Is the Next Big Thing getting ready to introduce the Next Big Thing?

The Southeast Produce Council introduced a few changes to this year’s recently completed Southern Innovations 2024 conference and expo, and by all accounts, the attendees embraced and welcomed them.

Among those changes, attendees had an extra hour to walk the trade show floor, and no events were scheduled afterwards, so attendees had the evening free. The Chairman’s Dinner Dance, which previously took place after the expo, was moved to Saturday evening. In addition, there was no keynote luncheon and address.

Fresh Innovations LLC, the Rhome, TX-based marketer of ¡Yo Quiero! brand fresh guacamole and dips, will unveil new additions to its Grab & Go line as well as new sour cream-based dips at the upcoming IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta.

Tara Murray, vice president of marketing, said the IFPA show serves as the premier produce industry event for new product launches and is one the company looks forward to each year.

Wakefern Food Corp. announced the appointment of Mark Van Buskirk as group vice president of fresh.
 
“We are excited to welcome Mark to our leadership team at Wakefern,” said Wakefern Chief Sales Officer Darren Caudill. “High-quality fresh offerings have always been at the heart of the customer supermarket experience — and we know Mark’s expertise and leadership will help us continue to grow these categories and take fresh to the next level.”
 

Litehouse Foods Inc., an employee-owned company which began as a line of refrigerated salad dressing and evolved into an offering of various food products across multiple brands, heads to the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral show later this month.