Ukraine Seafood Company Struggles to Survive, SeafoodSource Says
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to devastate the nation, one seafood company is working hard to maintain production, despite huge losses such as the loss of 5,000 pounds of frozen fish when a warehouse was destroyed.
SeafoodSource editor Chris Chase looked at how Kiev-based Universal Fish Company, a leading Eastern European fish and seafood processing company, is faring in wartime.
“It is too early to make an estimate, as the hostilities have continued unabated, and the situation remains grim,” UFC’s Tetiana Krupenko is quoted in the article. “We lost over 5,000 tons of frozen fish in the largest warehouse, amounting to USD 15 million [EUR 13.9 million]. Another loss amounting to roughly USD 20 million [EUR 18.6 million] was in the logistic center in occupied part of Kharkiv region.”
Chase writes that the Ukraine seafood company “is eager to resume business inside and outside of Ukraine as soon as possible.”
“It is vitally important to restore our production and business overall and thus to support Ukraine’s economy,” Krupenko told Chase. “Internal demand is much lower now, it is just about very basic items.
“So, any new export request would be highly appreciated. Any new customer from [the] E.U., U.S.A., and [the] rest of the world would be an opportunity for us.”
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Just Egg Ads Poke Fun at Celebrities’ Healthier Lifestyles
Eat Just, Inc. has launched an ad campaign that features tennis star Serena Williams and actor Jake Gyllenhaal, both investors in the brand, eating Just Egg as part of their healthier lifestyles. Actor JB Smoove reprises his role as cheeky narrator in this new series of ads, poking fun at celebrity perks such as personal trainers and nutritionists while pointing out that everyone can eat plant-based eggs.
Williams, known for her powerful style of tennis that has earned her 23 grand slam victories, is depicted at home in her kitchen, surrounded by a team of experts calibrating every moment of her day, including preparing her perfectly plated Just Egg breakfast sandwich. Gyllenhaal is scrambling a pan of Just Egg after finishing a new, trendy workout that only celebrities know about.
Both spots humorously contrast the absurd lengths celebrities go for their high-performance lifestyles with the ease and deliciousness of Just Egg’s plant-based eggs. In addition to being free from cholesterol, these plant-based eggs have 69 percent less saturated fat than a chicken egg and contain 5 to 7 grams of plant-based protein per serving (depending on the Just Egg product).
The ads will air on television in major markets including Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City and will appear nationally on connected TV platforms and social media. To watch both ads, visit ju.st/ads. Billboards will also go up in these major markets, delivering short, humorous lines in large font such as “Eat it for your heart. Or the deliciousness. We don’t care.”
Plant-based products popular
According to research conducted by Just Egg in partnership with Numerator, consumers across the age spectrum are choosing plant-based products primarily to improve their health. This campaign will shine a light on why Just Egg is healthier compared to conventional eggs. In the United States, the plant-based egg category grew rapidly in 2021 with a 42 percent increase in retail dollar sales, according to data from the Plant Based Foods Association, the Good Food Institute and SPINS. In the past three years, plant-based egg sales in the United States have grown more than 1,000 percent and Just Egg represents more than 99 percent of the market.
“I’ll let you in on a secret: I don’t actually have a scientist in my kitchen. It’s not that exciting in there. But I do have Just Egg,” said Serena Williams, referencing a humorous scene in the ad she appears in. “I eat to live, so Just Egg helps me feel and perform better. But it’s also delicious – I don’t think my family can even taste the difference between Just Egg and chicken eggs. I’m also all-in on the mission: how can we make healthy, sustainable options accessible to everyone? Just Egg is making a real difference, and I’m proud to partner with them and be a shareholder in the company.”
“I’m excited to be partnering with Just Egg,” Gyllenhaal said. “I’m eating more plant-based for my health, and Just Egg makes it easy and delicious. I also recognize the impact our food system has on our planet, so Just Egg’s mission is important to me. And, honestly, who can turn down being narrated by JB Smoove?”
Campaign includes giveaways
In early June, Just Egg will launch a series of giveaways in partnership with brand ambassadors including celebrities, athletes and creators, where one winner will receive an exclusive kit featuring some of each person’s favorite items for the kitchen and gym. Throughout the summer, fitness creators across multiple platforms will create recipes featuring Just Egg paired with their favorite workouts, demonstrating how Just Egg fits into their active lifestyles.
As of April, the company has sold the plant-based equivalent of 250 million eggs, saving 9.1 billion gallons of water, avoiding 43.6 million kilograms of CO2e and sparing 13,446 acres of land. Just Egg products are available in approximately 44,000 retail points of distribution and more than 2,200 foodservice locations including national partners Caribou Coffee and Peet’s Coffee.
Just Egg is No. 1 in household spend and consumer loyalty among branded eggs and recently surpassed 2 million U.S. households. Recent approval for Just Egg’s proprietary mung bean protein in the EU has paved the way for a fourth quarter launch of Just Egg in Europe. Other recent launches in South Africa and South Korea build on the brand’s growing international presence, which also includes Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.
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Fave U.K. Cake Mr Kipling Now in U.S. stores
Mr Kipling, the No. 1 cake brand in the United Kingdom and Australia, has arrived on U.S. shores. The array of high-quality, beautifully portioned cakes were stocked bakery shelves at 219 Target stores across the nation in April. Premier Foods will showcase its new cakes at IDDBA 2022.
Each cake slice is packed in individual pods to keep them moist and fresh. The portable packs allow consumers to take a well-deserved cake break anywhere, anytime; at home, at work, on the go or packed in a lunchbox.
Mr Kipling Cake slices are available in Lemon, Chocolate, Vanilla and Salted Caramel and are featured in the bakery section of Target stores. These patisserie-style cakes create a 100 percent incremental, low labor, freeze thaw snacking solution to the in store bakery section. The launch will be supported with sampling, outdoor advertising and a digital coupon campaign.
“Mr Kipling is the perfect fit for the U.S. market, filling the gap between consumers’ desire for high-quality sweet treats and the need for convenient, easy snacking formats,” said Diana Horwitz, U.S. country manager for Premier Foods. “Our research revealed consumers are wowed by the quality of our cakes and how fresh they taste, plus they loved their look – the European patisserie aesthetic. These beautiful cakes are perfect for a coffee break at home or easy to slip into a backpack for snacking on the go.”
The slices are now available in the bakery section of 219 Target stores in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin.
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