Mario Batali, the celebrity guru of Italian restaurants in America, claims that the keys to the cuisine in his restaurants are freshness and simplicity. But that mantra is almost contradictory to what patrons express after dining at any of the 14 restaurants.

Sweetbay Supermarket, the Tampa, FL-based supermarket company of the Belgium-based Delhaize Group, has named Lori Malcolm vice president of human resources at the supermarket chain.

Ms. Malcolm's primary responsibilities include promoting Sweetbay's passion for food and passion for people among associates, senior managers, and operating officers and directors. She will also be responsible for enhancing Sweetbay's corporate culture and values, helping to create a vibrant place to work for the employees.

Market data recently released by AC Nielsen indicate that sliced apples marketed by Crunch Pak LLC in Cashmere, WA, rank among the top prepared food items consumed.

Crunch Pak Director of Marketing Tony Freytag said that the one-pound bag of sweet apple slices was fourth on the list, and the company's tart apple slices ranked 12th. This is no small feat, he noted, because the overall list includes 1,400 items classified as prepared foods.

After more than 60 years in the fresh produce industry, Jerry Grossman is ready to call it a job well done.

Mr. Grossman spent most of those years as an independent produce broker. His license expires May 20, and at 86 years old, he is closing the business. It would seem that he has had a pretty good run. "I don't think anyone's ever called me a rotten son of a bitch," Mr. Grossman joked.

The secret to his success, he told The Produce News, came down to these three attributes: quality, honesty and volume.

FRESNO, CA -- When Rob O'Rourke, former president of RJO Produce Marketing, here, and a founding partner of the company, left to work for Topco in Chicago nearly four years ago, his brother John O'Rourke, also a founding partner, stepped into the position of president at RJO.

About nine months ago, after spending three years with Topco, Rob O'Rourke returned to RJO as senior vice president of retail development.

Three promotions have recently taken place in the senior produce ranks at Sobeys Quebec.

Pat Calabretta, the former director of produce merchandising, was promoted to senior director of produce merchandising and buying. Simon Faucher was promoted to head buyer, and Francis Berube was promoted to head merchandiser.

In his new position, Mr. Calabretta, who has been with Sobeys Quebec for the past 11 years, will be in charge of merchandising, procurement and quality control.