Kroger announces key executive appointments
The Kroger Co. announced the appointment of four executive vice presidents to lead key lines of business.
Mike Donnelly has been named EVP of merchandising, Chris Hjelm has been named EVP and chief information officer; Fred Morganthall has been named EVP of retail operations; and Mike Schlotman has been named EVP and chief financial officer.
Fresh produce a winner in Whole Foods-Instacart partnership
Millions of pounds of fresh produce found their way to consumers’ homes during the first year of a partnership between Whole Foods Market, based in Austin, TX, and one-hour grocery delivery service Instacart.
The two companies, which are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the partnership that has helped Whole Foods Market customers purchase groceries and have them delivered in as little as one hour, said 2.2 million bananas, 1.25 million apples and 500,000 avocados were delivered to consumers during the first year.
Conrad & Adams installs new packingline
Conrad & Adams Fruit, a grower-shipper based in Grandview, WA, recently installed a new apple packingline that incorporates the latest internal and external sorting technology as well as doubling the number of bins per hour that can be run.
Del Monte Fresh bringing back Halloween costume promotion
Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. is hosting its fourth annual Go Bananas! Halloween Costume Giveaway in an effort to encourage healthy eating and living during the Halloween holiday and to promote Del Monte premium bananas as alternatives to traditional Halloween treats. The sweepstakes will give consumers the chance to win a Del Monte branded banana costume to wear for their Halloween festivities.
Farm Star Living offers Fresh Summit dining options with free appetizers
ATLANTA, GA — Farm Star Living, www.farmstarliving.com, a national lifestyle brand promoting the farm to everything movement, fresh food and a healthy lifestyle, is excited about PMA Fresh Summit 2015 coming to its hometown turf and wants to assist with attendees’ selections for local gourmet culinary outings. Therefore, Farm Star Living has secured Atlanta restaurants and free appetizers for Fresh Summit attendees — all being showcased in a special Dining Out section on the Farm Star Living website.
DNE World Fruit looking forward to meeting customers at NEPC Cape Cod event
The New England Produce Council 2015 Produce and Floral Expo provides an excellent setting — this year in Cape Cod — for suppliers to meet with their key customers in one location.
Mark Hanks, vice president of sales, marketing and operations, North America, for DNE World Fruit LLC, headquartered in Fort Pierce, FL, agreed. And although the company will not exhibit at this year’s event, being held Sept. 16-18, they will have key staff members there to represent the company.
Envy and SunGold shine at ONE LIVE Chicago
Two of New Zealand’s newest flavors hit the sweet spot at the Reebok/Les Mills ONE LIVE event, a festival of fitness drawing together over 3,000 participants from North America and beyond during the last weekend in August.
ONE LIVE delivered a health-conscious, savvy audience to the Enza and Zespri sampling stations, where hundreds of people per hour were introduced to Envy apples and SunGold Kiwifruit for the first time.
EPC meeting draws good crowd and remembers its fallen leader
HACKENSACK, NJ — Members of the Eastern Produce Council came out in force Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, for the council's first meeting following its traditional summer break.
Members heard two dynamic presentations by the co-sponsors of the meeting: Avocados from Mexico and the Idaho Potato Commission. Maggie Bezart Hall, vice president of retail and promotion, led the Avocados from Mexico delegation, and Seth Pemsler, vice president of retail and international, led the Idaho Potato Commission delegation.
Trader Joe’s to open new store in nation’s capital
Trader Joe’s announced that it will open a location in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, DC.
The new store, slated to open in summer 2017, would be located at 750 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, near Eastern Market, at the site of the former Hine Junior High School.
The site of the new location is part of a redevelopment project that will include 162 residential housing units, a 163,000-square-foot office building, and space for retail and restaurants.
EPC meeting draws good crowd and remembers its fallen leader
HACKENSACK, NJ — Members of the Eastern Produce Council came out in force Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, for the council's first meeting following its traditional summer break.