Having done my share of mentoring, I know how important it can be to receive professional guidance and inspiration at a critical stage of one’s career. But I also know that you’re never too old to be mentored – and that there are times when the right influence can keep you from becoming jaded or disillusioned.
That’s why today I want to honor Jim Keyes, chairman of Wild Oats and CEO of Fresh and Easy. Working with him this past couple of years has been a real source of inspiration to me, and, though he may not have been aware of it, has really helped me to ‘up my game’. When I say that, it’s because he is one of the most creative, yet demanding and detail-oriented individuals I’ve ever met – and his exacting and exciting approach to work is contagious.
In short, Jim is the type of person that walks the talk of innovation and is always pushing for the next big idea — like the 72-hour egg, the multifunction ATM machine, prepaid phone cards (which he launched here in the U.S. after finding them being used in Asia), mix-your-own-flavor beverage machines and the aluminum bottle that he was credited with bringing to Anheuser-Busch by former CEO August Busch, to cite just a few examples.
I was at a point in my career when I almost felt innovation and bringing new ideas to the party were a waste of time, because that’s not where the money was, and venture funds were really struggling with anything outside of the Silicon Valley. But then I met Jim, who as the press release below so eloquently states, is rocking the world of natural and organic foods. And I am both happy and appreciative to have a seat at the table so I can watch him work some of his wonders.
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Wild Oats and Fresh & Easy have partnered to introduce several innovative new Wild Oats organic and fresh food products at Fresh & Easy stores across Arizona, California and Nevada. From fresh, handmade USDA-certified organic fresh salads and sandwiches to organic milk and cage-free eggs, new fresh Wild Oats products at affordable prices are hitting the shelves at Fresh & Easy weekly.
Wild Oats and Fresh & Easy are revolutionizing the way consumers access high-quality organic, fresh and affordable food. Wild Oats, a trusted provider of organic groceries, is featuring the following lines at Fresh & Easy, all of which are affordably priced to make the products accessible to all:
Wild Oats Marketplace Organic™ adheres to USDA guidelines for organic certification and includes everything from Organic Milk kept cold and delivered daily from the dairy to a variety of innovative and delicious fresh salads and handmade sandwiches like Organic Beef Fajita, Organic Turkey and Cheddar and Organic Veggie Salad, made fresh and delivered daily:
Wild Oats Organic Milk — $3.89/half gallon
Wild Oats Organic Almond Milk — $3.99/half gallon
Wild Oats Organic Salads — $6.49 to $7.49/7 to 14 oz.
Wild Oats Organic Sandwiches — $5.99/5 to 7 oz.
Wild Oats Organic Sliced Breads — $3.99/24 oz. loaf
Wild Oats Organic Hummus — $3.99/8 oz.
Wild Oats Marketplace™, which includes products with simple and real ingredients, including California cage free eggs delivered within 72 hours of being laid – so fresh they even have a “laid on” date stamped right on the shell, and a handmade Tuna Salad sandwich.
Wild Oats Large Cage Free Eggs — $3.99/dozen
Wild Oats Tuna Salad Sandwich — $5.99/5 oz.
Wild Oats Fresh Mozzarella — $3.99/8 oz.
Wild Oats Marketplace Originals™, offering new and uniquely formulated items including a line of newly-launched Parfaits.
Wild Oats Original Parfaits — $3.49 to $4.49/7 to 8.5 oz.
“We are excited about bringing innovative new products to our customers and believe that FRESH is the natural evolution in organic food offerings,” said Jim Keyes, CEO of Fresh & Easy. “Wild Oats products have been a huge hit and contribute to our mission to make Fresh & Easy the preferred destination for convenient, affordable and high-quality foods.”
Fresh & Easy has never allowed high-fructose corn syrup, added trans fats, artificial colors or flavors in any of its brand products. Wild Oats products share that commitment, and all Wild Oats brand products available at Fresh & Easy stores are free from 125 ingredients that will not be permitted in the line, including no artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, hydrogenated fats, synthetic hormones or antibiotics.
“Wild Oats innovation in fresh products at Fresh & Easy is consistent with our mission of making high quality organic products affordable and available under the authentic, much-loved Wild Oats brand. Wild Oats is facilitating the next phase of growth in organic retailing by bring both scalable savings and innovation in organic fresh products,” said Tom Casey, CEO of Wild Oats.
Wild Oats product assortment will vary slightly by Fresh & Easy store. For more information on product assortment and availability, please visit www.freshandeasy.com/wild-oats/ and www.wildoats.com.
Wild Oats products are also available at Walmart stores. For more information, please visit http://wildoats.com/news/walmart-wild-oats-launch-effort-drive-organic-food-prices/.
About Fresh & Easy
Fresh & Easy operates 167 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada. All of Fresh & Easy’s products, including the freshly prepared meals, are made with the highest quality ingredients and contain no artificial colors, flavors, high-fructose corn syrup or added trans fats. For more information about Fresh & Easy, visit www.freshandeasy.com and follow the company on its journey on Twitter (www.twitter.com/freshandeasy) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/freshandeasy).
About Wild Oats
Wild Oats Marketing, LLC was formed by The Yucaipa Companies in December 2011 to bring back the much-loved and trusted Wild Oats brand. Founded in 1987 in Boulder, Colorado, as Wild Oats Markets, the original Wild Oats was a leading operator of natural and organic foods stores and farmers markets in North America, and grew to become the nation’s second-largest natural and organic foods chain. For more information about Wild Oats, visit www.wildoats.com and follow the company on its journey on Twitter (www.twitter.com/wildoats) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/wildoatsmarkets).
Contacts: Brendan Wonnacott, Fresh & Easy
Phone: 310-341-1356
Brendan.Wonnacott@freshandeasy.com
Bill McCue, Wild Oats LLC
Phone: 212-334-9767
bmccue@n6a.com
