Supermarket Perimeter - November 2024 - 14

Gen Z willing to pay more for sustainable products with more transparency
By Brooke Just
A survey conducted by YouGov, on behalf of Whole Foods Market, found that 70% of Gen Z supports climate-smart agriculture
practices; 55% are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable products; over half prefer companies that prioritize lower
environmental impacts or locally sourced foods; 80% prioritize food quality in purchasing decisions; about 70% are willing to
spend more on high-quality food; around 75% are concerned about the future of the climate; 68% feel they would benefit from
more information from retailers about the sustainability of various food products, 75% view reducing food waste as essential for
sustainability, yet only half prioritize sustainable packaging; 69% believe companies should advocate for a change in responsible
sourcing, with 66% preferring companies that give back to local communities and 71% wanting companies to support their
employees; and over 60% report stronger feelings about food sourcing and ingredient transparency compared to five years ago.
Thx! names VP of growth, gratitude
Thx! Dreams, a social impact organization in the fresh produce industry,
based in Weston, Fla., recently appointed Jay Guzman to the new role of
vice president, growth & gratitude.
" I am incredibly proud to have the opportunity to work with a team
that is truly innovating the consumer experience by sharing the stories
of our farmworkers and how their purchases contribute to making
dreams come true, " Guzman said.
Guzman's prior experience includes 15 years in the produce industry
and a passion for social responsibility, Thx! said.
Guzman most recently served as director of national retail
partnership for Fair Trade USA, where he was a key part of Fair Trade
Certified program's growth with major US retailers.
Guzman attended the 2024 Global Produce & Floral Show and said he
enjoyed connecting with the other attendees and exhibitors, discussing
Thx!'s mission of creating a more socially responsible, impactful fresh
produce industry.
" Thx! is on a mission to expand its social impact program so that it
may empower and help more farmworkers while fostering personal
connections between them and consumers, " the organization said.
" Thx!'s innovative platform generates value for the entire supply chain,
fostering enriching relationships with brands and their consumers,
retailers and their shoppers, and allowing these shoppers the chance to
'do good' with their purchases. Conscious consumerism is paramount
to today's consumers, and Thx! empowers partner brands with
enhanced product value and a deeper sense of purpose. "
100% employee-owned and thriving
Nunda, N.Y.-based Once Again Nut Butters celebrated 50 years of being
100% employee-owned in October.
" The 86-member team successfully brings organic and natural
peanut, almond, cashew and seed butters, plus snacks, to market, while
simultaneously striving to protect the environment, engage in Fair Trade
practices, provide supply-chain transparency, and uphold unsurpassed
safety and quality standards, " Once Again said. " They also actively
support their community both at home and abroad. "
Once Again was founded by husband-and-wife duo Jeremy Thaler
and Constance Potter, and as the name suggests, they had launched
other employee-owned companies before. It all started with Thaler
making homemade nut butter with a coffee roaster in an 800-squarefoot
basement, the company said. Now, Once Again operates under an
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which involves the following:
14 - NOVEMBER 2024
supermarketperimeter.com
* ESOP is a retirement benefit plan that allows employees to be
invested in the business with their own performance.
* Employees become participants in the plan after one year of service
and are fully vested after six.
* Unlike most ESOPs, where voting is based on number of stock shares,
each participant gets one vote (1 person = 1 vote), and committees
help direct initiatives to meet company goals.
* Employee participation in governance is supported through Board
Member elections, with at least three employee-owners on the Board
of Directors at all times.
* This participative style of management boosts employee retention,
even in hard-to-fill manufacturing jobs, and inspires the team to
produce products at a higher level of integrity and provide superior
customer service.
" At Once Again, we see ourselves as more than just employees, " said
Gael Orr, Once Again's director of marketing and employee owner for
more than 15 years, " We are business owners and proud to be part of
something bigger than ourselves. The ESOP model has a way of uniting
us, not just as a team - but as a community - toward a common goal
of helping our company be successful. "
Hayley Hyer / Sosland Publishing Co.

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Supermarket Perimeter - November 2024

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