GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - Seven is the lucky number for discount chain Dollar General, which has just unveiled the appointment of seven experienced Vice Presidents.

First up on the list of appointments is Tony Rogers, who has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer. As a press release noted, Rogers will utilize his over 25 years of experience to lead the development and execution of DG’s marketing, branding, and personalization strategies across all channels, including digital properties and the DG Media Network.

Taking the helm as Vice President, Asset Protection is Tim Bartlett. Bartlett has been with DG for eight years, having progressed through various roles such as District Manager, Regional Director, HR Director, and Director of Store Operations, Emerging Markets. In the latter role, Bartlett supported the launch of DG’s first store in Mexico. In 2023, he was promoted to Division VP.

Also among the latest appointments are three new Division Vice Presidents, Store Operations. Matt Frame, Kaushik Paul, and Brett Sorensen have each been appointed to this VP position.

Frame has over 20 years of leadership experience, and will utilize it to lead DG’s sales, talent strategies, and performance optimizations for 10 regions across the southeastern United States, covering over 2,000 locations.

Paul has rejoined the company as Division VP, Store Operations, stepping up to lead 10 regions across Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Previously, Paul held Regional Director and Division VP roles at the company.

Sorensen joined DG in 2018 as a District Manager and has since held roles such as Regional Director and Senior Director, Store Operations. In his new role, he will drive excellence for more than 2,300 stores in 10 regions across nine states, primarily from the Midwest to Great Lakes regions, the release explained.

Rounding out the list of appointments are Natalie McConnell and Jimmy Nguyen, who are both taking on roles as Vice President, Division Merchandising Manager.

McConnell will develop and lead the business strategy for Dollar General’s largest seasonal categories: holiday events, toys, and lawn and garden.

Nguyen will oversee the health and beauty categories, bringing extensive knowledge in buying, financial planning, and building high-performing teams to his new role.

Congratulations to each of these newly appointed or promoted leaders!

For more retail news, stick around to AndNowUKnow.

MILLEN, GA - The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) embodies the spirit of giving back. For several years now, the association has been the Title Sponsor of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s (CHoA) Strong4Life Superhero Sprint, an event at which it distributes fresh produce.

“Strong4Life's Superhero Sprint is a great event that my family has been attending for almost a decade and looks forward to every year. We had more produce than we've ever had this year, and it's special watching the participants' excited looks as they grab healthy snacks to enjoy at the race and afterward," remarked Blair Greenhill, Director of Purchasing, Nickey Gregory Company, and SEPC CHOA Committee Chair.

In total, SEPC member companies donated and transported over 14,000 lbs of fruits and vegetables.

"Our CHoA committee really does further SEPC's overall mission in increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and veggies in the Southeast at this event. From watermelons to peaches to berries to sliced apples and oranges to carroteenies to baby potatoes to mandarins to sweet corn to bananas to pineapple chunks and coined cucumbers to grapes to pears to grape tomatoes to long sweet peppers, there was something for everyone,” he added.

A press release from the association expressed many thanks to the companies who offered their support.

These include but are not limited to: B&W Quality Growers, Bolthouse Farms, California Giant Berry Farms, EarthFresh, FreshPoint/Sysco, Red Sun Farms, The Fresh Market, Wish Farms, and Wonderful Citrus.

Cheers to SEPC on this wonderful way of giving back.

HOUSTON, TX - If you are familiar with our sister site Deli Market News, you are already well aware of the opportunities provided by the annual IDDBA show. Brighter Bites and Lakeview Farms recently took hold of this immense opportunity, hosting “Peppers with a Purpose” at the event to raise funds and awareness for Brighter Bites’ mission.

“Partnerships like the one we’ve created with Lakeview Farms and their brands enables our work to come to life and get fresh food into the hands of children and families faster than if we were doing it alone,” said Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the industry working together to better the eating habits and consumption of fresh food among consumers, and we are so grateful to be doing this work with Lakeview Farms.”

Lakeview Farms is a well-known provider of refrigerated desserts, dips, salsa, hummus, and specialty products. The company teamed up with Brighter Bites for the initiative, which featured a spinning wheel of different peppers ranging from mild to hot, which each participant had to spin and take a bite of the pepper selected. The hotter the pepper, the more money raised for the nonprofit.

By the end of the event, the collaboration had garnered $25,000.

“To support Brighter Bites, we invited hundreds of individuals to our booth at the Houston IDDBA show, to join us in raising funds,” said Tom Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Lakeview Farms. “Fresh and healthy food is our world and raising $25,000 to put fresh food into the homes of people who need it most, is meaningful to us. We’re proud to partner with Brighter Bites!”

Brands under the Lakeview Farms umbrella—such as Fresh Cravings, Rojo’s, and La Mexicana Salsa—highlighted the Salsabrate The Good campaign, which spotlights like-minded organizations in communities serving to make a positive impact together. Brighter Bites was showcased in one of the videos, a testament to its unwavering support for under-resourced communities by providing fresh produce and nutrition education. To view the video, click here.

We applaud this effort to amplify produce consumption, the pepper category, and a host of fresh-forward brands!

BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart recently announced a partnership to improve its supply chain capabilities. The recent collaboration with Agritask enables sourcing managers to make more well-informed decisions on seasonal fruit crop yields. For Walmart, this means reducing food waste and getting fresher product in front of shoppers.

"Dealing with challenges in purchasing and planning accuracy in agriculture due to data discrepancies and environmental uncertainties can be tough. Agritask’s technology has the potential to fill vital information gaps that sourcing managers often face when predicting yield," said Kyle Carlyle, Vice President of Sourcing Innovation and Surety of Supply, Walmart.

According to a release, the retailer may consider leveraging Agritask solutions and insights at scale for a second season if this pilot goes well.

A few examples of possible insights include:

• Immediate alerts on emerging or forming risks and their potential impact on target crops, such as an unexpected frost harming a cherry harvest, enabling Walmart to adjust procurement strategies swiftly
• Real-time assessment of timing, delays, or advances in expected harvest, allowing Walmart to proactively manage inventory levels and explore alternative sourcing options
• Updated indications on meeting yield targets throughout the growing season, empowering Walmart to optimize supply chain logistics and ensure sufficient product availability for customers

“Walmart’s global scale and commitment to strengthening sustainable supply chains makes them the ideal partner for Agritask’s tech solutions,” said Ofir Ardon, Chief Executive Officer, Agritask. “We are thrilled to have Walmart become the first retail partner to integrate Yield Intelligence, adopting our data-driven innovation built on 15 years of optimizing agricultural supply chains to reshape how enterprises collaborate with suppliers. Together, we are uniquely positioned to implement scalable, climate-smart, and risk-ready solutions that optimize sourcing from the ground up.”

This is all part of Walmart's latest initiative in its long-term commitment to leverage technology for a sustainable and resilient supply chain.

We’ll continue to keep you in the loop on how things are changing at retail, so stay tuned.

WASHINGTON, DC - While the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Washington Conference provided an opportunity for Congressional visits and policy discussions with lawmakers and regulatory leaders, the event also placed some well-deserved recognition among two key industry advocates. Among those honored was produce provider Grimmway Farms. 

“Receiving the Advocate of the Year Award is a great honor for Grimmway Farms. We are committed to our mission of bringing fresh, safe, and healthy produce to communities around the world and in doing so, will continue to advocate for the needs of the entire produce industry, an industry that plays an increasingly vital role in feeding the world,” said Jeff Huckaby, Grimmway President and Chief Executive Officer.

Grimmway Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Responsibility Dana Brennan accepted the award on Grimmway’s behalf. Brennan also serves on the IFPA Government Relations Council, a press release explained.

“The Produce Industry Advocate of the Year award goes to an IFPA member that goes the extra mile to elevate and support the industry in public policy advocacy. The Advocate of the Year makes a company-wide commitment to engaging with elected officials and government policymakers actively and often,” said IFPA Vice President of U.S. Government Relations Rebeckah Adcock.

Grimmway was honored for its ongoing advocacy and leadership in the fresh produce space.

“Grimmway is a steadfast champion of our work on everything from pushing for labor reforms to supporting federal nutrition policy. They consistently answer the call to amplify our advocacy efforts across their organization, with CEO Jeff Huckaby being a Past Grower Shipper Council Chair and Russ Hamlin, PhD. currently leading our Organics Committee,” Adcock continued.

In addition to Grimmway’s recognition, IFPA also spotlighted Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) with the inaugural IFPA Fresh Impact Lifetime Achievement Award.

“As Chair of the Senate Ag Committee, Senator Stabenow has been one of our most consistent Congressional champions on agricultural issues ranging from the Farm Bill, nutrition, crop insurance inclusion and expansion, and specialty crop research,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “She is responsible for establishing the Specialty Crop Title in the 2008 Farm Bill, and as partisan and challenging as this legislation can be, she has been integral in ensuring that specialty crop priorities are elevated and included in federal programs. Consider this: Because of Senator Stabenow, high school seniors graduating in 2024 have always known school meals that include a fruit and vegetable. Talk about impact!”

Congratulations to both of these leaders on this recent recognition!

TEXAS - The first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has parts of Texas braced for almost a foot of rain as Tropical Storm Alberto sweeps across the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is predicted to make landfall in Northeastern Mexico today, with effects extending as far north as coastal Louisiana.

Flooding was seen along the South Texas coast early yesterday morning, spreading from Surfside Beach to the south of Galveston. The storm formed about 295 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas, as torrential downpours moved ashore in South Texas and northeastern Mexico, The Washington Post reported.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said the peak storm surge could reach up to 2 to 4 feet, including around Galveston Bay. As the source noted, the Wednesday morning surge in Galveston Bay reached 4 feet, producing its seventh-highest water level on record.

While the heaviest rains are expected to stay primarily south of the metro, a tropical storm warning does cover coastal counties from just south of Galveston to the U.S.-Mexico border, including Rockport, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville. Tropical storm-force winds with 50-mph gusts are expected along the shoreline.

Alberto is the first named storm of what's expected to be an especially active season for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, the source stated.

ANUK will continue to monitor the impacts of this storm on Texas and Mexico's growing regions.

SOUTH AFRICA - Suhanra Conradie, Chief Executive Officer of Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA), recently sent out an update about the supplier’s latest shipment. In her announcement, she wrote that the first of SCSA’s conventional vessels have shipped to the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will be discharged in week 25.

“The Prince of Seas vessel carries +/- 3,000 pallets of citrus, with two-thirds of total volume containing Easy Peelers and the balance Navel oranges. From now going forward, weekly arrival of Star Ruby and Cara Cara will also be included as part of our offering!” Conradie wrote.

For the remainder of the season, SCSA will have weekly arrivals into the port of Philadelphia on either the company’s dedicated conventional vessels, its bigger MSC container loads, or some Maersk container vessels.

“On the production side, we have a healthy crop and have packed almost 30 percent of our original estimates for the U.S. market, with 23 percent already shipped,” Conradie continued. “As we operate within a Mediterranean climate, we have had healthy rainfall which is needed and welcome to secure sustained growth on the production area.”

Exporters, bilateral entities, shipping lines, the port of Cape Town, and many more supply chain and logistical service providers put their focus on executing this program with excellence, the announcement stated.

“We pride ourselves in our forward planning and commitment to serve the U.S. market with fresh and weekly supply of citrus fruit. As we work with a commodity with an ever-changing lifecycle along with operating in a challenging environment, we address unforeseen challenges as they occur, and we adjust accordingly very quickly,” Conradie concluded.

For more updates on the season, keep following along with ANUK.

ELGIN, MN - Honeybear® Brands is seeing the success of its dual-hemisphere growing strategy, bringing year-round organic product availability with strong overall volume in Washington, coupled with fresh-picked crop arriving from its Southern Hemisphere orchards.

“Honeybear Brands is delivering on growing organic demand with our offering of the key apple and pear varieties, including fresh Honeycrisp from the southern hemisphere, critical to retailers’ mix of product offerings. We know good quality organic apples and pears can wane over the summer which is why our Southern Hemisphere crops are vital to refreshing the organic supply and ensuring year-round flavor and availability,” said Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

As Honeybear shares, the brand’s ability to deliver on increased shopper demand for organic fruits and the debut of Organic Pazazz apples make Honeybear an excellent resource for a complete organic program.

“Our Pazazz variety has a strong consumer following and this late season apple now provides shoppers with an exciting, big flavor organic experience," Roper continued. "It was a successful first season and we look forward to a growing supply of organic Pazazz and other varieties of distinction.”

Honeybear will be showcasing its suite of organic offerings in Monterey, California, during the Organic Produce Summit on July 10–11. Be sure to stop by booth #917 to learn more about the brand’s cart-stopping packaging and innovation and sustainability efforts.

For more category opportunities, leave a tab open to ANUK.

FRESNO, CA - We are deeply saddened by the recent news of an industry veteran’s passing. Steve Michael Volpe, Founder of Royal Madera Vineyards, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2024, at 100 years old.

Volpe was born on August 20, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Louis and Esther Volpe. He was one of seven children. Volpe was preceded in death by Sisters, Natalie Girbino, Grace Caito, and Virginia Gillombardo, and Brothers, Paul, Anthony, and Louis.

Volpe’s early years began at Our Lady of Peace Catholic School. Upon completion of seventh grade, he joined the family business, P. Volpe & Sons in Cleveland. He enlisted in the navy in 1944 and was humbly honored to serve his country.

On June 5, 1954, Volpe married Gloria Jean Marra. In 1956, the couple welcomed their only child, Cheryl. They moved to Fresno, California, in 1959 where Volpe started Steve Volpe Brokerage Company. He bought and sold produce for about 10 years before starting his table grape business, which he named Royal Madera Vineyards.

Volpe was a grower, packer, and shipper of table and juice grapes and loved being on the sales desk—entertaining buyers was his livelihood. He also spent time in Coachella Valley selling table grapes for the Coachella grape deal. Even in his later years, Volpe’s tremendous drive to work hard never wavered. Royal Madera Vineyards is currently a third generation company, proudly carrying on his legacy.

Volpe’s incredible generosity to hospitals and various charities exemplified his giving spirit. His family would like to extend a very special and heartfelt thank you to Jenifer Rivas Arreola, Alice Garcia Moore, Zysthiel Jaurequi, Maritza Sastre, and Susie Harrington, who cared for him in the most loving and compassionate way. His family would also like to extend a special thank you to Bertha Hernandez for her endless care over many years.

Volpe is survived by Gloria, his wife of 70 years; his cherished daughter Cheryl Cerniglia and her husband Kirk; two grandsons, Stephen (his namesake) and Matthew and his wife Nicki; and great grandson Paxton Stefano, the apple of his eye and his “Little Buddy.” Volpe is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity in Volpe’s honor. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared here for the Volpe family.

We extend our condolences to all who experienced this great loss.