved into a gleaming residential high-rise in Chicago's upscale Gold Coast neighborhood.
A Look Inside
The store’s 65,956-square-foot layout is amenable to large crowds, with fresh food stations spread out in a more linear than box-like way, and wide aisles that accommodate shopper streams. Several free-standing cases, stocked with products ranging from dessert bars to smoked and candied salmon, are arranged for grab-and-go enticement. Self-checkout stands are set up near the customer service desk, rather than just tacked onto the service checkout lines.
To make it easier for shoppers to bring their groceries to their on-site residences or their cars parked in a connected garage, the store features wide escalators that accommodate carts. Parking validation is available at the customer service desk, with a 90-minute limit and a $10 minimum purchase.
Whole Foods’ points of differentiation are called out via signage and visual displays, which include video monitors, posters and tags about local suppliers, and a lighted display over a seafood case that reads “Supporting the future of our oceans.” Messaging about the retailer’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments are also posted in various spots around the store, covering sustainability, transparency, food equity and other topics.
The store’s product assortment includes a host of items sourced from local vendors, including hydroponic growing facilities, family farms and artisan startups. As one would expect from a Whole Foods location, the expansive prepared food section includes hot- and cold- food bars, pizza, sushi, and a Market Plate bistro with entrées and sides. Other foodservice-at-retail spots include a full-service coffee bar in the lobby and an on-site taproom serving beer, wine, spirits and bar bites. As it welcomed its first customers, the new Whole Foods offered special savings on certain products, donating 1% of each day’s total sales to benefit four local schools. The retailer also showed its support for the community with donations to nonprofit organizations and food pantries.
Whole Foods' new store in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood features such enticements as in-store dining (top), an expansive deli and prepared food section, and a taproom serving beer, wine, spirits and bar bites.
H-E-B Welcomes Home
Texas grocer H-E-B is touting a couple of department firsts at its newest store, in New Braunfels. Not only does the store feature the company’s first two-story True Texas BBQ restaurant, which boasts indoor seating on both levels, but it’s also the first location to introduce the Home by H-E-B department.
The new store replaces an existing location in New Braunfels, which closed during the last week of April. The 122,000-squarefoot store, which is situated on the same property on Walnut Avenue, is about 40,000 square feet larger than the original.
The new Home by H-E-B department features two brands, Haven + Key and Texas Proud. Under the Haven + Key line, customers can find on-trend seasonal items, from candles, mirrors and throw pillows to kitchen textiles, rugs, throw blankets and accent furniture. The Texas Proud brand celebrates Lone Star State style and features many similar items made by Texas-based artisans and businesses, such as wood and antler art from Broken Antler, in Converse; leather goods from Lucio Tailoring Co., in H-E-B’s hometown of San Antonio; cowhide benches from Texas Bench Worx, in Luling; and handpoured candles from Rustic Swank, in New Braunfels.
H-E-B plans to open more Home by H-E-B departments inside more store locations throughout the year.
Additionally, the new store’s design elements complement the look and feel of the surrounding neighborhood and the New Braunfels community. H-E-B operates three stores in the area.
—Marian Zboraj
H-E-B's recently opened New Braunfels, Texas, store is its first location to offer the Home by H-E-B department.
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Helping People Lead a Better Life
PURAVIDA CEO LAUREN WATKINS DISCUSSES NAVIGATING THE FOOD INDUSTRY AS A FEMALE
ENTREPRENEUR. By Emily Crowe
t’s no secret that consumers are increasingly seeking out nutritionally superior foods, and Etobicoke, Ontario-based PuraVida Foods is going one step further by offering them nutrition-packed frozen vegetable-and-grain blends that CEO Lauren Watkins hopes will ultimately help them lead a healthier lifestyle. Here, Watkins talks to Progressive Grocer about developing her company, the hurdles she’s faced entering the marketplace and being a Millennial woman in the food business.
Progressive Grocer: When you first began developing the idea for PuraVida, did you imagine yourself as a female running the company?
Lauren Watkins: I never really envisioned myself in that specific lens — it was more so just developing a brand that people could resonate with, and really help people lead a better life. I never saw myself specifically as a female leader running a company, but that is what it happens to be. I’m thrilled to be in this position and work with like-minded people who share the same passion and enthusiasm that I do.
PuraVida Foods, which offers nutrition-packed frozen vegetable-and-grain blends, is now entering the children's market with PuraVida Kids Life. PG: As a relatively young company, what are some of the hurdles you’ve faced getting to market?
LW: With any new brand, there are always hurdles that you face. You’re trying to get into the marketplace, and you’re trying to get brand recognition. I would say one of our biggest hurdles has been reaching out to buyers and bridging that gap between our brand and getting it into the marketplace. We’ve been really lucky that we found some buyers that share the same enthusiasm and passion that we do for healthy food and clean-label products. It was really just finding that initial buyer to take a leap with us, since we’re a new brand and we were still working on getting our message and recognition in the marketplace. Now that we have some buyers reaching out to us and lots of people are sharing that same message, we’re really overcoming that and working toward bringing our products to people who need them.
PG: Do you see the grocery industry as one heavily dominated by men? If so, why do you think that is?
LW: There have been many industries that were heavily dominated by men, and traditionally when we think back to traditional gender roles, things just kind of happened that way. As women have become more career-focused and are working with their families and partners together in the home space, as well as being supported to develop their careers, I think so many industries now are being flooded with women. I think that it really opens the door for different perspectives, and it’s really exciting, because it’s not only our industry that now has people from all different walks of life sharing their ideas and their messages. We can really work collectively to shed light on some of the things that have been challenging or stagnant.
PG: As a Millennial and a woman, do these two factors ever cloud peoples’ perception of you or your company?
LW: The biggest hurdle regarding the whole package that I am is being more so a Millennial and being young. When we have meetings or we have interactions with people who have been in the industry
for a very long time, sometimes there’s a little bit of a sense that people don’t necessarily think that I know what I’m talking about. I wouldn’t say that it clouds the perception of me and my company. I think we’re all working and learning together, so it’s exciting because people are resonating with our brand because of those two things — being a Millennial and a woman — and I’m offering that perspective.
PG: What is something you are most proud of with the development of PuraVida?
LW: Our team is fantastic. I can’t wait to go to work every day with our team. We’re an open-concept office, so often people are yelling out their questions and bouncing ideas and comments off one another all day. It’s really great to have a team that you’re excited to work with every day.
Not only that, but it’s also the excitement that our consumers are sharing about our products and what we’re doing.
“As women have become more career-focused … I think so many industries now are being flooded with women. I think that it really opens the door for different perspectives, and it’s really exciting, because it’s not only our industry that now has people from all different walks of life sharing their ideas and their messages.”
—Lauren Watkins,
CEO, PuraVida Foods PG: You’re about to launch the Kids Life program. What made you want to enter the children’s market?
LW: I’m very focused on setting children up for lifelong success. I grew up in a family of health care professionals, and we constantly talked about establishing good habits early on in life. That includes not only diet, but also exercise. Children ask a million and one questions, and it’s really about supporting them to understand how our world works and why it works the way it does.
With PuraVida Kids Life, we’re focusing on that and helping foster questions and family time where parents can work with their kids to help them get involved in their nutrition and in their health from day one. It’s really about tailoring the message to help in a way that children of all ages can understand.
PG: What is one piece of advice you’d give younger women just starting their careers in the food industry?
LW: Use every day as a learning opportunity. Every single day is different, and you can really use it to learn something new or ask a question, and not be afraid to ask those questions. You don’t know what you don’t know, and more often than not, you’d be pleasantly surprised that someone is willing to sit down with you and explain something. Along the way, you might find a mentor or someone who is willing to take you under their wing and help you take those risks and navigate through the complex industry that we work in.
PG: What does your vision for the growth of PuraVida look like?
LW: I think it’s twofold. I really want to continue our internal growth with our team and really work on developing our team members and make sure they’re doing something that they’re passionate about every day. We talk about passion on a daily basis here in our office, and I really want to make sure people have found a company they can grow with and someone that they trust in.
On the other end of that, with the growth of PuraVida, I would love to see us in all types of retailers across the country and really helping people lead a better life. Whether that’s with one product they find that they love, knowing that they can get a certain percentage of their veggie intake for a day, getting more fiber or helping someone feel better about their food choice, that’s my vision.
EDITOR’S NOTE: PG earlier spoke with PuraVida Foods CEO Lauren Watkins in the April 2022 issue.
Rethinking Recycling
IMPROVED EFFORTS TO REUSE AND RECOVER GLASS AND ALUMINUM CAN HELP RETAILERS ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS. By Marian Zboraj
hile numerous initiatives exist to reduce the amount of plastic consumption in retail, there are still plenty of other packaging materials that can have a negative impact on the environment if not responsibly conserved. Two of the most recyclable and reusable — and often overlooked — materials are glass and aluminum.
Greener Goals
In 2018, 39.6% of beer and soft-drink bottles were recovered for recycling, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with 39.8% of wine and liquor bottles and 15.0% of food and other glass jars recycled. In total, 33.1% of all glass food and beverage containers were recycled. Meanwhile, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Can Manufacturers Institute, the aluminum beverage can recycling rate was 45% in 2020.
Bumping up these percentages can vastly improve retailers’ sustainability goals. In fact, glass is infinitely recyclable — unlike some plastics — without experiencing any loss in purity or quality. The Arlington, Va.-based Glass Packaging Institute points out that more than a ton of natural resources is saved for every ton of glass recycled. One ton of carbon dioxide is reduced for every 6 tons of recycled container glass used in the manufacturing process.
The Can Manufacturers Institute also estimates that increasing the recycled content of the average can reduces its carbon footprint, since making an aluminum beverage can from recycled material results in more than 90% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than making the container from primary material.
Consumer Collection
Seven in 10 supermarket shoppers are trying to reduce their impact on the environment, as indicated by a recent Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council North America report. Additionally, not all communities have recycling collections come to their homes. As a result, incorporating a recycling collection site at the retail level can have a direct impact on shopper loyalty.
A convenient and easy option for grocery stores to help shoppers recycle aluminum and glass is via reverse vending machines, which collect empty and used bottles and cans in return for money or other forms of incentivization to the recycler.
One example of reverse vending solutions for collecting, reusing and recycling aluminum and glass is Norway-based Tomra. With 82,000-plus installations across more than 60 markets, Tomra’s reverse vending machines capture 40 billion used beverage containers every year, reducing reliance on raw materials and ensuring that fewer containers end up in landfills, oceans and streets, while bringing real benefits to stores and their communities.
Tomra’s various systems are geared toward grocery retailers of any size, with
Tomra’s reverse vending solutions for collecting, reusing and recycling aluminum and glass now have the option to issue refunds with a digital voucher that is sent directly to the end user’s mobile phone or via electronic transfer to their account.
indoor and outdoor installations available. Units now have the option to issue recycling refunds not only with a traditional paper voucher, but also with a digital voucher — sent directly to the end user’s mobile phone, or via instant and secure electronic transfer to their account. Both digital payouts are enabled through the myTOMRA app.
Campbell, Calif.-based Olyns also provides reverse vending solutions. In November 2021, the company raised a $1 million seed round led by Vanedge Capital. Olyns’ eye-catching bottle collection machine is designed for high-traffic indoor locations, and its gamified mobile app provides bottle refunds and rewards. Each Olyns machine reportedly collects about 1.5 metric tons of recycled material per year.
Don’t forget partnering with CPG packaging companies like Westminster, Colo.-based Ball Corp., which supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and household products. Driving category growth, the company’s Ball Aluminum Cup can be easily recycled like its aluminum can counterparts. In fact, according to Ball Corp., aluminum cans, cups and bottles can be recycled and back on a store shelf within 60 days.
Meanwhile, big-name retailers like Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart are touting their own recycling efforts. The food retailer joined forces with soft-drink giant PepsiCo Beverages North America in late August 2021 on a pilot program to boost recycling awareness and participation in Tulsa, Okla. Shoppers were invited to bring their beverage containers to be properly recycled from Thursdays to Sundays, with encouragement to participate via the chance to earn rewards and prizes.
Get in the Loop
In addition to recycling efforts, retailers are accelerating initiatives in the reuse movement.
TerraCycle’s Loop, the global reuse platform that was initially launched via e-commerce, is now moving in-store with food retailers. Loop is enabled by a multi-stakeholder coalition of manufacturers, retailers and consumers that aims to “Eliminate the Idea of Waste.”
Loop’s movement to an in-store retail model began in Paris with Carrefour in December 2020. In 2021, Loop launched in-store at Aeon in Japan and at Tesco in the United Kingdom. The platform recently expanded to the United States with rollouts in such retailers as The Kroger Co. in October 2021.
Loop’s business model consists of participating brands offering products in refillable, reusable glass or metal containers that are merchandised in dedicated Loop-specific displays. After customers consume the products, they drop off the empty packaging at designated drop-off units. Loop then picks up the empty containers from the store to be cleaned, refilled and made available for purchase by a new shopper.
“Loop’s goal has always been to grow, scale and be accessible to consumers around the world,” says Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of Trenton, N.J.-based TerraCycle and Loop. “With the world’s largest retailers bringing Loop to physical brick-and-mortar locations, we are giving consumers what they’ve been asking for since Loop was introduced in 2019 — the ability to purchase the products they use every day in durable, reusable containers, with the convenience of shopping at their local market.”
Cincinnati-based Kroger recently strengthened its partnership with Loop in February. Through a first-ofits-kind partnership in the United States, customers can now walk into one of 25 Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stores in the Portland, Ore., area and purchase more than 20 products from leading consumer brands packaged in reusable containers.
The new Loop assortment includes well-known food and household products from a range of brands, including Arbor Teas, Cascade, Clorox, Gerber, Nature’s Heart, Nature’s Path, Pantene, Seventh Generation and Stubb’s, as well as Kroger’s own Simple Truth brand. More brands are expected to be added to the Loop product portfolio in the coming months.
“Our focus on innovative solutions as we continue on our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste journey aligns with Loop’s mission to create a convenient circular packaging platform,” notes Lisa Zwack, Kroger’s head of sustainability. “Customers are increasingly seeking out sustainable products and services that fit their lifestyle, and this collection makes it convenient. As the first grocer in America to offer these products, Kroger is pleased to take another meaningful step toward a world with zero waste.”
Be on the lookout for other reuse pioneers. For example, Algramo has developed a reuse system powered by vending machines that dispense household products into smart reusable packaging. The Chilebased company recently expanded into North America, and is now piloting is reuse systems in New York City, having previously piloted the system in its home country with retailers such as Walmart.
Zero-waste grocers are also on the rise. With claims of being the first zero-waste grocery store, Nude Foods Market, in Boulder, Colo., has everything a traditional grocery store has — produce, prepared meals, snacks, bulk items, cleaning products, beauty products, and more — just without all of the plastic packaging. Instead, everything comes in reusable, returnable glass jars and is local, organic or rescued. Customers pay a small deposit per jar and then receive that deposit back, minus a small cleaning and sanitizing fee, to spend in the store when they return the jar. Promoting a circular economy, the jars are reused thousands of times.
After Fred Meyer customers consume products that are part of Loop’s program, they drop off the packaging at designated in-store drop-off units to be picked up, cleaned, refilled and repurchased by a new shopper.
Waffle Convenience
Iconic Kellogg Co. brand Eggo is offering more convenience than ever with Eggo Grab & Go Liège-Style Waffles, the first-ever Eggo waffle that doesn’t require a toaster. Inspired by a classic Belgian street food staple, the bistro-quality handheld waffles are made with a golden brioche dough, real butter, and no artificial colors and flavors, and baked through with crunchy bits of pearl sugar. The individually wrapped waffles can be eaten at room temperature — they thaw in less than an hour — or warm from the toaster. The Liège-style waffles are infused with maple flavor and other natural flavors, so no syrup or toppings are needed, making them a convenient, mess-free breakfast option for busy families. Available in Buttery Maple and Strawberry flavors, Eggo Grab & Go Liège-Style Waffles retails for a suggested $5.99 per 4-pack box or $12.99 per 12-pack box. https://www.kelloggcompany.com/en_US/home.html; https://www.leggowitheggo.com/en_US/home.html
Cookies With Crunch
Maxine’s Heavenly, a company specializing in homemade-style cookies, has released a line of crispy cookies — the brand’s first products outside of its original super-soft cookies. Made with simple and pure ingredients, vegan, gluten-free Maxine’s Heavenly Crispy Cookies are available in two flavors, Chocolate Chip and Cinnamon Speculoos Crunch. Chocolate Chip contains a hint of caramel and plenty of chocolate, while Cinnamon Speculoos Crunch contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. A 6.3-ounce box of either variety retails for a suggested $6.99. https://maxinesheavenly.com/
Plant-Powered Pest Control
Developed by SC Johnson, STEM is a line of entomologist-tested and scientifically engineered bug-fighting insecticides and repellents powered by plant-derived active ingredients to fight bugs safely and effectively, when used as directed. Each product in the line uses botanical extracts like lemongrass, mint and rosemary oils in the following SKUs: 12-ounce Bug Killer Spray (Ants, Roaches, Flies); 10-ounce Bug Killer Spray (Flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats); 10-ounce Bug Killer Spray (Ants, Roaches, Spiders); 10-ounce Bug Killer Spray (Wasps, Hornets, Yellow Jackets); 5.4-fluid-ounce Fruit Fly Trap; 4-ounce Mosquito Repellent Spray; and 10-count Mosquito Repellent Wipes, all retailing for a suggested $6.99. None of the products contains added dyes or fragrances, or has a harsh chemical odor. The full STEM lineup provides a one-stop shop of repellents and bug killers rooted in nature and optimized by science, so that families can feel good about using them in their homes and around kids and pets. https://stemforbugs.com/; https://www.scjohnson.com/
On-the-Go Hydration for Kids
ShineWater, a hydration beverage containing the recommended daily serving of vitamin D, has now introduced a kid-friendly beverage option called ShineWater Pouches. The pouches contain the same flavors as the original bottles, but they’re designed for small hands to make it easy for children to hold, stay hydrated and consume their required dose of vitamins. Additionally, each pouch is free from added sugar, artificial colors and artificial flavors while including servings of vitamin D, B12, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. Created to bring a healthier beverage option to stores while being tailored for all ages, the pouches come in two flavors, Strawberry Lemon and Mixed Berry Acai. An 8-pack of 6-fluid-ounce pouches retails for a suggested price range of $3.99-$4.99. https://www.shinewater.com/
Dairy-Free Cheese Balls
Already known for its Pig Out Crunchies (formerly known as Pig Out Pigless Pork Rinds) and Outstanding Puffs, plant-based food company Outstanding Foods has now launched the Outstanding Cheese Balls product line. Described as the first dairy-free cheese ball option on the market, the snack contains 4 grams of protein and 20 vitamins and minerals per serving, among them iron, zinc, B12, B6, and vitamins D, E and A. The dairy-, soy- and trans fat-free; vegan; kosher; and non-GMO snack, crafted by Dave Anderson, former executive chef at Beyond Meat, comes in four flavors: Chedda, Bacon Chedda, Jalapeno Chedda and Garlic Parmesan. A full-size 3-ounce bag of any flavor retails for a suggested $4.49, while a snack-sized 1.25-ounce bag of any flavor goes for a suggested $2.49. In the wake of the launch, Outstanding Foods will unveil an updated look, including a refreshed logo and clean, colorful, bold packaging, for its other snack lines. https://get.outstandingfoods.com/outstanding-cheese-balls-o/
Healthier Snacking
Veggies Made Great has launched Stuffed Cauliflower Bites, a product designed to serve as an after-school snack or gameday appetizer. The frozen line comes in four flavors: Margherita, Spinach & Ricotta, Roasted Veggie & 4 Cheese Blend, and Mushroom & Onion with Swiss. Each variety is loaded with a blend of authentic Italian veggies and cheese while being gluten-free, low in calories and high in protein. A 7-ounce 12-count package of any variety retails for a suggested $5.99. https://www.veggiesmadegreat.com/
Fruit-Forward Flavors
Famed citrus brand Sunkist has partnered with Sokol, a family-owned food formulation company, on a line of dressings and sauces. The product line comes in eight fruit-forward flavors designed to complement not just salads, but also tacos, bowls and more: Lemon Pepper Caesar Dressing, Grapefruit Poppyseed Dressing, Spicy Mango Habanero Dressing, Mimosa Vinaigrette, Blueberry Chipotle Dressing, Mandarin Fig Dressing, Orange Sesame Ginger Dressing, and Pomegranate Lime Vinaigrette. These versatile SKUs add tang and zest to just about any type of recipe while also being gluten- and nut-free offerings with no high-fructose corn syrup. The suggested retail price per 12-ounce bottle of any flavor is $4.98. https://www.sunkist.com/; https://www.sunkistsauces. com/; https://www.sokolcustomfoods.com/
A Better Way to Eat Burgers
Best known for its highly popular ketchup, Heinz has now unveiled a first-of-its-kind innovation that seeks to do no less than revolutionize the burger-eating experience. Heinz Dip & Crunch offers sauce with crispy potato crunchers in a two-in-one package for more satisfying burger eating anywhere, anytime. Consumers simply dip the burger in the Heinz sauce, and then top it off with the salty potato crunchers to add both flavor and texture to every bite. The product comes in two tangy flavors, one featuring a burger sauce made with tomato purée, molasses, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic powder, tamarind concentrate, onion powder and spices, and a spicy variety adding a dimension of heat to the sauce. Dip & Crunch is the latest example of Kraft Heinz’s larger Agile@Scale transformation strategy, a key part of which is to deploy an insight-based innovation engine that offers consumers the products, flavors and formulations they want most. To that end, Dip & Crunch was first offered as a test item at select West Coast Jack in the Box restaurants earlier this year before rolling out nationwide at grocery retailers. A 2.75-ounce package of either variety of Dip & Crunch retails for a suggested $2.49. https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/
What Makes a Top Woman in Grocery?
WE JUDGES LOOK FOR SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES — AND WE FULLY EXPECT TO BE BOWLED OVER.
hose of us on the editorial staff who are privileged to judge the submissions that pour in for Progressive Grocer’s annual Top Women in Grocery recognition program are often asked what constitutes a successful submission. While it’s never easy to reject a nomination — everyone is great at their job, or they wouldn’t have been put forward by their nominators in the first place — there are certain things we judges look for that set apart those we select as Top Women.
Show, Don’t Tell
Most aspiring writers are familiar with the instruction “show, don’t tell.” That’s precisely what we want in a nomination. You can sing the praises of your nominee to your heart’s content, but what we really want is concrete examples of her greatness. How did she deal with a particular problem during the time period under review, and how successful was the outcome? We want to hear all of the pertinent details, including metrics, if available. To enable us to fully appreciate the positive impact that your Top Woman has in her position and her organization, take us on a journey illustrating just how she achieved that impact.
Wider Industry and Community Service Matter
It’s always dismaying when an otherwise worthy nominee has nothing listed under the section on the nomination form asking about service to the wider food industry or to the local community. Although some nominators apparently don’t see the point of including this section, it’s not there by accident. Virtually from the beginning of the Top Women in Grocery program, this aspect has been a key part of our concept of an ideal honoree, and it’s more important now than ever. We want to pay tribute to women who truly go above and beyond in every area of their lives, not just at work. While we understand that pursuing a highly demanding career entitles a woman to a little downtime, we’ve been so incredibly inspired by nominees’ tireless efforts to uplift their colleagues, industry and fellow humans generally that we simply must share these stories. Nominators who omit such accomplishments, or fail to find out about them, are depriving their nominee of her chance to shine forth in all of her glory.
Clarity Counts
The nature of the Top Women in Grocery nomination process requires us judges to sift through hundreds of submissions across dozens of businesses, so the ones that are clearly written are particular standouts. If your business or company employs certain obscure terms of art or acronyms, please take the time to explain them; it will save judges the trouble of looking them up. More basically, make sure that the nomination gets across the necessary information in as precise a manner as possible, without typos or poorly constructed sentences; muddily written submissions replete with misspellings will often have judges scratching their heads as to what the nominator meant to convey, and as you may imagine, such nominations are usually not successful.
One more piece of advice I would offer to prospective nominators is to keep those nominations coming. Despite the work in logging and reading through all of the submissions every year, it’s a great honor to do so, and the information we judges learn about the resilience, creativity and mastery of our nominees enables us to do our part to advance women in the food industry through our recognition program and its associated event, which in 2022 will be held in person for the first time in two years. So please continue to send us nominations of the wonderful women you work with — we couldn’t do it without either of you.
Bridget Goldschmidt
Managing Editor bgoldschmidt@ensemleiq.com
