MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA - Walmart Canada announced Venessa Yates would become its new President and Chief Executive Officer in the coming weeks and pending authorizations.

“Venessa is a tremendous retail leader with experience in multiple countries and functions,” said Guilherme Loureiro, Regional CEO, Walmart Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Central America. “She is the right person to continue to drive Walmart Canada’s growth trajectory and its transformation to become the country’s leading omnichannel retailer.”

Yates has worked with Walmart since 2016, a press release shared. Most recently, she served as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Walmart+, the company’s membership program. With a wealth of retail experience, Venessa has assumed various leadership positions at prominent retailers worldwide, such as Walmart, Woolworths, and ALDI Stores.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Walmart Canada team,” said Yates. “The Canadian business, with its 100,000 associates and impressive 30-year history, has always been a source of pride. We’re currently in growth mode, and I’m excited about our future.”

The company announced that after a long and impressive 25-year career at Walmart, Gonzalo Gebara, the current Walmart President and CEO, will be leaving the company at the end of February in order to return to Argentina to be with his family and pursue other interests.

During his time with Walmart Canada, Gebara has played a critical role in accelerating Walmart Canada’s transformation towards becoming the leading omnichannel retailer in the country.

“I want to personally thank Gonzalo and his family for their 25 years of service,” said Loureiro.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - GrubMarket, the AI-powered technology enabler and digital transformer of the American food supply chain industry, as well as one of the largest private food eCommerce companies globally, announced the launch of new Catchweight Management features for its cutting-edge and proprietary WholesaleWare platform.

This innovative solution is set to transform the way food distributors and wholesalers manage variable-weight products such as seafood, proteins, cheeses, deli meats, and certain types of produce, offering unparalleled inventory precision, traceability, and operational efficiency through a uniquely customizable SaaS platform.

Addressing a Critical Challenge in Food Supply Chain Management

Variable-weight products, commonly called "catchweight" products, pose unique challenges for food wholesalers and distributors. These products, which range from ribeye steaks to whole fish to watermelon, vary in weight and size, complicating inventory management and operational workflows. Traditional ERP systems often fall short in tracking and managing catchweight products effectively, resulting in cumbersome workflows, inaccurate inventory valuations, and high customization costs associated with developing bespoke apps to simply accommodate this use case.

A Powerful and Flexible Solution to Complex Inventory Challenges

The new Catchweight Management features solve several long-standing issues that have hindered operational efficiency in the food supply chain. Designed to provide flexibility and transparency for business and operations leaders, the Catchweight Management features set WholesaleWare apart from other ERP systems by enabling businesses to:

• Track Inventory Precisely: Monitor inventory not only by pounds and cases but also by individual pieces (e.g., ribeye steaks, salmon sides), offering a more granular understanding of your stock levels
• Streamline Operations: Simplify warehouse processes with bulk receiving capabilities and automatic inventory updates as cases are sold or processed in manufacturing work orders
• Enhance Traceability: Achieve traceability down to the unit level, an essential capability for maintaining compliance with food safety and quality control standards
• Customize Labels: Design and print custom unit, pallet, and lot labels, with information tailored to your specific business needs
• Universal Barcode Scanning: Scan existing manufacturer-printed barcodes for receiving, picking, manufacturing, and shipping processes, eliminating the time-consuming and costly process of printing unit labels
• Adopt Flexible Units of Measure (UOMs): Configure multiple variable units of measure (UOMs) for each product, not just pounds but also pieces, for example, to suit diverse operational requirements

According to a press release, the new Catchweight Management features are native to WholesaleWare and integrate with existing functionalities, such as yield reporting, work orders, and load management, further enhancing WholesaleWare's value as the most comprehensive and flexible SaaS solution for food wholesalers and distributors.

"Catchweight products are notoriously difficult to manage in traditional systems, often leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in inventory tracking," said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket. "WholesaleWare's Catchweight Management capabilities are a game-changer for distributors and wholesalers who work with variable-weight products. By launching these Catchweight Management features, GrubMarket continues to lead the charge in delivering tailored solutions that address the challenges and complexities faced by food supply chain operations. With these features, WholesaleWare has become the most advanced platform for businesses seeking to optimize their handling of catchweight products. These features underscore our commitment to empowering food distributors and wholesalers with the tools they need to optimize operations, ensure traceability, and ultimately enhance profitability."

Strengthening GrubMarket's Technology-Driven Vision

The addition of enhanced Catchweight Management support highlights GrubMarket's leadership in delivering innovative solutions for the highly complex food supply chain industry. As an AI-powered ERP, WholesaleWare already provides food industry wholesalers and distributors with seamless financial management, powerful sales support, online ordering, precise inventory management, lot traceability, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics, among other features. The platform's continued evolution with the release of these new Catchweight Management features reflects GrubMarket's commitment to addressing the evolving needs of its customers with practical, user-driven solutions.

ELGIN, MN - This February during National Cancer Prevention Month, Honeybear Brands® Pazazz® apple is inviting shoppers to check out the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) online tool, cancer health check which gives instant feedback about how well they match up with AICR’s evidence-based recommendations to lower the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.

This is the fourth year Honeybear Brands and AICR have partnered to share healthy eating and cancer protection tips, reaching more than 25 million Americans to-date. This year’s campaign, which encourages consumers to consider including more apples in their diet, is being promoted via social media, earned and paid media, and in-store wherever Pazazz is available.

Thanks to its peels, apples are rich in fiber, which helps promote a “good gut,” which in turn supports good overall health. One medium-sized apple delivers approximately 4.4 grams of dietary fiber, which can help lower the risk of certain cancers, a press release explained. That is more than one-third of the minimal 15 grams of daily recommended fiber for the average adult.

In-Store AICR + Pazazz Apple Activations

This February, retailers can encourage shoppers to:

• Super charge their diets with apples that provide dietary fiber, antioxidants, and help support “good gut,” the foundation for overall good health.
• Take the online cancer health check utilizing the digital and in-store POS with QRCode.

“Apples are an easy and delicious way to get more fiber to your daily diet. The age-old advice to eat ‘an apple a day to keep the doctor away' is true. Whether you eat apples on the run as a snack or in a lunch box or include them as a quick ingredient in your favorite recipe, apples immediately increase the health benefit,” said Kristi Harris, Honeybear Brands Brand Manager.

Pazazz: like Honeycrisp with Giddy-Up

Pazazz apples are available year-round with orchards in Washington state, the Midwest, New York, Nova Scotia, and Chile. A cross between the all-American favorite Honeycrisp and a mystery pollinator, this apple has that unmistakable wow-factor… both perfectly sweet and tangy with an explosive, loud crunch. Like a Honeycrisp with giddy-up, it is often described as the jolly-rancher of apples.

Find Pazazz apples at your local grocer. Visit https://pazazzapple.com/ to learn more.

WASHINGTON, DC - In response to a newly released strategy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) focused on preventing foodborne illnesses linked to fresh and frozen berries, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) commended the agency for working closely with industry over the past several years to develop this comprehensive strategy. This prevention strategy provides an opportunity for greater global cooperation to manage enteric viruses on berries. Preventing food safety issues is of the highest priority for the industry, and IFPA appreciated the FDA’s acknowledgment in their report that there have been no enteric virus outbreaks associated with domestic berries in the past 35 years.

“We thank the FDA for their partnership and transparency in the reports released today,” said IFPA Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer Natalie Dyenson in a press release. “Ensuring the safety of public health is foundational to IFPA’s food safety philosophy. As part of this, we, along with our members, often collaborate with regulatory agencies to provide industry perspectives so that any guidance or regulations are practical and workable in line with current practices. We appreciate the FDA’s request and inclusion of our feedback, especially as they acknowledged the limitations of the current testing methodologies and sampling assignments. We look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with the FDA to ensure that consumers have confidence in the fresh fruits and vegetables they enjoy every day.”

Further information can be found on the FDA’s website where they published the constituent update announcing the release of their Berry Prevention Strategy which focuses on reducing viral outbreaks linked to fresh and frozen berries. In addition, the FDA released the final report on the frozen berry sampling assignment which was conducted 2019-2023.

MISSION, TX - This year, the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the Viva Fresh Produce Expo in Houston from April 10-12, 2025 with new opportunities to connect and engage, continuing the great traditions that have made Viva Fresh the region’s premier fresh produce trade show. This milestone year features many crowd-favorite events but also adds an expanded Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament and a Pickleball tournament to the Thursday (April 10^th) events lineup. Interested participants can sign up when Attendee Registration opens on February 3, 2025.

This year, the Viva Fresh Open adds a second course at Tour 18 Golf, along with its original tournament at the Golf Club of Houston, a press release stated. This additional course offers the best of both worlds: the championship-caliber layout of the Golf Club of Houston and Tour 18’s stunning replicas of the world’s most iconic holes. With two courses, the event ensures more players can participate while enhancing this Viva Fresh tradition with variety and unforgettable challenges. Most importantly, this second course means far more attendees will be able to play golf as part of their Viva Fresh experience. And for those looking for something new from their time at Viva Fresh, TIPA is proud to announce our first ever Pickleball tournament happening that same day. Similar to the Viva Fresh Golf Open, attendees can select the option to play in this tournament during registration.

“Our 10^th anniversary celebration highlights Viva Fresh’s achievements and its bright future,” said Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of TIPA. “We are dedicated to building on the pillars that have been the cornerstone of Viva. Growing networking opportunities on Thursday through events and outings has been a request from our attendees, and our committee took that challenge to heart by expanding favorites and offering new options. Building on a decade of industry leadership, we are dedicated to ensuring attendees receive the most possible from their time at Viva Fresh.”

Since 2015, Viva Fresh has become a premier destination for produce professionals, showcasing the Texas region’s role as a vital trade corridor for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. The 2025 Expo will deliver dynamic networking, cutting-edge innovation, and inspiring programming.

Please visit www.vivafreshexpo.com for updates and registration details.

WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms, a leader in fresh berries, shared a strawberry crop update forecasting strong volumes of organic and conventionally grown strawberries in the weeks to come. Included in this influx is California Giant’s ‘Fresh From Florida’ labeled product.

“Florida growers have demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming significant setbacks caused by Hurricane Milton, which delayed the start of the season,” shared Tim Youmans, Vice President of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms. “Their unwavering commitment to delivering fruit is truly inspiring and speaks to the collective strength of the strawberry industry.”

California Giant’s Florida-based growers are on track to deliver peak volumes spanning from mid-February to mid-March. According to a press release, this crop marks the second year of California Giant’s new “Fresh From Florida” label—an addition to the classic California Giant insignia that promotes Florida agricultural products through consumer marketing campaigns, partnerships with domestic and international retailers, and an established presence at prominent industry trade shows.

Bolstering California Giant’s strawberry production is Santa Maria’s conventional and organic crop, which is anticipated to increase week-over-week, barring any major weather events. Strawberries from Mexico are currently in peak production, which is forecasted to span the month of February and into March. Combined, these regions will provide ample volumes for the Valentine’s Day pull and weeks thereafter.

Retailers should take advantage of the Valentine’s holiday by creating eye-catching displays, utilizing complimentary items that are associated with the holiday. Champagne, chocolate dipping kits, and cheeses.

Through the shared industry goal to drive significant increases in strawberry consumption, California Giant continues to deliver on its mission to deliver the best berry experience by providing a year-round supply of fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency.