Wakefern Food Corp. reported retail sales of $18.3 billion for the 53-week fiscal year ending Oct. 3, a 9.75 percent increase from the prior year. One of the largest retailer-owned cooperatives in the United States, Wakefern opened four new ShopRite stores, welcomed a new banner, Manhattan-based Fairway Market, and added a new member, the Maniaci family, during the same period. Nicholas Supermarkets, founded by the Maniaci family in 1943, now operates four new Fresh Grocer supermarkets in northern New Jersey.

Naturipe’s berry experts are daring consumers to get creative with cranberries this holiday season — and beyond — with the launch of the company’s first downloadable cookbook, Reimagining Cranberries. Available for free at naturipefarms.com, Naturipe’s cranberry cookbook features 17 sweet, savory, and even spicy recipes to inspire experienced chefs and provide step-by-step instructions for kitchen beginners. 

Index Fresh, a California-based global avocado marketer, recently announced John Dmytriw as its vice president of business development. Dmytriw previously held the position of senior business specialist and has been with the company since 2008.

“John’s 20 years in the global avocado industry have primed him to manage Index’s existing relationships and to provide leadership in expanding our account base,” said Todd Elder, vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re excited to have John in a position to further develop new partnerships across the globe.”

Innovation and stewardship are two of Stemilt’s values and were recently demonstrated during the company’s first Equitable Food Initiative project taken on by Stemilt’s Quincy, WA, EFI leadership team. Stemilt achieved EFI certification at Quincy in September and is now applying the problem-solving process, which is a key component of the EFI program, to continuously improve operations and fulfill the company’s mission to cultivate people and delight consumers.

Food Lion is adding to-go grocery pick up services at 32 new stores in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Customers can use the Food Lion To-Go website or the Food Lion To-Go app to confirm availability and place orders.

BrightFarms, a leading next-generation indoor farming company supplying U.S. grocery retailers with packaged salad greens, has secured more than $100 million in debt and new equity capital to support robust expansion plans. The Series E round of funding was led by Cox Enterprises, which now owns a majority stake in the company, and includes a follow-on investment from growth equity firm Catalyst Investors. BrightFarms will use the funds to invest in its current farms and retail programs and expand its network of regional indoor farms across the U.S.