ALDI will open its first store in Maine on March 26, marking the company's entry into its 40th state.

"We are thrilled to be expanding into the state of Maine as a part of our expansion in the Northeast," said Chris Daniels, regional vice president for ALDI. "At our new Portland ALDI store, shoppers will notice a smaller, easy-to-shop store layout filled with a carefully selected range of products to provide them with exactly what they need."

Bill LaFever, president of the Bill Doran Co., has received the 2026 Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award from the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association.

The award was presented during the group's Floral Distribution Conference in Miami. It recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the floral industry and honors the integrity and leadership of Leland T. Kintzele, who served as WFFSA president from 1963 to 1965.

The International Fresh Produce Association recently hosted its annual School Foodservice Partner X-Change, a virtual "speed meeting" program designed to connect school menu planners with produce grower-shippers and solution providers.

Over two days, IFPA coordinated one-on-one virtual meetings between suppliers and K-12 school nutrition leaders. New this year, the program also included college and university foodservice leaders. The meetings created an opportunity for dialogue across sectors that rarely connect directly.

New analysis from Potatoes USA shows that consumers' online search behavior around potatoes is revealing opportunities for retailers in-store, from cross-merchandising to meal solutions and at-home snacking.

Potatoes are America’s most popular vegetable, with shoppers purchasing more than 15.3 billion pounds annually. By examining online search trends, Potatoes USA identified how shoppers are planning meals, entertaining and preparing snacks, and how retailers can meet that demand.

Starbucks-inspired dish

The Mushroom Council has unveiled the Mushroom Marketer’s Toolkit, a collection of resources designed to help grocery retailers boost mushroom sales and shopper engagement.

The toolkit, announced Feb. 24 from Lee’s Summit, MO, provides merchandising guidance, creative assets and in-store materials. The goal is to increase sales and repeat purchases, particularly among millennial and Gen Z shoppers.

BioWorks Inc., a biological products company for the horticulture industry, has named Chris Rose as interim general manager, effective immediately. The appointment marks a leadership transition aimed at accelerating sales and expansion.

Rose, a biologist, has been with the company since 2013. He has held leadership roles in operations, research and development, and marketing. He succeeds Bill Foster, who led the company for decades.