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Kroger plans national rollout of Apeel avocados

Cincinnati store pilot also to test brand’s new longer-shelf-life produce

Russell Redman

September 19, 2019

2 Min Read
Apeel avocado-Kroger sign - Copy.png
Kroger/Apeel Sciences

The Kroger Co. plans to sell longer-lasting avocados from Apeel Sciences at more than 1,100 supermarkets across the country.

In addition, the supermarket giant said yesterday it plans to debut two new produce categories for Apeel — asparagus and limes — in a pilot this fall at stores in the Cincinnati market.

With the rollout, Cincinnati-based Kroger said it will be the first retailer to offer Apeel produce coast to coast. Apeel's plant-derived technology gives produce a little extra peel to slow water loss and oxidation, the primary causes of spoilage. The Santa Barbara, Calif-based company said this doubles to triples the shelf life of many kinds of produce.

The national distribution builds on a pilot of Apeel avocados that Kroger launched a year ago at 109 stores in the Midwest.

Apeel Produce 02 - Copy.jpg

"Kroger is excited to offer more customers Apeel avocados and introduce longer-lasting limes and asparagus, marking another milestone on our journey to achieving our Zero Hunger|Zero Waste vision," Frank Romero, vice president of produce at Kroger, said in a statement. "Apeel's innovative food-based solution has proven to extend the life of perishable produce, reducing food waste in transport, in our retail stores and in our customers' homes."

Kroger and Apeel Sciences noted that because Apeel avocados, asparagus and limes maintain their quality longer than other produce, the products are less reliant on refrigeration, reduce food waste and extend customer access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

Related:Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste reduces food waste footprint

The companies said the Apeel-Kroger partnership will prevent millions of pieces of produce from going to waste and ending up in landfills each year, which will preserve dozens of acres of farmland, cut thousands of metric tons in greenhouse gases via reduced emissions, yield water-use savings of over a billion gallons and result in more than 100,000 gigajoules in non-renewable energy reductions.

"Kroger is leading the way to alleviate the food waste crisis at every level, from its supply chain to its retail stores to the homes of over 11 million customers who shop at Kroger every day," commented James Rogers, CEO of Apeel Sciences. "We're excited to expand our partnership with Kroger to further prevent food waste while simultaneously giving families more access and time to enjoy healthy fresh produce."

Currently, 40% of the food produced is thrown away, and food waste contributes about 8% of annual greenhouse gas emissions and is deemed as a leading cause of climate change, Apeel and Kroger reported. They noted that redirecting just a third of this wasted food would help feed the one in eight Americans now struggling with hunger.

Related:‘Ugly’ produce brand on the way from Kroger

Apeel’s other retail partners include Costco Wholesale Corp., Associated Wholesale Grocers, Martin’s Supermarkets and Harps Food Stores.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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