BAKERSFIELD, CA - Inspiring category lift at retail is no small feat in today's competitive fresh produce departments. The right partner with a strategic mindset and an arsenal of tools and solutions can bring any category into full view; especially one as primed as sweet potatoes. With the International Fresh Produce Association's Global Produce & Floral Show (GPFS) approaching October 14–16, Bako Sweet® is preparing to address the needs of buying operations across North America.

"This year, we will be showcasing our holiday program, including our in-store POS that spotlights our shipper bins that fit in with the holiday vibe in November and December," Susan Noritake, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, shares. "Additionally, we are featuring our new Petite Sweets™ line that includes organic and conventional bags and trays. These are smaller bites perfect for snacks, sides, and appetizers, also great in the holiday timeframe and any time of year."

The company's convenience packs spark impulse buys and give consumers more information on how to incorporate sweet potatoes into their lives with innovative recipe ideas.

Bako Sweet has an innovative lens on the category, focused on shaping the future of sweet potatoes to meet consumer wants and needs. The company's goal is not just to generate financial success for its customers, but to shape how consumers think about the possibilities of sweet potatoes in their daily lives and how retailers manage those categories.

"We hope our excitement is infectious," Susan says. "We design our programs to win with all involved. One of the challenges we hear about most often is the need for sales. That is something we can do. When we get enough product in the stores, where shoppers can see it, it sells very well. Produce managers are often scored on shrink, which can make them hesitant to stock up enough product. That's what makes pulsing in promotions great, where they can see for themselves the sell-through."

This focused sweet potato company meets the needs of everyone involved—including the grower, retailer, and consumer—to build programs that last. By listening, innovating, executing, and measuring, the team finds the right answers.

Stop by booth #3959 to talk with members of the Bako Sweet sales and marketing team. They jump at the chance to hear the perspectives from the diverse attendee base and learn more about what's happening in the industry.

VINELAND, NJ - F&S Fresh Foods announced the appointments of Drew Callaghan as Chief Customer Officer and Travis Bond as Chief Financial Officer. Both executives will serve on the company's Senior Leadership Team, strengthening the commercial and financial leadership needed to support F&S Fresh Foods' continued growth.

Callaghan will lead the company's commercial organization, overseeing sales, customer development and growth initiatives across F&S Fresh Foods' expanding portfolio of fresh and value-added fresh food products. Bond will lead the company's finance organization, overseeing financial strategy, planning, reporting, and performance management while helping guide investment decisions and scalable growth.

"F&S Fresh Foods is entering an exciting new chapter of growth and innovation, and Drew and Travis bring the complementary leadership capabilities we need to guide that journey," said Sam Pipitone Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of F&S Fresh Foods. "Drew's commercial expertise, strategic thinking, and industry relationships will help us deepen customer partnerships and create new opportunities for growth. Travis brings a disciplined financial perspective and a strong understanding of how finance can support performance, investment, and long-term value creation. We are thrilled to welcome both leaders to the F&S family and look forward to the impact they will have across our organization."

"I've spent my career working alongside organizations that are passionate about serving customers, creating value and advancing the fresh food industry," said Callaghan. "F&S Fresh Foods has built an impressive platform centered on innovation, operational excellence and a commitment to improving lives from farm to family. I'm excited to join the team and contribute to the company's next chapter of growth."

"F&S Fresh Foods has a strong foundation, a clear growth ambition and a team committed to operational excellence," said Bond. "I look forward to partnering across the organization to strengthen financial planning and decision-making, support disciplined investment and help position the company for sustainable, long-term growth."

Callaghan joins F&S Fresh Foods with more than a decade of leadership experience across the produce and consumer packaged goods industries. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Sales for Grimmway Produce Group, where he led a commercial organization responsible for more than $1 billion in retail revenue across North America. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at RPE, helping drive sales growth, retail expansion, strategic acquisitions, and international initiatives. His experience spans sales, strategy, finance, marketing, and operations, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the fresh food supply chain and consumer marketplace.

Bond joins F&S Fresh Foods with a proven track record of profitably growing businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry, backed by more than a decade in senior finance roles at Nestlé. Prior to his most recent role in private equity, he served as the Finance Director for the Pizza & Snacking Division, whose popular brands include DiGiorno and Hot Pockets, and subsequently for the U.S. Supply Chain organization. In addition to his experience spanning strategy, FP&A, commercial finance, and audit, he is known for instilling a growth mindset and building high-performance teams and culture.

Founded in 1981, F&S Fresh Foods is a family-owned, full-service fresh food manufacturer headquartered in Vineland, New Jersey. The company has a national footprint with seven processing facilities across the country and a portfolio that includes fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, bagged vegetables, sliced apples, salsas, and a wide range of freshly prepared deli products, including sandwiches, meal kits, and deli salads.

F&S Fresh Foods produces both private label items and licensed products under nationally recognized brands such as Green Giant Fresh and Mott's. Guided by a mission to improve lives "from farm to family," the company is committed to innovation, operational excellence, and providing fresh, convenient food solutions that support healthy lifestyles. Through its vertically integrated partnership with Pipco Transportation, the company delivers industry-leading supply chain reliability, product quality, and customer service to retailers, foodservice operators, and consumers nationwide. Rooted in generations of farming tradition, F&S Fresh Foods continues to grow as a trusted partner across the fresh food industry.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Wonderful® Pistachios is putting its pistachio expertise behind one of today's biggest flavor trends with the launch of Wonderful Pistachios Dubai Chocolate. Featuring rich dark chocolate layered with smooth white chocolate and crispy kataifi around a delicious, crunchy pistachio, the new flavor delivers an indulgent, snackable take on the viral sensation.

Wonderful Pistachios brings the sought-after Dubai Chocolate flavor combination into a convenient bite-sized snack for any occasion, a press release stated. Available in a 4-ounce bag at supermarkets nationwide and a 14-ounce bag at select Costco locations, Wonderful Pistachios Dubai Chocolate arrives in elevated gold colored packaging with a resealable design just ahead of the holiday season, making it perfect for everyday snacking, entertaining, sharing and gifting.

"Dubai Chocolate has become a global sensation, and with pistachios at the center of the trend, there’s no one better to put their own spin on it than Wonderful Pistachios," said Diana Salsa, vice president of marketing for Wonderful Pistachios. "We're excited to bring consumers a delicious, snackable way to enjoy a flavor they already love, combining the quality, crunch and taste they expect from Wonderful Pistachios in a snack that's perfect for any occasion."

Wonderful Pistachios Dubai Chocolate joins Chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee in the brand's award-winning chocolate lineup, bringing together premium chocolate flavors and the satisfying crunch of roasted pistachios. The new flavor ranked alongside Wonderful Pistachios' top-performing varieties in consumer taste tests, reinforcing its broad appeal and demonstrating how Wonderful Pistachios continues to deliver flavors consumers are craving.

The launch also comes on the heels of Wonderful Pistachios’ expanded partnership with Josh Allen and launch of a new Josh Allen-branded SKU, underscoring the brand’s continued momentum in bringing consumers exciting new ways to enjoy pistachios – from sweet and indulgent to savory and salty. Notably, nearly half of consumers who purchase Wonderful Pistachios’ chocolate lineup are new to the brand, demonstrating the power the new flavor offers to drive trial and growth while continuing to expand the portfolio with crave-worthy combinations.