GRAND RAPIDS, MI - An experienced food industry vet is joining the executive team at SpartanNash. The retailer has named Erin Storm as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, who will lead the marketing function including the OwnBrands portfolio, retail marketing programs, e-commerce and digital experience, creative services, shopper insights, and loyalty.

Storm joins SpartanNash following an 18-year career with Kellogg's® and its spin-off Kellanova™, where she was most recently the Vice President of Commercial Strategy. Prior to that, she held a variety of marketing roles with increasing leadership responsibility, including Vice President of Marketing in which she oversaw brand and innovation across the $3 billion salty category for brands such as Pringles®, Cheez-It, and Club® Crackers.

According to a press release, Storm previously led the Cheez-It brand marketing team, inclusive of activations like the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Her team's creative has earned national awards and recognition, including an Andy Award for a 2024 Pringles Super Bowl® ad.

Throughout her career, Storm has provided leadership for brands that include Froot Loops®, Frosted Mini Wheats®, Special K®, Rice Krispies Treats®, Eggo®, MorningStar Farms®, Kellogg's Raisin Bran®, Frosted Flakes® and Apple Jacks. She earned her undergraduate degrees in marketing and finance from the University of Delaware and her Master of Business Administration from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

"Erin is a talented brand marketer with proven success in growing the demand for products that have become popular household favorites," said Chief Executive Officer Tony Sarsam. "She will play a pivotal role in driving brand awareness for our retail banners and OwnBrands portfolio, capturing market share, and leveraging consumer insights for product innovation."

Congratulations to the new executive!

AMADO, AZ - Retailers and merchandisers will tell you that selling fresh produce is an art. Understanding this, organic grower and shipper Wholesum has launched a new Heirloom Tomato Merchandising Kit, an all-in-one resource and ultimate guide designed to empower retailers and produce merchandisers.

“We extend our gratitude to our customers, whose invaluable insights played a crucial role in creating this resource,” shared Ricardo Crisantes, Chief Commercial Officer. "While we cherish the beauty of heirlooms, we also recognize some of the potential challenges in selling them. This kit is our way of supporting our partners in overcoming those challenges, making heirlooms an accessible, appealing and available option to consumers."

Heirloom tomatoes are known for their rich flavors, vibrant colors, and unique shapes. There is no doubt they are increasingly capturing consumer interest, due to their distinct characteristics, and a 35.5 percent increase in sales within the organic tomato market in a six-month period. Wholesum has developed a kit that combines deep expertise in growing and selling organic heirlooms with successful merchandising strategies tailored to this product, a press release stated.

“The Heirloom Tomato Merchandising Kit is an essential component of our comprehensive strategy to elevate heirloom tomatoes in the market and ensure our partners’ success,” says Joanna Jaramillo, Marketing Manager. “Recognizing the need to stay ahead of market trends, support our retail partners, and inspire consumers, we’ve designed this merchandising kit to simplify the decision-making process, making it easier than ever for shoppers to choose heirloom tomatoes.”

The kit includes tips on optimal pricing, placement, product assortment, and promotional strategies, covering all aspects of the “four P’s” of retail merchandising. A handy cross-merchandising calendar is provided as well.

The Heirloom Tomato Merchandising Kit lives on a landing page accessed through the Wholesum website, and includes PDFs detailing the following:

• The Makings of an Heirloom: General product information highlighting some of the unique and differentiating qualities of heirlooms and a high level understanding of the expected taste experience
• Merchandising Best Practices: Proven strategies and tactics for sourcing, displaying, promoting, and pricing heirloom tomatoes to attract customers and boost sales
• Heirloom Cross Merchandising Calendar: Holidays and seasonal moments for promoting and cross-merchandising heirlooms along with usage ideas

As excitement around this beautiful tomato continues, AndNowUKnow will be sharing all the latest developments.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - An exciting campaign is putting fresh produce in the spotlight on Walmart shelves. The retailer has partnered with The Produce Moms® (TPM) Chief Executive Officer Lori Taylor and the TPM brand to launch an online Back to School campaign. Taylor is featured on Walmart’s US e-commerce website and app alongside products representing The Produce Moms Approved™ seal.

“Incorporating The Produce Moms into our Back to School campaign was a no brainer,” said Walmart Grocery eCommerce Manager of Site Merchandising, Evan Gaetano. “Lori and TPM stand for accessibility to fruits and vegetables, aligning with Walmart’s mission of helping consumers save money while accessing what they need to live better.”

According to a press release, TPM also awards the seal to brands engaged in sustainability and employee engagement. The products were selected for the following:

• Extending the fresh life of fruits and vegetables, in support of The Produce Moms value of reducing food waste
• Reducing plastic waste associated with grocery shopping, in support of The Produce Moms value of environmental sustainability
• The employer provides childcare, lactation facilities, and/or meaningful paid maternity/paternity leave, supporting The Produce Moms value of building career and family

“The Produce Moms Approved seal represents a product that supports our mission to get more fruits and vegetables on every table,” said Taylor. “NatureSweet, Wada Farms, Inc., Crunch Pak, and Sage Fruit Company are some of the TPM partner brands represented within this Walmart campaign.”

Other TPM partners featured include Duda Farms Fresh Foods, Naturipe Farms, and Envy™ Apples. Many of the fresh products are packaged and easy to include in a lunchbox or bag.

“One of the ways TPM promotes our mission of getting fruits and vegetables on every table is by encouraging our audience to always make fruits and vegetables available to children when food is being served,” said Taylor. “This campaign supports that by promoting convenient and fun products for parents to include for their kids.”

Keep reading ANUK as we bring you more produce news like this.