CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger recently announced an executive shakeup within its mid-Atlantic division, unveiling the appointment of Kate Mora as division President. Mora takes on this critical role as former division President Lori Raya announces her retirement.

Mora joined Kroger in 2022, when she served as Vice President on special assignment supporting the retailer’s End-to-End Fresh initiative—an effort aimed toward getting the freshest food to its shoppers. After that, she was elevated to Vice President of Merchandising within the grocer’s Michigan division.

According to reports from Virginia Business, Mora will work in Glen Allen, Virginia, where Kroger’s mid-Atlantic division has been based since 2021.

Prior to joining Kroger, Mora also honed her expertise over 26 years at Walmart, eventually serving as Vice President managing a section of the grocer’s mid-Atlantic region.

“With more than 25 years of retail management and leadership experience, she is a proven leader and strategic thinker, with a history of operational excellence,” commented Valerie Jabbar, Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions.

Kroger’s mid-Atlantic division includes more than 100 stores across Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio.

Congratulations to this new leader who will surely drive growth in this advantageous region!

NEW YORK - The back-to-school season is in full motion, and our industry is harnessing that momentum from retail to foodservice, meal kit providers, and everything in between. HelloFresh is among those tapping into the opportunities of back to school, introducing a comprehensive new family-focused menu: HelloFresh Family.

"As a mother and chef, I understand first-hand the challenges families face when it comes to preparing wholesome meals that everyone will love—especially during the busy back-to-school season," said Kristin Bryan, Senior Director of Culinary Innovation at HelloFresh. "With the introduction of the HelloFresh Family, we're giving parents and caretakers a solution that not only saves time but also brings joy to the dinner table with a variety of meal options that are delicious, convenient, and appeal to all tastes."

As a press release shared, the enticing new HelloFresh Family menu features new meal concepts designed specifically to help families who struggle to balance the different taste preferences and dietary restrictions that come into play when planning and preparing mealtime.

The inclusion of “Build-a-Plate” meals allows parents and caretakers to choose from delicious, family-friendly recipes that feature a main dish with various sides, toppings, and add-on options so each family member (including picky eaters like myself) can build their own perfect plate.

Also catering to large families, HelloFresh debuted its first-ever, six-serving meal plan size, which can cater to larger households or simply satisfy smaller families with big appetites.

For added convenience, families can also choose from a selection of quick meals designed specifically for kids, or family recipes that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less.

“Big Batch” recipes round out the HelloFresh Family menu, with offerings like Slow Cooker Slammin’ BBQ Chicken Sandos providing double portions so home cooks can entertain guests or enjoy delicious leftovers as future meals.

More information on the meal kit provider’s back-to-school lineup can be found here.

ANUK will continue to report on the latest industry news, so stick around.

ATLANTA, GA - Getting by with a little help from your friends is more than just a classic Beatles lyric; it’s an essential part of how our industry does business. Partnerships between companies are critical to ensuring progress, and we see this in the latest news from Cox Enterprises. Sodexo, a long-time partner of the company, was happy to announce its contributions in helping Cox Enterprises earn the distinction of a Zero Waste Business by Zero Waste USA.

“We are extremely proud of reaching our Zero Waste goal, which is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility,” commented Meredith Lindvall, Assistant Vice President of Waste, Water, and Nature-Biodiversity, Cox Enterprises. “Together with the support and expertise of our valued partner Sodexo, we have shown that it is possible to stay focused on a long-term sustainability goal that creates positive impact for our business, our communities and our planet.”

According to a press release, Cox Enterprises' steadfast 24-year partnership with Sodexo has played a pivotal role in this achievement, contributing to an impressive 92 percent waste diversion rate at Cox Enterprises’ corporate headquarters. Alongside Cox, Sodexo implemented a comprehensive four-part strategy to achieve Zero Waste, focusing on effective personnel training, efficient waste management, food recovery processes and partnerships, and packaging optimizations.

This outcome was a key part of Cox’s enterprise strategy. As a release noted, Cox has diverted over 750 million pounds of waste, equivalent to 10 million reams of paper, 60 million apples, and metal from more than 4,000 vehicles since 2013.

“Sodexo and Cox Enterprises share a common vision of leveraging innovative solutions to meet sustainability goals and set a precedent for other organizations aiming to improve their corporate social responsibility achievements,” said Renee McKeon, Vice President of Sustainability and CSR, Corporate Services, Sodexo US. “Through partnership with our clients and communities and a commitment to adjusting our operations in ways that drive meaningful change, it is possible to reach these ambitious goals and certifications. We are proud to be a part of this journey.”

We’ll keep an eye on how industry partners are innovating within the sector, so stay tuned!

OXNARD, CA - Produce packaging is just as important as the product found inside. Boskovich Farms knows this well, recently giving us an overview of its latest packaging innovations.

“Here at Boskovich Farms, we have a few key products we're showcasing today,” Michael Boskovich, Organic Sales, stated in a recent interview. “First would be our Fair Earth Farms packaging. It is a home-compostable salad kit. [It] composts at home in about 90 days. We have the ability to do custom ingredients, as well as custom kits.”

Green onions are also a staple at Boskovich Farms, according to Michael. This offering can be provided by Boskovich either iced or iceless. Plus, the supplier’s full line of celery, radishes, and more make it a one-stop veg shop.

“We see that a lot of people are looking for a home-compostable kit, especially the younger generation between 20–35,” Michael continued. “A lot of people like that option, so we're kind of targeting that section of the market. And [we are aware] that there's certain regulations that will be going into place, that single-use plastics will eventually be disappearing. So [we are] kind of getting ahead of it and offering that to the consumers.”

According to Michael, what sets Boskovich apart is that it is a family-owned business.

“We've been around for over 100 years, so we're a small operation that has grown larger and larger over the years, and we have deep ties within the industry with a lot of people,” he told me. “So Boskovich is a company that really prides itself on growing the best produce that we possibly can. And, we're there to help everybody out.”

Check out the exclusive video interview above for more from Michael himself!