ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold Delhaize announces that shareholders appointed Wiebe Draijer as a member of the Ahold Delhaize Supervisory Board during its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Wiebe will also assume the role of Chair of the Supervisory Board, succeeding Peter Agnefjäll, on October 1, 2025.

During the EGM, Wiebe said: “I am honored to join Ahold Delhaize as Chair designate of the Supervisory Board. I look forward to working closely with the Supervisory Board, Frans Muller, and his leadership team to support them in delivering on the Growing Together strategy and realizing the company’s ambitions."

Wiebe continued: "Furthermore, Ahold Delhaize plays an important role in shaping a healthier and sustainable food system - an area I am passionate about. I am excited to help the company further strengthen its position as a key player in food retail.”

Peter joined the Ahold Delhaize Supervisory Board in April 2019 and has served as Chair since January 1, 2021.

"It has been an honor to serve as Chair of Ahold Delhaize's Supervisory Board. I am confident that we have found an excellent successor, and the company is well-positioned to move into the next phase of its strategic journey," said Peter.

Peter will step down from the Supervisory Board as of October 1, 2025.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Nonna Life, a lifestyle brand that celebrates Italian Canadian culture, and Del Fresco Pure®, a family-owned and operated company located in the heart of Canada’s greenhouse industry, join forces on their second brand collaboration: HOT NONNA SUMMER. This latest campaign follows their first collaboration: an Aperitivo-style event hosted by Nonna Life during the CPMA Convention in Montreal last April. Both brands combine their shared commitment to culture, sustainability, and authentic experiences to offer consumers the very best in food, culture, and lifestyle.

"This collaboration is a match made in heaven," said Ariane Laezza, Founder of Nonna Life, in a press release. "Del Fresco Pure's commitment to sustainable sourcing and high-quality produce perfectly complements Nonna Life's focus on community and cultural traditions with a contemporary approach. Together, we've come up with something truly special that celebrates locally grown produce, traditional recipes, and quintessential Italian-Canadian experiences, all wrapped up in the spirit of our beloved grandmothers."

Celebrating the Success of the "Hot Nonna Summer" Campaign

Nonna Life and Del Fresco Pure® are celebrating the recent success of their "Hot Nonna Summer" campaign, which has gained traction worldwide when its "Starter Pack" meme went viral. Launched on the first day of summer, the campaign featured limited edition "wheeled shopping carts" that were outfitted with custom patches, buttons and traditional "cornicello" - filled with items featured in the starter pack, including greenhouse grown Del Fresco Pure® tomatoes, a dish towel, a wooden spoon, Pastina, ginger ale, strawberry hard candies, a visor, recipe cards and a summer playlist featuring top Italo-disco hits.

Thirty "granny carts" were hand-delivered by the "Hot Nonna Summer Delivery Service", an electric VW Bus, to influencers in the food and cultural spaces, reaching over a million combined followers and over 100k interactions. "Hot Nonna Summer was such a fun campaign to do, and it's been exciting to see it come to life; I'm so happy that it has resonated with so many people," said Laezza. "It’s a perfect example of how we can collaborate with great partners like Del Fresco Pure® to create impactful experiences that resonate with our community. This campaign has allowed us to showcase locally-grown produce in a fun, engaging way, and it’s been amazing to see so many people embrace the spirit of summer with Nonna Life."

Strengthening Sustainability and a Tradition of Taste

Hot Nonna Summer was created to honour the vibrant energy and enduring influence of nonnas—who serve as the heartbeat of family tradition. Del Fresco Pure®, located in the heart of Canada’s greenhouse industry, continues to excel at producing premium, sustainably grown produce that is delivered to homes across North America. Sonia Klinger, Marketing Manager at Del Fresco Pure®, says: “We grow produce Nonna would be proud to serve. This campaign is about honouring that legacy—and showcasing it with a modern twist.”

Their commitment to innovative, eco-conscious farming methods ensures that dishes are made with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. "As a single-family-owned and operated company, we take pride in our dedication to growing and delivering niche gourmet items that elevate every meal. We’re delivering the highest quality greenhouse-grown produce that is also responsibly grown, making a positive impact on both people and the planet. It’s an exciting time for both of our brands," says Sonia Klinger.

"Del Fresco Pure is proud to support a campaign that celebrates community, sustainability, and the love of good food," said Sonia Klinger, Marketing Manager at Del Fresco Pure. "Working with Ariane of that Nonna Life reminded us how powerful food can be in connecting people across generations. We’re honoured to see our produce featured in meals that tell such meaningful stories."

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Food solutions company SpartanNash® reported financial results for its 12-week second quarter ended July 12, 2025.

"I'm proud of our team's continued focus and efforts to execute on the strategic plan, which delivered strong profitability driven by cost savings and expanded margins. Our performance remains ahead of our expectations as we work to maximize shareholder value," said SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam in the recent release. "Closing the C&S transaction remains a top priority, and we are energized by the opportunity to deliver even greater value to hometown grocery stores and shoppers across the country."

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Highlights

• Net sales increased 1.8% to $2.27 billion, driven by contributions from recent acquisitions in the Retail segment, partially offset by lower volume in the Wholesale segment.
  • Wholesale segment net sales decreased 3.0% to $1.51 billion, primarily due to reduced case volumes in the national accounts customer channel and the elimination of intercompany sales to the newly acquired Fresh Encounter Inc. stores. These declines were partially offset by higher sales in the military customer channel.
  • Retail segment net sales increased 12.8% to $762.9 million due to incremental sales from recently acquired stores. Retail comparable store sales decreased 0.5% due to lower unit volumes.
• Net earnings of $6.2 million or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $11.5 million or $0.34 per diluted share. Adjusted EPS(2)(3) of $0.54, compared to $0.59.
  • Net earnings were lower due to costs associated with the pending merger, depreciation and amortization, enterprise-wide organizational realignment, and higher incentive compensation. These impacts were partially offset by an improved Wholesale segment gross margin rate, lower restructuring and asset impairment charges, and decreased corporate administrative costs. Adjusted EPS excludes the impact of acquisition and integration, organizational realignment, restructuring, and asset impairment charges.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $68.7 million, compared to $64.5 million.
  • The improvement was driven by the factors above, excluding the unfavorable increase in non-cash expenses, primarily depreciation and amortization, that impacted adjusted EPS.

C&S Wholesale Grocers Transaction

On June 22, 2025, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC, pursuant to which C&S will acquire SpartanNash for a purchase price of $26.90 per share of SpartanNash common stock in cash, representing total consideration of $1.77 billion, including assumed net debt. Details regarding the Transaction can be found in the Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2025, and the joint press release issued by the Company and C&S on June 23, 2025. The Transaction price represents a 52.5% premium over SpartanNash's closing price on June 20, 2025, of $17.64, and a premium of 42.0% to its 30-day volume-weighted average stock price of SpartanNash common stock as of June 20, 2025.

The Transaction was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in late 2025, subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, among other things, Company shareholder approval and applicable regulatory approvals.

See the full report here.

ONTARIO, CANADA - “We believe design isn’t just about making things look nice. It should solve real problems and tell a story that resonates.”

Wayne St. Denis, Senior Creative Design Manager, shared this insight with me in response to Mucci Farms winning the 2025 Besties Award for Best Snack Ad. Our team is constantly impressed by the level of artistry and detail that goes into creating such dynamic advertisements.

“For us, good design is both intentional and emotional. We focus heavily on human-centered design, using visuals as a way to communicate meaning and create connection,” Wayne told me. “Every project we take on is approached with clarity and user experience as the top priorities. Whether it's testing a layout to see how people interact with it or fine-tuning typography so it better supports the message, we’re always refining to make sure the design truly serves its purpose.”

The Snack ad that earned Mucci this award spotlighted the Savorries Sweet Strawberry Tomatoes, utilizing a bold color palette and mouthwatering recipe photos to draw our readers in.

“Graphic design has always been more than just a visual skill for us. It’s a tool to communicate clearly and bring people together,” Wayne continued. “When done right, design can cut through the noise, help people understand what you're saying, and spark a real emotional connection. That kind of impact is what keeps us invested and constantly pushing to do better.”

Mucci Farms is not one to stay stagnant. The team is constantly evolving, not only to meet the needs of the market but to keep everyone, from consumers to buy-side partners, engaged.

“Our approach has definitely evolved. In the beginning, we were mostly focused on making things look clean and modern. But after seeing that some of our work didn’t fully connect with the audience, we realized we needed to go deeper. That meant doing more research, thinking strategically, and putting the user experience at the center of everything,” Wayne explained. “Making that shift has helped us grow, not just as designers but as thoughtful, creative problem-solvers. It’s an ongoing process, and we’re still learning, but we’re in a much better place now because of it."

We want to give a special shout-out to our Besties Committee for their time, dedication, and insight. Each year, our team compiles the Besties ballot with nominations across all award categories, and our committee votes to determine the winners. This year, the committee voted on every category except Retailer of the Year, Best Marketer to Work With, and the Lifetime Achievement Award—three honors selected by our leadership team due to their special significance.

We at AndNowUKnow and The Snack are forever in awe of this industry we call home. Congratulations to Mucci Farms!

UNITED STATES & PUERTO RICO - Hurricane Erin, the first of the Atlantic season, is continuing its track north of the Caribbean after strengthening late last week. As of the beginning of this week, forecasters say the storm could still reach major hurricane status in the coming days, though the likelihood of a direct U.S. landfall remains low.

According to The New York Times, the system is moving faster than a typical hurricane, which could influence how far west it travels before making its expected turn to the north. Meteorologist Judson Jones noted that “it has taken a few days, but Erin is now a hurricane with 75-mile-per-hour winds and is expected to strengthen over the weekend to a powerful and increasingly large hurricane.”

Even without a direct strike, coastal regions along the Atlantic could see heightened surf and heightened rip currents this week, and growers in affected areas are urged to keep watch as the storm’s track continues to evolve.

Check back with ANUK for the latest storm updates and potential industry impacts.

WOODLAND, CA - The inaugural Future of Veg event in Woodland, Calif., hosted by Syngenta Vegetable Seeds August 13-15, is now complete. The event showcased the latest innovations in vegetables as growers continue to face volatile climate conditions, rapidly changing market conditions, and consumer preferences. Exciting developments showcased in the field included watermelon, perfectly ripe IDEAL melons, and disease-resistant peppers.

“The most exciting aspect of our Future of Veg series is the real-time collaboration it enables,” said Juan Pablo Lopez, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds Regional Commercial Head, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, in the recent release. “By gathering feedback from growers in Woodland and combining that with our other Future of Veg events, we gain a comprehensive understanding of market needs that helps shape our innovation pipeline.”

Attendees from more than a dozen countries gathered in Woodland with a common goal – finding the best genetics and solutions to fit their unique needs.

"The turnout from our growers and distributors exceeded all expectations," said Andre Cariou, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds Regional Commercial Head for LATAM and AGH. "We were particularly gratified to showcase our latest innovations in cantaloupe, watermelon, and pepper varieties to such an engaged audience."

Innovation Showcase:

• IDEAL Melons feature the patented Harvest Indicator Trait, allowing growers to select fruit at the perfect time for harvest. Because the melons also continue ripening after harvest, it results in a higher sweetness and stronger aroma when compared to traditional long-shelf-life cantaloupes, enabling the customer to have a perfectly sweet melon every time.
• For watermelon growers, Syngenta breeders introduced two varieties of firm-flesh watermelons, Cato and Golden Crisp, which can be used for both whole-fruit and packaged markets. Experts also showcased watermelon rootstock trials and scion, bringing hearty disease resistance and new options for growers.

• Syngenta’s pepper breeders focus on fruit yield potential and disease resistance in blocky peppers — for example, all U.S. varieties have resistance against tomato wilt virus. Hot peppers, including jalapeno and ancho, feature highly versatile plants with excellent heat setting and resistance to major bacterial and soil wilt.

“It is always our goal with these events to not only showcase our growers' offerings and newest developments,” said Ana Grau, Americas Syngenta Vegetable Seeds Brand and Customer Head. “But to also gather feedback and suggestions from growers, that we will strive to meet in the future.”

FRESNO, CA - Access to reliable data has never been more important than in today’s dynamic environment, especially in the fresh produce industry. Famous Software’s portfolio of Apps gives customers powerful, reliable data on the go. The new Famous Sales App provides access to critical sales information, wherever users need to be.

“Our new Sales App is a game changer for sales professionals who are constantly on the go,” Natalie Kaita, Director of Sales at Famous Software, details. “A great salesperson is going to be traveling constantly. You might not be able to pull out your laptop if you are racing to catch a flight or meeting with a customer. We wanted to make sure these critical Famous users were able to view, edit, or create orders on the fly.”

Launched earlier this month, the Famous Sales App is now available for purchase, a press release stated. “Our new app allows immense flexibility for busy salespeople,” President Heather Hammack adds. “Imagine being able to change a quantity for an order while waiting to board a flight. Or the ability to change or add a product to an order during a lunch meeting. Users will be able to confirm that trucks are loading and will meet their customers' expectations on the go, or add produce picking instructions for the warehouse loaders. These are just some of the numerous features available in the app.”

“We have big plans for this and our other Apps,” elaborates Kaita. “Like with all our innovation, we learned what our customers needed from this app directly from the salespeople themselves. Customer-centricity has always been a value of Famous Software and is one of the many reasons why we’ve been in business for over 50 years. This industry knows that they can rely on us to create technology that will contribute significantly to their organization’s success.”

Famous Software will be attending the IFPA Foodservice Conference and will be available to demonstrate the new Sales App.

“We know how important this functionality is to our customers,” Hammack explains. “Our team has worked tirelessly to get the new Sales App ready in advance of the upcoming trade shows. In 2024, we transitioned from annual to quarterly releases so that we could be more nimble and develop the functionality our customers need to create a competitive advantage. Whether that’s ensuring FSMA 204 compliance or building features into our Apps or WMS products, we have the best and brightest developers in the fresh produce industry creating world-class technology that meets the unique needs of our customers.”

Built on a powerful stack of technology with an Oracle database, Famous Software has been the preeminent technology provider for fresh produce enterprises for over 50 years.

“We invest millions of dollars each year in developing superior technology to meet industry and customer needs,” Director of Support, Carolyn Craft, adds. “Not to mention providing the legendary support that has been a key to our success. As we reflect on our 50-year legacy, we know that we must stay true to the values upon which our founders created this company. We take enormous pride in the quality of our products and the superiority of our service.”

For more information about Famous Software and the new Sales App, visit: here