SEPC Southern Innovations 2026 Yearbook Part 1
RHOME, TX - What’s next in the dip aisle? ¡Yo Quiero! is bringing it to Booth #1705 at this year’s IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show. From protein-enhanced guacamole and bold Mexican-inspired flavors to creamy dips, queso, salsa, bean dips, and more, ¡Yo Quiero! is helping retailers keep pace with what shoppers are craving through one fresh, trend-forward portfolio.
Leading the innovation lineup is ¡Yo Quiero!’s new Guacamole with Greek Yogurt, which pairs fresh avocado with 0% fat Greek yogurt to deliver more protein in a familiar, craveable format. The new line delivers 10 grams of protein per 8-ounce tub and 3 grams per 2.5-ounce single-serve cup, bringing together two recognizable ingredients as shoppers increasingly look for protein-forward foods, convenient formats, and satisfying snack options.
The new line will be available in four varieties:
“Protein-boosting guacamole with Greek yogurt is a smart and innovative way to meet consumers’ demand for convenient, nutrient-dense snacks made with simple, wholesome and recognizable ingredients,” said Amy Davis, RDN, in the recent release. “It’s especially relevant as GLP-1 medications continue to reshape the way people eat, with nutrition density of each eating occasion mattering more than ever.
Blending guacamole with nonfat Greek yogurt increases the protein content while decreasing the calorie content. Avocados provide fiber and heart-healthy unsaturated fats, while Greek yogurt adds high-quality protein that avocado naturally lacks. Together, they create a satisfying combination of protein, fiber, and healthy fats that fits naturally into a balanced snack or meal, whether someone is on a weight-loss journey or simply looking for more nutrition from their snacks.”
Protein may be one of the biggest conversations in food right now, but it’s far from the only trend shaping the dip aisle. ¡Yo Quiero! is also leaning into shoppers’ growing appetite for bold, globally inspired flavors with an expansion of its popular Mexican Inspired line.
Following the launch of its Mexican Inspired collection earlier this year, ¡Yo Quiero! is expanding the line with Mexican Inspired Queso Blanco, Salsa con Queso and Mexican Street Corn. The additions build on the momentum of the existing collection and give retailers more options for shoppers looking to bring authentic, craveable flavors home.
“The response to our Mexican Inspired line has been off the charts, so expanding the collection was a natural next step to satisfy shoppers’ appetites while giving our retail partners even more opportunities to capitalize on that demand,” said Tara Murray, Vice President of Marketing at ¡Yo Quiero! Brands.
And if all that innovation hasn’t fed your appetite already, the brand will also introduce Mashed Avocado with Sea Salt, available in 8-ounce tubs and convenient 2-ounce cups. Made with mineral sea salt to naturally enhance flavor, the new variety takes one more step out of avocado prep by seasoning it right in the package, creating a simple, ready-to-eat option that can be enjoyed straight from the container or easily incorporated into meals and snacks.
“We want retailers to think of ¡Yo Quiero! as their one-stop shop for what’s happening in dips,” added Murray. “Being the Ultimate Dip Destination™ means we’re constantly looking at what shoppers want next and finding ways to bring those trends to life across the entire category. Whether that’s guacamole, queso, salsa, bean dips, creamy dips or something completely new, we want to give our partners more ways to keep the dip aisle fresh and exciting, drive incremental purchases and ultimately increase basket ring.”
Global Show attendees can taste the innovation for themselves at Booth #1705, where ¡Yo Quiero! will be sampling its newest products alongside pork tacos and nachos, giving attendees the opportunity to experience firsthand the craveability, convenience and versatility that make ¡Yo Quiero! the Ultimate Dip Destination™.
For more information about ¡Yo Quiero!’s products, to place an order or to connect with the team at IFPA Global Show, contact Jay Alley at [email protected].
KEASBEY, NJ - Wakefern Food Corp. supermarket banners ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market are inviting job seekers to explore exciting career opportunities during a series of walk-in hiring fairs on Saturday, September 26.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., participating store locations across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will host in-store recruitment events for full-time, part-time and management positions. According to the recent release, no advance registration is required — candidates can simply stop by to speak with hiring teams and learn more about available opportunities.
Open positions include general clerks, front-end associates, inventory and grocery department team members, among others. Associates enjoy competitive benefits and opportunities to grow within a dynamic, customer-focused retail environment. Many roles offer on-the-job training, flexible scheduling and access to a unique game-based learning platform designed to help team members build skills and advance their careers.
In addition to professional development, eligible team members may receive tuition and entertainment discounts, scholarship opportunities and the chance to contribute to meaningful community initiatives, including hunger relief and sustainability efforts. Wakefern is a retailer‑owned supermarket cooperative made up of family‑owned supermarkets that independently own and operate their stores.
GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - Dollar General (DG) is pleased to announce two leadership updates in the Company’s supply chain and legal departments.
Braden Anderson was promoted to vice president, global inventory management, overseeing strategies that optimize inventory investments, improve product availability and support operational excellence across the enterprise. Serving Others since 2014, Anderson has progressed through roles of increasing responsibility within DG’s logistics and transportation functions. He joined the Company as a demand chain management analyst and most recently served as senior director, transportation, where he led DG’s Transportation Operations Center (TOC) operations, advanced routing and return transportation initiatives.
Alisha Cieslak has joined Dollar General as vice president, chief compliance officer where she will lead Dollar General’s compliance and ethics function, supporting the business in operating with integrity and accountability for DG customers, employees, shareholders and communities. Cieslak brings nearly two decades of legal executive experience leading enterprise compliance, ethics, governance and regulatory programs at food service distribution, manufacturing and private practice organizations. She most recently served as chief legal and risk officer for Gordon Food Service, a leading North American food service distributor where she provided oversight for legal, enterprise risk, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and other key corporate functions.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA & ISSAQUAH, WA - Costco Wholesale Corporation and DoorDash, a global leader in local commerce, announced the launch of Costco on the DoorDash Marketplace across the U.S. The partnership brings Costco’s distinctive assortment to members through DoorDash, giving them greater flexibility in how they shop. The U.S. launch marks the latest expansion of DoorDash and Costco’s global relationship, which already spans Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Iceland and Puerto Rico.
Costco ranked among the most-searched retailers not yet available on DoorDash. DoorDash and Costco are meeting that customer demand: Costco members can now order groceries, pantry staples, household essentials, electronics, seasonal merchandise, Kirkland Signature products and more from all Costco warehouses nationwide through DoorDash for same-day delivery.
“Costco members have been asking for Costco on DoorDash, and today we’re delivering,” said Mike Goldblatt, Vice President of Enterprise Partnerships at DoorDash, in the recent release. “By pairing Costco’s quality, value and selection with DoorDash’s reach and local delivery network, we’re giving members more flexibility in how they shop. The U.S. launch also marks the next chapter in a global partnership already serving Costco members around the world.”
With Costco on board, DoorDash now partners with 8 of the 10 largest food retailers in North America, according to Progressive Grocer’s PG 100.
How It Works
Costco members in the U.S. can open the DoorDash app, search for Costco and select their local warehouse, where they can shop more than 4,000 products. When prompted, they can link an active Costco membership and complete their order. Consumers who are not yet Costco members can follow a link to Costco.com to purchase a membership, then return to DoorDash and link their new account.

ENSENADA BAJA, CA - What began with a vision focused on the resources of the sea has evolved into a Mexican company dedicated to transforming the potential of algae and other marine resources into solutions for agriculture.
Founded in 2012 in Ensenada, Baja California, Algas Pacific was established with the goal of harnessing the properties of marine algae to develop products that help improve crop nutrition, development, and response to different conditions.
More than a decade later, the company has built a strong foundation based on science, research, and technology applied to agriculture, with a presence in Mexico, the United States, and Chile.
From the Ocean to the Field
Algas Pacific works primarily with algae from the North Pacific, including Macrocystis pyrifera and Gelidium robustum, which are processed through its proprietary methodology known as the AP Method.
This methodology is designed to efficiently harness the components found in algae and transform them into solutions with high bioavailability for plants.
The result is a portfolio divided into two main categories: biostimulants and highly assimilable nutrients, designed to address different crop needs and stages of development.
Five Solutions, Different Needs
Its Biostimulants line includes:
Its Highly Assimilable Nutrients line includes:
Rather than offering isolated products, Algas Pacific develops nutrition and biostimulation programs tailored to the characteristics of each crop and the specific needs of each grower.
Mexican Science with an International Vision
One of the key elements that sets Algas Pacific apart is its commitment to research. The company has developed technologies and products in collaboration with specialists and scientific institutions, bringing knowledge from marine sciences into agricultural applications.
Its experience extends across crops such as berries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pecans, tomatoes, figs, citrus fruits, bananas, and papayas, among others.
This experience has also allowed the company to work with agricultural businesses across different markets. Among its clients is Coliman Bananas, a Mexican producer and marketer of organic and conventional bananas with a presence in both domestic and international markets.
Looking Toward More Efficient Agriculture
Algas Pacific’s philosophy aligns with an agricultural approach focused on using resources more efficiently. Its work incorporates concepts such as biostimulation, regenerative agriculture, and green chemistry, seeking to contribute to soil health, plant development, and more efficient nutrient utilization.
At its core, the story of Algas Pacific is one of Mexican innovation: taking resources from the Pacific, studying them, and transforming them into technology that helps produce food.
From Ensenada to fields across different regions of the world, the company continues to bring a simple yet powerful idea to life: the ocean can also be a source of innovation for agriculture. Algas Pacific — An Ocean of Nutrients.
