Empire Co. Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire Mayrand Food Group Inc., a long‑established Québec food retailer operating four large‑format locations across the greater Montréal area.

The transaction is being completed pursuant to a court‑approved process and remains subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of court-approval and required regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in first quarter of fiscal 2027.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association held its 2026 Annual General Meeting virtually last week, bringing members together to reflect on a year marked by strong governance, member engagement and meaningful advocacy outcomes for Canada’s fresh produce sector.

Offshoot Brands announced the appointment of Jenna Schulte as vice president of sales and operations.

In this newly created role, Schulte will lead the integration of sales strategy and operational execution across the organization, supporting the company’s continued expansion while strengthening customer partnerships and internal capabilities.

At the Texas International Produce Association’s Viva Fresh expo, Exp. Group will be showcasing dozens of its Rosita brand fruits and vegetables grown in Mexico, as well as an expansion in South Texas.

The North Bergen, NJ-based company will be focusing on big news for its Texas division: a fast-approaching move to a new facility in Pharr. Business at the current facility, which opened in September 2023 in McAllen, rapidly outgrew the space, said Anthony Serafino, Exp. Group president.

Cherry Central Cooperative named Helena Beckett as its new president and CEO, effective today.

Beckett brings more than two decades of experience in the fresh produce and retail industries, with a strong track record of driving growth, building high-performing teams and developing strategic partnerships across national retail markets. Most recently, she served as director of retail sales at BrightFresh Microgreens, where she led significant revenue growth, expanded national retail partnerships and helped drive the company’s marketing and digital commerce strategy.