Wakefern Food Corp. supermarket banners ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market are inviting job seekers to explore exciting career opportunities during a series of walk-in hiring fairs on Saturday, Jan. 31.

With more than 100 years of retail merchandising, buying and category management experience among them, the Idaho Potato Commission retail promotion directors know their stuff. Here are their top tips for boosting sales of “gourmet potato” 24-ounce pack sizes.

1. Focus on the right product mix

Currently Sprouts Farmers Market corporate offices are located above an express version of the specialty store in a North Phoenix development that includes retail, office and residential buildings. In mid 2026, the headquarters will move a few hundred yards east as Sprouts is building a new, larger headquarters campus in the adjacent City North development. 

Keystone Fruit Marketing, a division of Progressive Produce, promoted Matthew Gideon to director of sales. Since joining Keystone in 2009, Gideon has played a key role in supporting the division’s growth, strengthening its year-round sweet onion program and building relationships with key accounts.

In his new role, Gideon will be responsible for all aspects of sales for the Keystone division. He will lead the company’s sales team in strategy, execution and customer partnerships across the company’s onion, sweet onion, apple, watermelon and citrus categories.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, berry demand is starting to build across both retail and foodservice, and supply is tightening in a few key areas. This is shaping up to be a year where early planning will make a real difference.

When it comes to spuds, bigger is definitely better: bigger crops, bigger potatoes, bigger package sizes. It’s all adding up to bigger opportunities for category growth this season, said Mark Daniels, Idaho Potato Commission retail promotion director-Southeast/Central.