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The FreshXperts
Anthony Totta -
Marketing Strategy, Branding
Business Development
Lee's Summit, MO
Jelger de Vriend -
Retail Sourcing & Merchandising Strategies in Europe
The Netherlands
John Shelford -
Organizational Governance
Naples, FL
Mike Nicometo -
Cool Chain & Logistics
Optimization Shelf Life Enhancement
Track/Trace WMS
Iron Mountain, MI
Ron Pelger -
Retail Merchandising
Retail Operations
Shrink Recovery & Control
Reno, NV
Tim Vaux - New Venture and Product Launch
Fresno, CA
Mike Chirveno -
Social Media
Customer Relationship Management
Kansas City, MO
Heidi Chapnick -
Internet/E-Commerce
Cross Channel Sales and Marketing
Roadmapping
Retail/Etail Plans
White Plains, NY
George Seifert -
QA Inspection
Produce Ripening
Rochester, NY
Dean Fahselt -
Produce Development
Value Added
Salinas, CA
Don Harris -
Buying Strategies and Training Organic Operations Category Development
Boulder, CO
Andrew Southwood -
Growth Strategies, Sustainability/CSR, International Business
Montreal, Canada
Richard Binks -
Crop Protection, Quality Management, New Product Development, Farm Assurance & Stewardship
United Kingdom
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Need complete visibility into your sales process? Need to know how your sales staff is performing? Need to the know the financial value of the prospects in your pipeline? Want the security of knowing all your sales data is secure in the event of a disaster?
eFreshTrack is the answer. It's a secure, hosted Customer Relationship Management solution. eSalesTrack provides full-featured campaign management, tracking of all interactions with current and potential customers including phone calls, emails and proposals and integration with your ERP system and Microsoft Outlook. eFreshTrack can also be accessed on your smartphone.
For information on eFreshTrack, contact Mike Chirveno at mchirveno@consultclearvision.com or 816-256-4507. |
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Innovative produce packaging moves the industry forward
By Ron Pelger
In 1980, wrapped Iceberg head lettuce became a new labor saving trend in the retail industry. All retailers had to do was open a box and place the heads on display. This newly creative idea completely changed Iceberg lettuce growth to a positive sales level.
Once retailers quickly learned about time and labor saving costs, wrapped Iceberg lettuce was the new trend in merchandising. It required no trimming or wrapping in the produce back room and could be rapidly restocked on display without work stoppage to trim additional product. It also cut down on shrink immensely.
Now, another evolution is taking place as Romaine, green and red leaf lettuce follows the path of Iceberg lettuce in the way of sealed packaged bags.
FreshXperts had the opportunity of working with Tanimura & Antle in conducting a study at the retail store level of plain unpackaged versus sealed packaged bags of leafy lettuce items. The results were very positive.
FreshXperts found that it costs approximately $5.00 per box in labor to trim and crisp leafy lettuce. In addition, the shrink savings from waste is 20%. The cost and shrink savings of bagged lettuce easily falls to the bottom line profit for retailers.
  
Here are the benefits of bagged leafy lettuce based on FreshXperts' findings:
Time and Labor Savings: Packaged lettuce eliminates trimming and crisping along with cleaning up the mess in the back room.
Lettuce Stocking: The leaf lettuce displays will always be in business by remaining fully stocked. There is no need to lose time by work stoppage to trim and crisp.
Food Safety: The lettuces are safely sealed in packaged bags and are not exposed to the environment until used. Shoppers are not handling each loose head with their hands.
Trimming Liability: There are no knives required for trimming, which reduces risks of accidents. Product is already trimmed.
Consistent Packaging: Each head of lettuce is of the same size. This makes for an ideal uniform lettuce display.
Shelf Life: The sealed packaging greatly reduces shrink waste. There is also no re-trimming and crisping necessary.
Smart Labeling: Each package includes consumer friendly educational information and nutritional facts along with bar codes for easy checkouts.
Consumer comments on packaged leaf lettuce as told to FreshXperts:
Freshness: Keeps crispier and lasts longer in bags. The lettuce is less messy and not soaked with water.
Safer: Packages protect against contamination.
Price: Shoppers say they are willing to pay a little more for a fresher and safer product.
Information: Being able to read all the information on the label is very educational.
Easy Picking: Choosing a particular lettuce variety is simple by the clear identification on the label.
Produce manager comments on packaged leaf lettuce as told to FreshXperts:
Labor Saving: We love it. This product saves time and labor. We will not go back to the trimming and crisping method.
Top Quality: It makes for a nice, clean, and neat package. The product within is of superior quality.
Easier to Handle: The packages are easier to rotate and stock. Just open the box and put the lettuce on display.
Attractive Display: The items really look great displayed together in the salad section with each item properly identified.
In today's supermarket industry, cutting operating expenses is a priority. Not moving up to source packed packaged leaf lettuce is spending money foolishly. Display ready produce is certainly the ideal way to operate in 2013.
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What We Do:
We Test and Survey Your Product or Concept
By Ron Pelger
At FreshXperts, we are always impressed with innovative ideas that relate to the produce industry. Newly created concepts whether in products, packaging, equipment, technology, or other areas are definitely the positive means of moving companies forward in building growth.
When we say "innovation", what we're really talking about is "change." Moreover, if companies don't change, they can rapidly become history. It could be as little as a new and easier way to open a package or to reseal it for the consumer. It could also be in the form of a unique concept for displaying fresh produce in supermarkets. There is always room for improving what currently exists or creating something new from scratch.
New products or innovative ideas usually require a strict testing period prior to launching it. This is always safer in order to fine-tune any necessary weaknesses. Often times, companies make the blunder of trying to hurry new programs onto the market only to have it fail to some extent resulting in a serious waste of financial investment. As a former supermarket Director of Produce Operations, I personally have discovered flaws in various new product concepts, especially in packaging and labels that prevented us from handling it. The sad part about it is that a simple testing or screening could have prevented those circumstances.
At FreshXperts, we are readily available to assist companies in testing products of all types related to the produce industry and at all levels, including on the retail sales floors of supermarkets. We have accomplished testing and surveying assignments for some of the most respected names in the industry with great success. The good part is that we will do testing for any size company whether small, medium, large, or mega-large. We leave nothing unturned in the process.
FreshXperts is a unique group of produce industry consultants with a wide variety of skills and experience. We are highly experienced and readily available to do product or program testing and surveying, especially in direct contact with consumers.
Contact FreshXperts now to discuss the testing of your
new idea, product, or concept.
Call us: 816-463-4518 or email us at info@freshxperts.com
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ATTENTION PRODUCE INDUSTRY MEMBERS
It seems that almost daily we hear about companies downsizing or limiting employee hours in order to avoid costly compliance with upcoming government regulations and programs. This can lead to loss of important skill sets at a time when a stagnating economy requires bold measures to capture market share. The talent pool we've assembled at FreshXperts can help fill the void. Check us out at www.freshxperts.com. We're here to help you become a profit leader in our industry. The FreshXperts cost is advantageous: - No Health Insurance Costs
- No Paid Vacations
- No Costly Office Space
- No Expensive Company Car
- No Holiday Time Off
- No 401K
- No Paid Sick Days
- No Utilities Expense
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