SAN ANTONIO, TX - H-E-B, one of the nation’s leading independent retailers and the largest private employer in Texas, announced the promotion of Chief Operating Officer Roxanne Orsak to President, effective January 2026. Orsak will succeed Craig Boyan who shared his intention to retire at the end of 2026, after 20 years of leadership. Boyan will transition to a senior advisor role, remaining a member of the Board of Directors and joining the company’s Board Oversight and Advisory Committee. In Orsak’s new role as President and COO, she will report to CEO Howard Butt III.

“We are grateful for Craig’s consequential leadership that leaves a lasting impact on our company and culture,” said Howard Butt III, H-E-B CEO. “Craig has guided significant and continuous company growth while strengthening the people-based values that are so important to H-E-B. His commitment to innovation, collaboration, and focus on people has positioned us strongly for the future.”

Butt continued, “Roxanne is the natural choice to serve as H-E-B’s next President. She has a deep understanding of our business, which she honed from a broad range of leadership roles at H-E-B during her 37-year tenure. Roxanne leads by example, embodies our culture, and recognizes the unique contributions of each Partner.”

According to a press release, Orsak began her career at the company in 1988 as a store management trainee and rose through the ranks of store operations, merchandising, procurement, format design, and more. She has held leadership positions in almost every area of H-E-B’s business before being named Chief Operating Officer in 2022. She will be the first woman to serve as President of H-E-B, an especially meaningful milestone for the company, which was founded 120 years ago in 1905 by Florence Butt, a pioneering female entrepreneur.

Orsak has consistently embraced innovation and transformational change, enabling her to make meaningful contributions that advanced the company’s mission and growth, including the launch of the H-E-B Plus! store format in 2004 and the Joe V’s Smart Shop store format in 2010. Her leadership style is built on the belief that H-E-B’s number one priority is listening to and supporting its Partners so they can take great care of customers.

“Throughout my time at H-E-B, our amazing Partners and leaders have inspired me to be my very best,” said Orsak. “At H-E-B, we are more than just a grocery store. We are committed to showing up for each other and working hard so we can run a business that improves the lives of our Partners, customers, and communities. I am honored to continue to shape the future of this great company with integrity, heart, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Orsak graduated with honors from Texas A&M in agricultural economics and attended Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and the University of Southern California’s Food Industry Management Program. She is deeply involved in supporting rural schools and communities with a focus on education, youth development, and small business growth. Orsak and her husband support the South Texas Multiple Sclerosis Society which is dedicated to helping individuals impacted by the disease and funding research to find a cure.

Boyan joined H-E-B in 2005 as Chief Strategic Officer after serving as an advisor to the company for two years. He was appointed President in 2010. During his time at the company, H-E-B has achieved significant growth, increasing annual sales from $10 billion to $50 billion and developing one of the leading multi-format retailers in the country.

During Boyan’s tenure, the H-E-B team transformed how it serves customers, successfully introducing new store formats and better tailoring our stores to more effectively serve Texas communities. H-E-B has also made significant investments in our Partners and culture, as well as in price, eCommerce, and our supply chain to strengthen the company. Boyan also led H-E-B through many disasters, storms, and unprecedented challenges during the pandemic.

In January, Boyan will transition to a senior advisor role at H-E-B, where he will provide leadership coaching and development. He will remain engaged in the business, continuing to serve as a member of H-E-B’s Board of Directors, and will also join the company’s Board Oversight and Advisory Committee.

“I’ve always said that retail is a team sport, and at H-E-B, I’ve been lucky enough to work with the best in the business,” said Boyan. “I am so grateful to Charles Butt for inviting me to join the H-E-B family 20 years ago and it’s been my great honor to work with our impressive leadership team and Charles, Howard, Stephen, and Jeffrey Butt in leading this wonderful company.”

Boyan will continue to support and help shape the retail industry as Chairman of FMI, the Food Industry Association. He also serves our local Texas communities, including as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Texas Biomedical Research Institute, as Chairman of the Board for Junior Achievement of South Texas, and as a member of the Executive Committee of Greater:SATX, the San Antonio economic development organization.

“This transition comes at an exciting time for H-E-B as we celebrate 120 years of serving Texans,” said Charles Butt, Chairman, H-E-B. “Under Craig’s leadership, our company has truly thrived – he has strengthened H-E-B and our team, and driven improvements across every area of our business. I am deeply grateful to Craig for his commitment to help make H-E-B such an admired company, one that is constantly evolving in the competitive retail marketplace, with a deep commitment to improving the well-being of our Partners and our communities. I am proud of Craig’s leadership and the far-reaching impact he has had on our company, and I am pleased we will have his support and guidance going forward.”

Butt continued, “Roxanne has a strategic mindset, deep understanding of our business, and commitment to our Partners and customers, and I look forward to seeing her take on this new role. She has built her entire career at our company and is the right leader to take us into our next era.”

For more from the press release, click here.

CHINO HILLS, CA - Oppy announces the return of produce industry veteran David Nelley as vice president of South American operations, bringing more than 30 years of global fresh produce experience back to the company.

Nelley’s career spans New Zealand, North America, Asia, Australia, South America and beyond, where he has driven sales, marketing and export strategies across multiple sectors of the fresh fruit industry. Most recently, he served as chief commercial officer at The Fresh Connection and vice president of retail sales at Apeel Sciences.

Before those roles, Nelley spent more than 18 years at Oppy in leadership positions including vice president of categories and global exports, and executive category director for apples, pears and northwest cherries. During that tenure, he strengthened supplier and retail partnerships, developed global programs, and led strategies that delivered strong growth and results for both Oppy and its grower-partners. Earlier in his career he held key marketing and sales roles with Enzafruit, now known as T&G Global, where he helped open new markets and was instrumental in building brands such as Envy and JAZZ apples.

“It’s an exciting time to fit right back into Oppy, a company that has been so formative in my career,” said Nelley in a recent press release. “I’m delighted to return to the culture at Oppy, and work with trusted colleagues who are friends. South America plays a critical role in global produce supply, and I look forward to working with our growers and retailers to deliver fruitful programs.”

In this role, Nelley will work closely with Oppy’s executive category directors, grower relations and sales teams to expand its comprehensive and continuous supply of fresh fruit for customers across North America. He will also oversee the company’s South American offices and grower relations teams, coordinating with key partners throughout the continent.

President and Chief Operating Officer David Smith added, “We’re happy to welcome David back to Oppy. His deep knowledge of our business, combined with his broad international experience, uniquely positions him to strengthen our South American programs and create new growth opportunities.”

With grower-partnerships in 27 countries supplying over 100 varieties, Nelley’s return marks the next chapter in Oppy’s dedication to delivering premium, year-round produce.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The Allen Lund Company is pleased to announce the promotions of two ALC General Managers, Matt Gronostaj and Ben Batten, to Vice Presidents of Sales and Operations. They will transition into their new roles on October 1, 2025.

Matt Gronostaj joined the Allen Lund Company in 2005 as a Transportation Broker for ALC Memphis, working his way up to become the General Manager of the office, a press release stated.

Reflecting on his new role, Matt Gronostaj said, “I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to move further into leadership. I am thankful for the executive team, the Lund family, and my peers that have put their trust in me. Looking forward to collaborating with the best minds in the business and bringing new and fresh ideas to further the success of Allen Lund Company.”

Eddie Lund, Chief Executive Officer, shared, “Matt started as a Transportation Broker, and through grit, hard work, and an ability to lead, he became one of our top GMs. For 20 years, Matt has consistently improved his ability to influence his peers and those who work for him positively. We are excited to see how he performs as a VP and know that he will help any offices that he serves. Congratulations, Matt, this promotion is well deserved.”

Ben Batten joined the Allen Lund Company in 2020 with the acquisition of Des Moines Truck Brokers. 

He served as the Assistant General Manager for the ALC Des Moines branch until he was promoted in 2022 to become the General Manager of the office.

Speaking about his promotion, Ben declared, “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the continued support of my colleagues and leadership team. I've been fortunate to work alongside a fantastic team in Des Moines for many years, and my success would not be possible without them. I look forward to this next chapter and contributing to Allen Lund Company's growth and success.”

Regarding Ben Batten's promotion, Eddie Lund stated, “When we purchased DMTB in 2020, we quickly realized how capable Ben was as an Assistant Manager. When he took over as GM of Des Moines, we knew that he would take them to the next level. Through ingenuity, intelligence, and hustle, Ben's leadership continued to flourish. That is why he is being promoted to Vice President. We know that he will serve his offices well, and we look forward to watching Ben perform at a high level with this next step in his career. Congratulations, Ben!”

FRESNO, CA - Baloian Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned farm that specializes in growing premium bell peppers year-round. As a vertically integrated operation, we oversee every step—from planting and harvesting to packing, cooling, and distribution—to ensure top quality and freshness.

Our bell peppers start as seedlings grown indoors. Once the seedlings establish roots, stems, and leaves, they become “transplants” ready for the outdoor soil. With ample sunlight, water, and care, the plants will grow and blossom. After successful pollination, flowers will develop into peppers. Once the peppers reach full size, shape, and desired ripeness, they are ready for harvesting.

Freshly picked peppers are taken straight to our advanced packing shed where they are washed, brushed, dried, and sorted. Using advanced photo optics and AI technology, we grade each pepper by size, shape, and quality, ensuring consistent excellence.

We pack our retail-grade peppers under the Pam Pak brand—short for “pampered pack”—reflecting our commitment to quality and care. Each box label provides end-to-end traceability back to the fields where the produce was grown.

Finally, we pre-cool peppers to preserve freshness and extend shelf-life during transport, so they arrive fresh in stores and homes nationwide.

At Baloian Farms, we take pride in nurturing every pepper from seed to shelf, delivering the highest-quality bell peppers you can taste.

For more exclusive operational insights, leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.

WASHINGTON - On July 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed an administrative complaint alleging that Smile Onion 7, Inc. of Columbia, Md., failed to make full payment promptly in the amount of $1,017,919.25 to 15 sellers for multiple lots of produce, purchased, received, and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA and Smile Onion 7 then entered into a Consent Decision and Order in which Smile Onion 7 agreed to pay the unpaid produce sellers listed in Appendix A to the Complaint and to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $40,000. Smile Onion 7 has satisfied the terms of the Consent Decision and Order, and the finding that it committed repeated and flagrant PACA violations has been permanently abated without further process. The case has been closed.

For more information, contact Peter Scarabelli, Acting Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].