Key Food Stores Co-operative Inc., a chain of independently owned and operated grocery stores, held grand opening celebrations June 14 for three new stores in two New York City boroughs.

The grand opening ceremonies, one held in Staten Island and two in Queens, drew New York City government officials as well as high-ranking executives from the cooperative.

Southern Specialties, a grower, importer, processor and shipper of a variety of specialty products grown in Central America, South America, Mexico, Canada and the United States, has named Jeff Reid vice president of operations.

Reid will oversee development and execution of strategic objectives to maximize growth and profitability for the Pompano Beach, FL-based company.

Several produce growers are teaming with Sony Pictures Animation and Feeding America on a campaign tied to the highly anticipated animated comedy, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, based in Wenatchee, WA, announced the addition of ELLIE TUCKER to its domestic and organic sales team on June 3.

Tucker, a Washington native who grew up on a Wenatchee pear orchard, is following her family’s tradition of working in the fruit industry.

“Albert’s Organics is pleased to announce the opening of two new distribution centers; one in New Jersey and one in Colorado,” said Simcha Weinstein, director of marketing for the leading national distributor of organic products headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA. “The new warehouses will replace our existing warehouses currently located in Bridgeport, New Jersey, and in Aurora, Colorado. These new facilities will allow us to provide greater service to our customers in both the greater Rocky Mountain region as well as on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic East Coast areas.”

Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, said that the company is completely vertically integrated in the garlic Industry.

“We have a seed program and we process and pack garlic in every imaginable way-some of which are exclusive to our company,” said Hymel. “And we market direct to all segments of the food industry: from A to Z.”