RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - FiveStar Gourmet Foods, home of Simply Fresh, the leader in fresh, innovative meal solutions, proudly announces the appointment of Johnny Hughes as President of SF-360, the company’s groundbreaking omnichannel platform focused on delivering fresh food solutions across retail, foodservice, sports and entertainment, transportation, hospitality, and quick-service restaurant (QSR) channels. In addition to his executive role, Hughes will also serve on the FiveStar Board of Directors, helping shape the company’s long-term strategic vision.

Hughes brings 30 years of experience from his executive tenure at Tyson Foods, where he held leadership roles across various divisions. He successfully led Tyson’s Government business and managed the company’s global partnership with McDonald’s, one of the world’s largest and most complex foodservice accounts. Hughes was later promoted to oversee Tyson’s entire Foodservice division, leading national strategy, innovation, and growth across commercial, non-commercial, and institutional sectors.

“Johnny’s experience at Tyson, building and leading some of the most strategically important business units, makes him especially suited to advance our vision for SF-360,” said Tal Shoshan, CEO of FiveStar Gourmet Foods, in the recent release. “His talent for expanding high-impact food platforms across multiple channels aligns with our goal to position and reinforce Simply Fresh as the most trusted and accessible fresh food brand in America.”

Hughes’ addition coincides with the recent opening of FiveStar’s state-of-the-art facility in Southern California. The flagship location is a new hub for innovation, production, and nationwide distribution of SF-360's fresh food solutions.

As President of SF-360, Hughes will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s rapidly growing vertical, including branded fresh kiosks, smart vending, foodservice distribution, institutional partnerships, and Simply Fresh Kitchen®—a new concept for health-focused quick-service restaurants. He will also oversee licensing and partnership initiatives to ensure cohesive execution across FiveStar’s nationwide footprint.

“FiveStar and Simply Fresh have earned their reputation by putting quality and convenience first,” said Johnny Hughes. “What’s next is reimagining how and where people access fresh food, whether through technology, partnerships, or entirely new formats. SF-360 is uniquely positioned to lead that shift, and I’m here to help accelerate what’s working and push what’s possible.”

To learn more about FiveStar Gourmet Foods and Simply Fresh, click here.

BENTONVILLE, AR - Today’s customer expects more. They’re shopping across categories, across price points, and increasingly across channels. They want value and greater assortment – much more than we can fit inside a Walmart U.S. Supercenter. And they also want a consistent, enjoyable shopping experience and to shop with a company they trust.

This is why we’ve made significant investments in assortment expansion across Walmart.com, including more than half a billion items from an ever-expanding group of diverse and growing sellers fueling the Walmart Marketplace. And, we're not just adding more—we’re adding better. From our core assortment of everyday essentials to premium brands, together we bring customers the breadth, depth, and quality they expect from a modern retailer.

An Industry-Wide Challenge

At the same time, bad actors seek to mislead and defraud customers in a rapidly changing environment. While counterfeits are estimated to represent a tiny minority of the products sold on marketplaces, it is an issue that plagues all retail marketplaces. These fraudulent sellers—who grow savvier, faking credentials and dodging enforcement—erode trust, not just in the companies that run these marketplaces, but in the thousands of large and small sellers who act with integrity and seek only to bring value and assortment to those who shop with us.

How We’re Shaping a Better Marketplace

To keep Walmart.com secure, we operate a multi-layered enforcement system with zero tolerance for bad actors, including:

• Seller vetting prior to onboarding, including identity and business verification, with ongoing compliance reviews.
• Pre-listing protections, such as restricting who can sell certain categories.
• AI-driven and real-time monitoring of product listings for policy compliance and intellectual property infringement, overseen by machine learning, automation, and human management.
• Clear policies with swift enforcement measures, including proactive removal of violating listings and, when necessary, removal of sellers.
• Rapid response capabilities enable our Trust & Safety team to investigate and address violations quickly.
• Brand protection tools that allow owners to flag and it is resolved quickly.
• Customer-centric policies, including convenient store-based returns for Marketplace items.
• Educating sellers to meet and maintain high standards.

These systems are continually enhanced and strengthened to protect consumers from the latest threats facing every open marketplace. When issues arise, our dedicated Trust & Safety team acts swiftly to investigate and resolve issues, alongside the many sellers who act with integrity on our site every day.

Working Together to Create a Safer Experience

Counterfeits have always been a challenge in retail, and online marketplaces are no exception. But today’s bad actors are more sophisticated, using technology to scale their operations faster than ever. This is why strong, coordinated action between the public and private sectors is essential for tackling the evolving threat. Our efforts include:

See the full release here.

GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - Dollar General Corporation announced Austin Leonard has joined the Company as vice president and general manager of DG Media Network (DGMN). Austin will oversee all aspects of the department, including go-to-market strategy, media operations, insights, media sales, and performance measurement.

“As Dollar General Media Network continues to evolve, we are excited to welcome Austin to the team to champion our next chapter of growth. With 80% of our stores serving markets of 20,000 people or less, DGMN offers a unique opportunity to engage with hard-to-reach customers who are overlooked through traditional digital marketing tactics. Austin’s deep retail media, marketing, and tech background combined with a track record of developing effective partnerships will further facilitate meaningful connections between our partners and customers,” said Tony Rogers, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Dollar General.

With more than 20 years of experience in advertising and media, Austin joins the organization as a tenured leader with expertise in driving strategy and innovation while delivering results through strong partnerships and empowered teams.

Prior to Dollar General, Austin served as senior vice president, retail media at Publicis/Epsilon. He also previously held leadership roles at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Rakuten, and eBay.

Austin earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Florida and his Master of Business Administration in marketing from Georgia State University

SAN ANTONIO, TX - H-E-B will officially open the doors to its College Park H-E-B at Babcock and Loop 1604 at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6.

At the soon-to-open store, customers who want to get a head start on shopping can begin to schedule orders for H-E-B Curbside pickup and Home Delivery, starting on Monday, August 4. Orders can be scheduled for pickup and delivery on opening day or up to seven days in advance.

At 111,000 square feet, the College Park H-E-B will showcase all the quality products and innovative services H-E-B customers have come to love and expect. Located at 7330 N Loop 1604 West in San Antonio, the store will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The store will also include a True Texas BBQ restaurant. More details will be released at the store’s grand opening.

WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms, a leader in fresh berries, shared an update on its Pacific Northwest blueberry season, detailing strong harvests. The company is seeing increased volumes of both conventional and organic-grown blueberries from this key region, with a strong focus on delivering exceptional quality as harvests continue.

Oregon is currently producing strong volumes of conventional and organic blueberries, with volumes forecasted to last through the end of September. Likewise, British Columbia is producing strong volumes of blueberries, with peak production slated to hit the first week of August and span most of the month. Washington will produce steady volumes through early September. This staggered start to the blueberry seasons in Oregon, British Columbia, and Washington ensures a seamless and ample supply of delicious blueberries for customers through early September, guaranteeing a strong and continuous flow throughout the summer months.

“We’re very pleased with the current blueberry season and the strong volumes from our Pacific Northwest growing regions,” shares Tim Youmans, Vice President of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms, in the recent release. “Our focus remains on providing a year-round supply of the highest quality blueberries. The ongoing harvests allow us to maintain excellent availability for our retail and foodservice partners, and ultimately, for consumers.”

To ensure optimum quality, California Giant ships directly from its Pacific Northwest grower locations, Watsonville and Salinas distribution sites, as well as from its Santa Maria blueberry packing facility that features a state-of-the-art Unitec sorting line. This advanced technology meticulously sorts blueberries for color, firmness, size, and other quality indicators, ensuring that only the highest-quality berries are packaged into each clamshell. The Santa Maria pack house also serves as a central hub for California Giant’s growers and outside suppliers, offering co-packing assistance and reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting its industry partners.

This strong supply outlook comes at a time when jumbo blueberries are experiencing rapid growth within the berry category, reflecting evolving consumer preferences. Nielsen data shows double-digit growth in both dollar sales and pounds compared to the previous year, with jumbo blueberries also increasing their dollar share of the total blueberry category.

California Giant is exceptionally well-positioned to meet this demand with its GIANT™ Blueberries, boasting impressive size and superior flavor. These premium berries are available in good volume through August.

The growing consumer appetite for blueberries is clear, with 54% of surveyed consumers reporting a purchase in the past 12 months. Recognizing there’s significant room for further growth as more households embrace this healthy fruit, California Giant is dedicated to supporting retailer and foodservice partners in expanding this penetration and offers customized retail support to help drive sales and consumer engagement. To further fuel consumption, California Giant actively utilizes Instacart marketing and robust consumer marketing campaigns, focusing on the craveability and versatile appeal of fresh berries.

SANTA MONICA, CA - The trade show excitement is building! Following the development of its new foodservice program, Gem-Pack is taking on this year’s IFPA Foodservice Conference with much to share with the industry.

“Gem-Pack’s foodservice program is built on the same foundation that made us a retail leader—premium quality, consistency, and scale—but now laser-focused on meeting the unique demands of foodservice operators,” says Tom Smith, Gem-Pack’s Vice President of Export Sales and Foodservice. “We are still a family-owned, farmer-proud company that is fully vertically integrated, beginning with our breeding program all the way through to our own logistics and trucks. We’re here to grow—aggressively and smartly—through partnerships, transparency, and a drive to outperform expectations.”

As Tom explains to me, some key pillars of Gem-Pack’s new program include:

• Premium quality and reliable supply across all berry varieties year-round
• Flexible contract terms
• A dedicated foodservice division
• Trust and execution
• Proprietary varieties

During this year’s Foodservice Conference, Gem-Pack will be putting a spotlight on The Berry Patch Program, which offers a consolidated, year-round supply of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in one seamless solution. The supplier will also showcase its private-label capabilities and strong foodservice focus, which includes a dedicated team, aligned resources, and a sharp commitment to delivering value in the foodservice arena.

“This conference is our official entry into the foodservice arena—and we’re not coming in quietly. With deep foodservice expertise on our team, we’re ready to grow fast and make a significant impact. We’re here to connect, listen, partner, and compete at the highest level,” Tom adds. “We're putting the entire berry industry on notice—and we’re just getting started.”

Gem-Pack is a year-round, full-category premium berry supplier, growing across North and South America to ensure availability, flexibility, and peak quality. The producer consolidates in Watsonville, California; Oxnard, California; and McAllen, Texas—offering reliable, one-stop berry supply during every season.

“What sets Gem-Pack’s foodservice programs apart from others in the industry is our customer-first mindset, scale, and consistency. Communication and service are cornerstones of how we operate. Your success is our success. We're all-in with every customer we work with,” Tom explains. “We grow in virtually every viable berry region across North and South America, ensuring a steady, uninterrupted supply. Our proprietary varieties consistently outperform in flavor, appearance, and performance.”

Several consumer trends have recently gained momentum, driving demand for berries at the foodservice level. From the rise of mocktails to the increase in health-conscious consumers, foodservice operators have the chance to harness the flavor, quality, and versatility of Gem-Pack’s berry portfolio. The grower’s four-berry, year-round availability unlocks creativity and consistency for chefs and food buyers alike, creating the opportunity for seasonless menus.

“Berries elevate everything from savory entrées to snack platters. Whether it’s a breakfast parfait or a dinner plate, they belong on every part of the menu—and every corner of the store,” Tom concludes.

Be sure to stop by the Gem-Pack booth during this year’s Foodservice Conference to learn more about this robust new program!

And keep reading ANUK for the latest show updates and insights.