Gourmet News

Amazon’s Hoggett Announces Departure From Company

Published October 25, 2024

Tony Hoggett, Amazon’s senior vice president of Worldwide Grocery Stores, announced on his LinkedIn account Friday, Oct. 25, that he was leaving the company.

“After nearly three years at Amazon, it’s time for the next step in my career,” he wrote. “My time at Amazon has been incredible, and I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support, guidance and friendship. I’m optimistic about the work Amazon is doing to improve the grocery shopping experience for customers, and have no doubt the teams will keep the momentum going in my absence. I’ll be cheering you all on.”

Many of the comments left on his post asked why he was leaving and where he was going, but Hoggett didn’t respond to them.

Three days before his post, Hoggett announced a pilot program for fresh grocery deliveries.

“We recently announced the launch of a new pilot in Phoenix where customers can shop fresh groceries alongside millions of general merchandise products, all delivered together in just hours,” he wrote. “Get organic ingredients from Whole Foods Market 🍎, affordable snacks from Amazon Fresh 🍪, and even socks from Amazon.com 🧦 —all in one order.”

The week before, he congratulated his team for the opening of a small-format store with Whole Foods Market.

“Exciting news in Chicago as we test a small-format store from Amazon under the same roof as Whole Foods Market in the One Chicago building!” he wrote. “Customers can now shop their favorite natural and organic brands while also quickly topping up their groceries with a larger assortment of favorite national brands, grab-and-go meals, and household essentials—all in one trip. Congratulations to the entire team on this opening!”

Hoggett joined Amazon two years and 10 months ago, according to his profile, after 31 years at British supermarket chain Tesco as group chief strategy and innovation officer and as group chief operating officer.

“Hoggett started his career at Tesco as a 16-year-old trolley bo,” an article from Reuters said at the time. “Over three decades he rose to become CEO Asia and then group chief operating officer.”

The Reuters article quoted Hoggett as saying:

“It was a big decision to move on from Tesco but after meeting members of the Amazon leadership team and hearing the ambitions for the business and physical stores, I know it’s a journey and an opportunity that I want to be part of.”

“After nearly three years of leading our grocery business, helping guide the organization to new levels of impact, and building a strong team that will continue to make grocery shopping simpler, faster, and more affordable, Tony Hoggett has decided to leave Amazon,” according to a company statement. “We thank Tony for his many accomplishments at Amazon and especially for what he’s delivered for customers.”

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USDA Issues Warning of Illegally Imported Myanmar Products

Published October 25, 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were illegally imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

The following products are subject to the public health alert, regardless of the product date. View labels in Burmese.

180-g. cans containing “BEST BEEF CURRY.”
425-g. cans containing “BEST Chicken Biryani.”
360-g. cans containing “Hti Mi Gwik Dry MoHinGa Paste.”
425-g. cans containing “BEST Myanmar Duck Blood.”
400-g. cans containing “Eain Chak MoHinGa Paste.”
160-g. vacuum sealed clear packages containing “Min Thar Gyi Dried Fish.”
400-g. cans containing “Eain Chak Coconut Soup Paste.”

The products subject to the public health alert do not bear an establishment number nor a USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was performing surveillance activities at a retailer and found meat and poultry products from Myanmar that are not eligible to be exported to the United States.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries and on retailers’ shelves. Retailers who have purchased the products are urged not to sell them. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Leo Chen, Managing Member, at 480-399-6811 or Leo251185@gmail.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

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AAK Sells NJ Foodservice Facility to Stratas Foods

Published October 23, 2024

AAK has entered into an agreement to divest its foodservice facility in Hillside, N.J. This move aligns with its portfolio-based strategy to further optimize foodservice operations. While the standalone Hillside site will be sold, AAK is also planning to invest in enhancing its European foodservice structure, with a focus on strengthening its strong presence in the United Kingdom and Nordic regions.

A binding transaction agreement has been signed with Stratas Foods LLC, and the transaction is expected to be completed before the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions. Until completion, Hillside will continue to be reported as part of Food Ingredients. The transaction is expected to generate a one-time positive cash flow impact of approximately SEK 600 million at closing, with no anticipated material effect on the profit and loss statement. Hillside represents approximately 5 percent of AAK’s total volumes and contributes around 1 percent to its
operating profit.

As a result, the divestment is expected to positively impact the group’s operating profit per kilo by approximately 4 percent, all else being equal. At the same time, to future-proof and strengthen its remaining foodservice operations in Europe, AAK is looking to invest in a new site to replace the existing facility in Dalby, Sweden. Additionally, it is enhancing and modernizing its Hastings Foodservice site in the United Kingdom.

The total capital investment for the European foodservice expansion is approximately SEK 400 million, spread over 2025-2026. These investments will further strengthen AAK’s competitiveness in the United Kingdom and northern Europe.

Johan Westman, president and CEO: “In line with our strategy, we are optimizing our foodservice business by focusing on Europe, where we see critical mass and growth potential. As part of this shift, we will divest the Hillside plant while strengthening our European presence by investing in a new facility in Sweden to replace the existing site in Dalby. Additionally, we are enhancing and modernizing our Hastings Foodservice site in the UK. These strategic investments will improve operational efficiency and position AAK for future growth in the foodservice sector.”

Erik Heggen, CEO Stratas Foods, LLC: “The acquisition of AAK Hillside underscores our commitment to expanding our footprint and capabilities in the Northeast. Along with our Englewood, N.J., site, AAK Hillside fortifies a robust platform that empowers us to grow with our customers today and well into the future. At Stratas, our Team is focused on re-defining what is possible to help our customers thrive. Together, our Hillside and Englewood locations are poised to deliver unparalleled value to our customers and stakeholders alike.”

AAK Foodservice manufactures over 300 specialty products, including oils, condiments, sauces, dressings, frying oils and ingredients. Following the divestment of Hillside, AAK operates three foodservice facilities worldwide – Runcorn and Hastings in the United Kingdom and Dalby in Sweden – collectively accounting for around 5 percent of the group’s total production volume. Once completed, the new site will replace the existing site in Dalby.

Stratas Foods, LLC is the leading supplier of fats, oils, mayonnaise, dressings and sauces to the foodservice, food ingredients and retail private label markets in North America. Stratas Foods was formed in October 2008 as a 50/50 joint venture between Associated British Foods and Archer Daniels Midland.

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