FRESNO, CA - A new article appearing in the current issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry explores the concept of “superfoods” and makes a case that fresh grapes have earned what should be a prominent position in the superfood family.

The author, leading resveratrol and cancer researcher John M. Pezzuto, Ph.D., D.Sc., Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University, brings forth an array of evidence to support his perspective on this issue.

As noted in the article, the term “superfood” is a common word without an official definition or established criteria. Mainstream superfoods are typically part of the Mediterranean Diet and generally rich in natural plant compounds that are beneficial to a person’s health. Pezzuto addresses the broader topic of superfoods in detail, then makes the scientific case for grapes, noting that fresh grapes are underplayed in this arena and often not included with mention of other similar foods, such as berries.

Grapes are a natural source of over 1,600 compounds, including antioxidants and other polyphenols such as flavonoids, anthocyanidins, catechins, phenolic acids, resveratrol, and more. Polyphenols are credited with the health benefits of grapes, via antioxidant activity and influencing cellular processes. It is the whole grape and the unique matrix of these compounds within it that creates the biological effects, not a single component.

Over sixty peer-reviewed studies have been published in the scientific literature on grapes and health. The role of grapes on cardiovascular health is well established, including promoting relaxation of blood vessels and healthy circulation, as well as modulating cholesterol levels. Clinical trials also show that grapes support brain health (help maintain healthy brain metabolism and beneficial impacts on cognition), skin health (enhanced resistance to UV radiation and DNA damage in skin cells), gut health (modulating the gut microbiome and increasing diversity in the gut), and eye health (retinal impact via increase in macular pigment optical density). Finally, in the realm of nutrigenomics – the study of foods on gene expression in the body – grape consumption has been shown to positively alter gene expression in relevant.

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