The Nutty Gourmet, based in Hughson, California, is on a mission to make heart-healthy snacks available to all. The affiliate of Grower Direct Nut is a family-owned walnut farm and processing facility that produces sustainably-grown, non-GMO walnut snacks from its orchards and local farms around California. The Nutty Gourmet was born at the generations-old Martella […]
Category: Sustainability News
Sustainability news for grocery retailers and suppliers: recycling, packaging, food waste, energy and emissions.
See all our sustainability coverage in Sustainability.
Northerly Give-Back Program Benefits Arizona Food Banks
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Northerly, a food brand focused on sustainable-growing and eco-friendly practices, was built on giving back. By shortening the supply chain and going direct to consumers, CEO Clayton B.R. Wolfe is able to donate rolled oats for every bag sold. Currently, Northerly’s partners include local food banks, St. Mary’s; the world’s first food bank, United Food […]
Iowa Grocery Industry Association Offers Build With Bags Grants
Iowa’s grocers are offering help to communities that want to spruce up a park, school playground, recreation trail and more with a Build with Bags Grant from the Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA). The Build with Bags program awards grants of up to $2,000 for purchases of picnic tables, park benches, planters and playground equipment made […]
Berry Growers Commit to 100% Recycle-Ready Packaging
In another step to further reduce the produce industry’s environmental impact, major North American fresh berry producers have committed to use 100 percent recycle-ready packaging by 2025. The California Strawberry Commission, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), Asociacion national de Exportadores de Berries (Aneberries, Mexico), members of the National Berry Crops Initiative (NBCI) and South […]
Sauter Takes Over Global Sustainability Duties At Fresh Del Monte Produce
Coral Gables, Florida-based Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has appointed Hans Sauter as the company’s first chief sustainability officer. Under Sauter’s leadership, Fresh Del Monte Produce will continue its efforts to focus heavily on sustainability throughout the business. “If there is anything I’ve learned during my time with Del Monte, it is that we have […]
One Banana Certifies Organic Production With Fair Trade Standard
One Banana has certified its farm in Peru under the Fair Trade international standard, joining its sustainable family-owned farms that are all certified to the highest third-party standards. According to One Banana Co. President Robert Adams, this new certification benefits “all those involved in the supply chain, from producers to final consumers.” By certifying its […]
Boxed Water Expands Product Assortment; New Size Based On Consumer Demand
Boxed Water Is Better, a company providing a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles and aluminum cans, will be adding a new size to its offering of pure water in 100 percent recyclable and paper-based cartons. “We’re adding a 330ml in response to overwhelming requests from our consumers and trade partners,” said Daryn Kuipers, CEO of Boxed […]
Ball Corp. Launches Infinitely Recyclable Aluminum Bottle Line
Broomfield, Colorado-based Ball Corp. is launching a new impact extruded aluminum bottle line that provides a circular solution to plastic pollution. In the hands of its sustainability, innovation and product design experts, the company says aluminum is taking shape as a new bottle–the Infinity Aluminum Bottle–that is designed to be made again. Available in various […]
Del Monte Fresh Produce Introduces New Pineapple Tags
Coral Gables, Florida-based Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc., a marketer and distributor of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, has launched a new way to communicate its ongoing sustainability efforts. Beginning in January, each Del Monte Gold pineapple will feature a new product tag displaying one of six unique Del Monte Fresh sustainability facts […]
Snap Kitchen Rolls Out Free Shipping To 235M Households
Austin, Texas-based Snap Kitchen is offering free ground shipping across 38 states for its nutritionally balanced, ready-to-eat meals. For those who prefer to shop in-store, Snap Kitchen’s dietitian-curated and chef-prepared meals also have launched in Whole Foods Market stores in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, in addition to all 34 Whole Foods Market stores in Texas. “We’ve been pleased with the […]
Plenty Expands Product Availability Through Bay Area Food Retailers
Plenty, a vertical farming company with headquarters in South San Francisco, will be bringing its products to several Bay Area retailers. Whole Foods Market locations in San Francisco—including Franklin, Potrero Hill and Soma—and Safeway locations in Menlo Park and Oakland have joined Andronico’s, Good Eggs, Berkeley Bowl and Draeger’s grocery stores to offer Plenty’s produce. The retailers are carrying […]
Woodward Corner Market Eliminating Single-Use Bags At Its Store
In an effort to reduce waste and improve recycling, Woodward Corner Market will not use single-use plastic or paper bags at checkout. Instead, the all-new store is encouraging customers to bring their own reusable bags or purchase two different types of reusable—and 100 percent recyclable—plastic bags, starting at 10 cents each. Set to open Jan. […]
Non-Food For Thought: New Year’s Resolutions For 2020
by Naomi Sleeper, VP of Continuous Improvement and Strategic Initiatives, Imperial Distributors With the 2010s decade coming to a close(!), it’s time to set some strong resolutions for the next year (or 10). In this spirit, I dedicate this column to changes our industry can make for longer-term impact: on environmental sustainability. While “responsible consumerism”—including environmental and […]
White Leaf Provisions Offers Baby Food Free Of Glyphosate Residue
White Leaf Provisions, based in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, has become the first shelf-stable Glyphosate Residue Free certified baby food line in the United States. Glyphosate is the world’s most-used weed killer (herbicide). In 2015, the World Health Organization’s cancer body IARC determined that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans. A very well-publicized testing report by […]
Nielsen 2020: Brand Innovation Predictions For The Next Decade
“With constant evolution of channel, competitive and consumer environments, marketers are being forced to think differently in order to compete. Over the next decade, expect to see remarkable shifts in innovation strategies to accommodate a new age of conscious, connected and unconventional consumption,” said Jenny Frazier, SVP of Nielsen BASES (Booz-Allen Sales Estimating System). So, what […]
Colgate-Palmolive Ships First Recyclable Toothpaste Tube
New York, New York-based Colgate-Palmolive has begun the switch to a first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube and now seeks to enlist other companies to follow its lead. Colgate recently delivered to retailers the first tube recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)—Antiplaque & Whitening toothpaste under the company’s Tom’s of Maine brand. Tom’s will complete […]
SpartanNash Opens Produce Distribution Center In Fargo, North Dakota
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash held the grand opening of its Fargo produce distribution center. The 80,000-s.f. facility has the capacity for 1,600 items—including 300 organic items—and is solely dedicated to produce and floral distribution. To bring the Fargo produce DC to life, SpartanNash invested nearly $10 million and created 30 jobs, including specialized warehouse teams, […]
Sorensen: Innovation In Thought Was Lacking This Year
by Cindy Sorensen/founder and CEO, The Grocery Group Each year as I prepare to write my dairy industry “year in review” column, I reflect on the newsworthy events that occurred in the industry in the previous 12 months. This reflection often includes a look back on the following: new product introductions; ingredient, product and package […]
BrightFarms To Build North Carolina Greenhouse, Create 54 Jobs
BrightFarms, the No. 1 brand of locally grown packaged salads, will expand into North Carolina with a new 280,000-s.f. hydroponic greenhouse in Hendersonville. Once complete, the farm will create 54 “green-collar” sustainable agriculture jobs that all pay a living wage and offer industry-leading health benefits and training. The new greenhouse will grow a variety of salad […]
Beverage Companies Unite For ‘Every Bottle Back’ Initiative
The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo launched the Every Bottle Back initiative, an effort to reduce the industry’s use of new plastic by making significant investments to improve the collection of the industry’s valuable plastic bottles so they can be made into new bottles. These competitors are coming together to support the circular […]
