BURLINGTON, MA - The New England Produce Council (NEPC) recently announced that industry veteran, Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites and former Vice President of Produce for Sysco, will be the featured speaker at NEPC’s keynote breakfast. The topic he will be speaking on is “Foodservice, Nutrition, and Making a Difference.”
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Rich to the NEPC Expo this year. Rich brings with him a wealth of retail, wholesale, and foodservice expertise. He has been a leader in the industry for over 40 years and we look forward to his insight,” said NEPC President, Anthony Sattler.
Dachman’s presentation will cover topics such as the complex matrix of foodservice distribution, the success of a distributor-operator relationship, and the ways the produce industry can make a positive impact. The keynote is just one part of the 20th annual NEPC Produce, Floral & Food Service Expo, set to take place September 18-19 at the Hynes Convention Center, in downtown Boston.
According to a press release, Dachman brings to the table an abundance of produce industry experience—40 years worth of it, in fact. He began his produce career at his family-owned business in Denver. In 1992, Dachman joined FreshPoint Inc. and became President of FreshPoint Operating Companies in Houston, Denver, Atlanta, and the company’s central procurement office in Salinas, California. When Sysco acquired FreshPoint in 2000, Rich was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Western Region, and in 2007 was promoted to Vice President of Produce for Sysco Corporation.
He retired from Sysco this summer, after which he joined Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit organization changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity. The company delivers donated fresh fruits and vegetables to families, teaches them how to cook, and then tracks their behavior changes.
Dachman has received multiple awards, including the Center for Growing Talent’s Jay Pack Cultivating Our Future Award, and Produce for Better Health’s Excellence Award. He was Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) in 2012, capping more than 10 years of leadership service for PMA.
Congratulations to Rich on this great honor!
