Produce News Facebook  Produce News Twitter  Produce News LinkedIn  Produce News Instagram

SpartanNash chairman announces retirement

SpartanNash announced that Craig Sturken will conclude his service as a member of the SpartanNash board of directors at the expiration of his current term. Sturken has served as chairman and a member of the SpartanNash board since November 2013, when Spartan Stores merged with Nash-Finch Co. to form SpartanNash. Prior to the transformational merger, Sturken served as chairman of the Spartan Stores board of directors since 2003.spartan

Sturken served as chief executive officer of Spartan Stores from March 2003 to October 2008 and president of Spartan Stores from March 2003 to October 2007. He spent his entire career in the grocery industry and has more than 50 years of retail grocery experience.

"Throughout his combined tenure, Craig oversaw a period of tremendous growth," SpartanNash President and CEO Dennis Eidson said in a press release. "Craig's leadership helped transform the company from a financially struggling Michigan-based publicly traded company to become the fifth largest food distributor in the nation."

Eidson, who succeeded Sturken as the company's president and CEO, also noted "from 2003 when Craig joined the company through 2015, revenues increased from $2.1 billion to $7.7 billion and market capitalization increased from $50 million to over $1 billion."

Timothy J. O'Donovan, the company's lead independent director, has served with Sturken since both joined the board in 2003. The retired chairman of the board and CEO of Wolverine World Wide Inc. said, "Craig's collaborative leadership, industry knowledge and love for mentoring and continuous improvement were integral to the company's growth and ability to successfully merge and integrate two multi-billion dollar publicly traded companies. He brings the best out in all of us, and it has been an honor to serve with him."

The SpartanNash board of directors nominated Eidson to succeed Sturken. It is anticipated that Eidson will be elected the new chairman of the board of directors following the annual meeting on June 2.

"It has been a privilege to be a part of SpartanNash's growth and transformation and certainly a highlight of my career," Sturken said when announcing his retirement. "I have been fortunate to work with an exceptional board and executive team, and I am now looking forward to traveling and spending more time with my family. This decision has been made much easier, knowing I am turning over the helm to Dennis, a man I have worked side by side with for nearly 20 years."

Print
Read more

Humanitarian athlete and concert pianist join IFPA CEO in Global Show Keynotes

The International Fresh Produce Association announced the dynamic keynote speaker lineup for the Global Produce & Floral Show, bringing together influential voices who will inspire attendees with insights on leadership, purpose and impact.

Taking place Oct. 14-16 in Orlando, FL, the Global Produce & Floral Show will feature three unique keynote sessions designed to inform, motivate, and empower produce and floral professionals from around the world.

Church Bros. launches organic retail brand

Church Bros. Farms introduced Church Brothers Farms Organic, a new retail brand that redefines how organic produce is merchandised at retail. Built around the concept of functional wellness, the brand combines easy-to-understand nutritional benefits, thoughtfully designed packaging and right-sized portions to create a differentiated offering for today's health-conscious consumers.

UNFI names new president, CFO and chief commercial officer

United Natural Foods Inc. has named Matteo Tarditi its new president and chief operating officer. Additionally, the company has named Louis Martin its new chief commercial officer and Alfredo Luchini its chief financial officer.

These updates, effective Aug. 3, 2026, are designed to align UNFI’s leadership structure more closely with its strategy, helping the company accelerate capability building, sharpen operational execution and continue strengthening its financial performance.

Utah produce manager earns Idaho Potato Lovers Month grand prize

By
John Groh

A creative Idaho potato display and a passion for innovative produce merchandising earned Garrett Fowden, produce manager at Kamas Food Town in Kamas, UT, the Western Region Grand Prize in the Idaho Potato Commission’s 2026 Idaho Potato Lovers Month Retail Display Contest.

Fowden’s display met all contest requirements, earning him a place in the grand prize drawing, where his entry was randomly selected from thousands of qualifying displays submitted by retailers across North America.

PRO*ACT Crop Update: Rough transition from desert to the San Joaquin Valley

By
Joey Piedimonte

Melons remain in focus as the industry works through a rough handoff from the desert to the San Joaquin Valley. The Arizona-California desert season has wrapped up after insect pressure, worsened by a warm winter, reduced yields and forced an early finish. San Joaquin Valley production is under way, but the crop is not building fast enough yet to fully cover demand. Cooler weather this week may slow growth and stretch the supply gap a little longer, keeping markets elevated until new fields gain momentum.

Field Fresh Farms expands its lineup

Field Fresh Farms has expanded its lineup to include chopped Romaine, as well as one- and two-pound clamshells of conventional and organic Spinach, Spring Mix, Arugula and Kale.

With its chopped Romaine, the vertically integrated grower-shipper offers the triple-washed, ready-to-serve pre-cut lettuce directly to the foodservice market. Already a favorite ingredient in salads, wraps, bowls and more, chopped Romaine provides a significant cost-savings to busy customers who need a flavorful no-waste ingredient that won’t slow them down with a lot of prep time.

Copyright © 2025 The Produce News • Covering Fresh Produce Around the Globe Since 1897