Gourmet News

UNFI Wraps Up Successful Winter Show

Published August 10, 2023

United Natural Foods, Inc. concluded a successful 2023 Conventional Winter Show, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis. UNFI Winter Show brought together more than 2,000 grocery retailers, providing them with access to the company’s extensive network of suppliers and vendors.

Following a productive Natural Holiday Show held at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino (June 7-8), the Conventional Winter Show is strategically timed to help prepare UNFI’s retailer partners for the crucial holiday and winter selling periods. By introducing new products, innovative processes, and supplier solutions, UNFI demonstrates how it is adding value for customers and serving as their strategic partner.

“Our annual shows provide an important opportunity to bring together our connected community of independent retailers, suppliers, and associates and provides a platform to update them on our multi-faceted Transformation plan and the benefits that are helping improve our customer and supplier experience. The Conventional Winter Show leverages our expansive portfolio of products, merchandising strategies, and insights to help retailers drive sustainable growth and profitability in the marketplace,” said UNFI chief customer officer, Steve Dietz. “Our customers are always seeking new ways to bring their shoppers exceptional value, and in partnership with our suppliers, we are proud to offer them a productive and collaborative environment to find new and exclusive product offerings, special show deals, and value-added services.”

UNFI’s Conventional Winter Show is one of the largest grocery industry events, and one of five trade shows hosted annually by UNFI. This year’s show included:

More than 2,000 customers, including domestic and international retailers.
Approximately 550 suppliers covering more than 200,000 square feet.
260 new products introduced in UNFI’s New Product Showcase.
300+ monster buys (exclusive UNFI deals on many of the most popular consumer products) covering nearly every store category.
The introduction of UNFI’s Independent Grocer’s Guidebook 2.0, highlighting best-in-class strategies and case studies from selected UNFI customers designed to help all retailers plan for the future of grocery.

“The UNFI Conventional Winter Show is a key part of our holiday planning, providing us with a valuable in-person opportunity to view new product innovations, research in-store merchandising strategies, and connect with suppliers,” said Joe Zink, vice president center store merchandising at Skogen’s Festival Foods. “Our partnership with UNFI is incredibly valuable, and our ability to see and experience the robust array of Brands+ and seasonal products on offer enables us to fully prepare for the busy holiday selling season we are expecting this fall and winter.”

UNFI will next host its Fresh Specialty Show in San Francisco on Aug. 23, followed by its Natural Winter Show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas from Sept. 27-28. For information on UNFI Shows, customers or suppliers can visit: https://www.unfi.com/shows-events or email events@unfi.com.

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Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest Heralds Fall, Agritourism

Published August 10, 2023

Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest award-winning farm opens for annual family fun, attracting locals and tourists with immersive agritourism fall festivities. (Photo: Business Wire)

Move over pumpkin spice lattes, the new unofficial start of fall begins with the opening of Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest, an award-winning agritourism destination full of immersive autumn festivities for the whole family. Less than half an hour south of the Twin Cities, the family-owned farm opens its gates with the return of popular traditions including apple picking, a legendary Corn Maze, the thrilling Cow Train, and sensational new attractions such as the Cider Barn for adults, the Slippery Slope slides and an expanded Play Village for children.

“As a second-generation family-owned orchard we’ve been honored to be part of countless family stories, ingrained in the rich history of our orchard,” said Andy Ferguson, co-owner of Ferguson’s. “Whether it’s apple-picking, wagon rides, or simply savoring the simple joys of being together, we welcome all people to our family farm to experience the joy of the fall season one apple and one tradition at a time.”

Named the 2023 “Best Apple Orchard” in Minnesota, guests of Minnesota Harvest can enjoy family fun for only $15 per person, and children under 2 years old gain free admission. This one-time purchase includes a season pass allowing for unlimited daily entry from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the season from Aug. 19 to Nov/ 5. Tickets for active-duty military, veterans, and seniors are $13 per person. Online ticket purchases are required to expedite entry, www.minnesotaharvest.net.

Embark on a flavorful adventure at the quaint Country Store. Savor freshly made caramel apples, irresistible pies and pastries, and the iconic apple cider donuts. The Country Store is home to Harvest Bistro, an all-new culinary experience offering an array of options including the famous Ferguson Mac & Cheese topped with pulled pork and apple slices, chicken salad sandwiches, 10-inch chili dogs, and more. A visit to the country store isn’t complete without shopping the wide selection of local gifts, crafts and products – and of course, apples!

As a leader in the national agritourism industry, Ferguson’s takes great pride in being a family-owned farm that helps locals and tourists alike learn about the origins of their food and how locally produced foods make it to their kitchen tables. Through immersive on-farm activities such as apple and pumpkin picking, or getting up close and personal with real farm animals including goats, sheep, pigs and chickens, visitors experience a slice of life that is growing less common in our non-stop, digital screen-filled day. Led by authenticity and integrity, Ferguson’s connects people with the land and provides visitors with a farm experience that becomes an annual tradition for the whole family.

Snapshot of Minnesota Harvest Attractions

Apple Cannons (weekends only)
Apple Picking
Barnyard Basketball
caBARNa Rentals – farm-themed cabanas for children’s parties
Cider Barn – hard cider and beer bar for adults (weekends only)
Corn Maze
Corn Pit
Cow Train
Caramel Apple Shoppe – watch them being made!
Duck Races
Farm Animals
Gem Mining
Harvest Bistro
Harvest Plaza – fall decor and live music
Pedal Tractors
Pumpkin Jumping Pads
Pumpkin Patch
Slippery Slope Dual 40’ Slides
Spinning Apple Ride
Straw Bale Pyramid
Sunflower Stroll
Vine Bar on the Patio
Wagon Rides

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Podcaster Ryan Invests in, Promotes Laird Superfood

Published August 10, 2023

Former U.S. Navy SEAL, CIA contractor and top-rated podcast host Shawn Ryan is partnering with Laird Superfood, Inc., as a shareholder and brand ambassador. This partnership kicks off Laird Superfood’s mission to amplify its voice through powerful ambassadors with passions for real, functional food.

The team-up is a strong connection for both Laird Superfood, leader in functional food, and Ryan, host of a #1 social and cultural podcast on Spotify and Apple, aligning their shared dedication to helping consumers optimize their daily performance with the natural, functional benefits of plants.

“I have incorporated mushrooms into my diet for some time now and seen the difference they can make in my personal wellness,” said Ryan. “I have also been growing my platform to tell the stories of people searching for the truth and challenging the norm. The chance to combine those passions by working with Laird Superfood and telling the story of its founder Laird Hamilton is an opportunity I am extremely excited to pursue.”

This partnership seamlessly integrates with Ryan’s personal lifestyle focusing on a combination of physical and mental wellness, as well as The Shawn Ryan Show’s new scope hosting guests in the fields of health and wellness, society and culture, philosophy and more. The podcast currently has 1.78 million followers on YouTube, with 5 million downloads on Spotify and Apple Podcast in July alone. The show also hit the top five globally on Spotify in July.

Laird Superfood has some of the highest ingredient quality standards in the consumer packaged goods industry to ensure they provide consumers with clean and functional foods that support energy, focus and balance.

The flavors in Laird Superfoods are derived from real foods found in nature; the products do not contain any artificial ingredients. All products are inspired by the lives of founders Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece, including their active lifestyle, their quest to consume only the best foods on the planet, and their passion for making clean, plant-based foods accessible to all.

“Shawn embodies the lifestyle and mission of the Laird Superfood brand, and we are excited to welcome him to the team,” said Jason Vieth, CEO. “We look forward to creating a sustainable, long-term partnership with Shawn that will reinforce our shared values and goals.”

Ryan’s favorite Laird Superfood products include the Sweet & Creamy with Adaptogens Superfood Creamer and Organic Performance Mushrooms.

This news comes on the heels of Laird Superfood’s new packaging rebrand, which debuted at the Natural Products Expo West in March.

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