IOWA & ILLINOIS - Two additional little red pins are popping up on Fareway Stores’ map of store locations. The company recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its Story City, Iowa, store, in addition to announcing plans to construct a new location in Coal Valley, Illinois.

“Communities depend on a local grocer to offer high-quality products and unmatched service. We look forward to offering these qualities to Story City and area residents with a new Fareway store,” said Fareway Chief Executive Officer Reynolds W. Cramer. “We want to thank city officials and economic development for helping make this project possible.”

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 29, beginning the construction of the approximately 10,800-square-foot store. Features of the store will include a selection of high-quality, farm-fresh produce, as well as a full-service butcher counter and other compelling shopping features like FastLanes and curbside pickup.

Details on the anticipated opening date are forthcoming, the retailer stated in a release.

The grocer also has its Coal Valley, Illinois, project tentatively slated for 2026. Additional details have not yet been shared.

Curious about which market the retailer will expand into next? Keep reading ANUK as we report.

SAN JOSE, CA - Today is World Password Day, and ZAG Technical Services is making sure cybersecurity is top of mind. The industry partner released a downloadable infographic containing helpful tips companies can easily implement to keep their systems safer.

“I hope ag organizations continue to educate their workers on current threats and how to avoid them. Threats are constantly changing,” Allen Santana, ZAG Cybersecurity Operations Manager for IT Security and Compliance, shared when asked what he hopes readers take away from the infographic.

The graphic is full of helpful information, including:

• Five simple ways to keep your email account safe
• The dos and don’ts of safe online interactions
• Incredible statistics about the cost and impacts of recent breaches

Easy to follow, ZAG offers this infographic in hopes readers share it with their teams, a press release stated. Verizon reports that 74 percent of breaches involve a human element, such as clicking malicious links, highlighting the need to educate employees.

“If I had to pick one tip from the infographic, what I hope readers remember is multifactor authentication,” Santana continued. “As users of email and productivity apps in the field ourselves, we understand this extra step isn’t always popular, but it greatly reduces the chance of a cybersecurity breach. Protecting your digital infrastructure is not just about safeguarding your business—it's also about ensuring the certainty of supply and integrity of the food supply chain.”

Keep reading ANUK for more cybersecurity updates from ZAG.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Put your hands together for Heather Honabach! The Allen Lund Company (ALC) recently announced her promotion to General Manager of the ALC Phoenix office.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank the entire executive team for trusting me with this opportunity,” Honabach said. “I would also like to thank Matt [Minthorn] for being a great mentor and also trusting me to help him grow the Phoenix office. I have been a transportation broker for almost 21 years. I started with Allen Lund in 2018 as a Senior Broker and quickly proved to Matt and the team I was worth taking a chance on. I am eager to step into this role and continue to grow. We have a great team here and the possibilities are endless.”

Honabach previously served as the Assistant General Manager of the Phoenix office, a press release stated. She fills the General Manager position left open after Matt Minthorn was promoted to Senior Director of Carrier Development.

Tracey Lewin, Vice President of Sales and Operations, commented on the news.

"I am very excited to welcome Heather Honabach to her new position as the new GM of our Phoenix, AZ, office. Heather came to us 6 years ago, with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Besides her boots-on-the-ground know-how, she brought vast knowledge, pure hunger, and an irrepressible drive to continue on her career path while supporting Matt Minthorn and helping to lead the rest of the Phoenix team,” Lewin stated. “From Broker to Assistant General Manager, she has been an integral part of the office's growth and success, and I know she will continue to move mountains in her new role.”

Matt Minthorn also shared his thoughts.

“I realized from the very first day I hired Heather that she had a great passion for our industry and the drive to become a leader. She was quick to learn, and eagerly took on every responsibility to develop herself,” Minthorn said. “Heather has been an invaluable asset to our office and to ALC. I have full confidence that she will excel in her new position and take ALC Phoenix to new heights.”

Congratulations to Heather Honabach!

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - North Bay Produce is making moves on the sustainability front, setting its focus on reducing its ecological footprint while driving long-term economic growth and supporting its vast network of growers. To achieve this, the grower continues to place its sustainability efforts at the forefront.

“Sustainability is a core business philosophy and practice that has always existed within North Bay and its family of growers,” explained Nick Osmulski, President of North Bay Produce. “Some of the core principles encompassed in sustainability have been practiced by our grower owners for generations of farming. However, North Bay Produce is never going to stop pushing and striving for more innovative ways and practices to improve our sustainability efforts.”

As it steps into its next era of sustainability advancement, Jennifer Pulcipher, Director of Food Safety and Compliance will be leading the company’s strategy, a press release explained.

“It is imperative for North Bay to support our network of growers and engage with them as our sustainability strategy evolves,” said Pulcipher. “As has always been our priority to be true partners with our growers, our mission is to ensure that no one is left behind and that we all continually improve. We are also excited to share in the celebration of their success when milestones are met and encourage them to continue taking the next step.”

The next evolution of sustainability for the grower includes establishing a sustainability team within the operation.

“Their mission will be to work even more closely with our growers and retail partners on pushing the limits of what can be achieved in terms of sustainability in all aspects of our business,” Osmulski added. “This will include growing to packing to shipping the fruits and vegetables we produce around the world.”

As the release added, North Bay actively engages with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to drive collective action and make progress toward achieving thoughtful sustainability milestones in the specialty crops sector. Some of the supplier’s sustainability-focused strategies include utilizing reduced plastic packaging, recyclable labels, and trialing different materials, as well as an insightful series where their farmers will explain what they are doing regarding environmental stewardship and climate-smart practices.

To dive further into this operation-wide strategy, click here.

Stick around for the latest industry news.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Recognizing the foodservice sector’s role in amplifying produce consumption, FreshEdge is a continued supporter of culinary innovation and menu creativity. To spotlight this vital segment of the industry, the company proudly sponsors the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards, of which the 2024 winners were recently revealed.

“We are proud of our continued commitment to this exceptional program that honors the best of the best in foodservice who are elevating fresh produce to the forefront of their menus,” said Steve Grinstead, Chief Executive Officer of FreshEdge.

Evaluated by an expert panel of produce professionals based on a specific set of criteria, the nine chosen chefs and foodservice pros were nominated by their peers for their ability to spotlight fresh produce via menu creative and creative concept development. The foodservice standouts were honored for incorporating produce into culinary trends and driving overall produce consumption in their communities.

Along with global exposure, the winners also receive a trip to IFPA’s Foodservice Conference in Monterey, California on July 25–26, where they will be honored on stage, a press release noted.

“Fresh produce remains a key driver of success for the foodservice, retail, and culinary industries with chefs and foodservice professionals playing an essential role in encouraging consumers to explore new produce items,” said Greg Corsaro, President of FreshEdge. “We are proud to recognize another great group of pioneers.”

To read more about the program, including the nine winners selected for 2024, click here. More information can also be found on IFPA’s website.

Congratulations once again to these well-deserving foodservice professionals! For more industry news, you know where to click.