California Ag Network

Tag: SunMaid

  • Will Declining Raisin Grape Acreage Lead to Higher Raisin Prices?

    California raisin growers have been disappointed this year with the raisin market after coming off of record high raisin prices the year before.  Is this price volatility expected to last, and will the continued removal of raisin acreage impact future pricing? Watch this brief interview with Steve Kister, Chairman of Board with Sun-Maid Growers, and read more about it in the February issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

     

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  • A Brand New Sun-Maid: Investing in the Future

    The dried fruit sector hasn’t been as popular with millennial consumers as in other generations, but Sun-Maid Growers are working to turn things around (at least for California raisins) with some new strategies and investments as shared at their annual meeting in Fresno recently.  Watch this brief interview with Sun-Maid CEO Harry Overly and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • “Brand New” Sun-Maid Holds 107TH Annual Meeting

    Sun-Maid Growers of California held its 107th Annual membership meeting at the Convention Center’s “New Exhibit Hall” in Downtown Fresno this past weekend. The theme “It’s a Brand New Sun-Maid—And it’s not just Business as Usual” was evident throughout the event with a fresh approach to facing challenges in the industry and continuing company-wide transformation. More than 1,000 raisin growers, families and guests were in attendance.

    Sun-Maid President & CEO, Harry Overly laid out the company’s work during the past year to transform Sun-Maid, including an all-encompassing marketing campaign launched at the start of 2019.

    “Our marketing efforts appealed to today’s millennial mom in an extremely relevant way and as such, we increased Sun-Maid branded sales, household usage, and household penetration amongst this newly targeted demographic,” Overly said.

    In addition to covering marketing wins and highlighting new products, President Overly articulated a change in corporate strategy as well, with the aim to drive brand value and strengthen member returns via a multi-faceted approach.His plans include optimizing the company’s current core raisin business in addition to diversifying Sun-Maid’s product portfolio with exciting innovation and future acquisitions.

    Chairman Steve Kister provided a review of the 2019 crop, industry supply and demand, and future for raisin growers. Both Kister and Overly stressed Sun-Maid’s investment in the future and how the new strategy, while different from historical practices, will deliver for Sun-Maid growers.

    Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid is the world’s largest marketer of raisins and other premium quality dried fruits. Sun-Maid’s sales are approximately half retail consumer products and half ingredient products for items such as cereals, breads and a variety of other food products. Headquartered in Fresno, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Sun-Maid products are distributed throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world.