Editor’s note: The CPG Convergence Conference was dedicated to the memory of Navigator Lighthouse Foundation co-founder Allen Pierce, who died unexpectedly the week before the event. Read our remembrance here. Getting a product onto a grocery shelf is hard. Keeping it there is harder. That was the throughline as a group of Southern California retail […]
Category: Grocery News
Posted inCenter Store, Association News, West
Remembering Allen Pierce, a Driving Force Behind the CPG Convergence Conference
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Allen McKnight Pierce, Jr., co-founder of the Navigator Lighthouse Foundation and a driving force behind the CPG Convergence Conference, died June 18, one week before the June 25 event. He never saw it come to life, but it did, filling the room with the founders, retailers and investors he had worked […]
Posted inBakery News, Food Service News, National, News
Europastry Acquires Highland Baking Co., Expanding U.S. Foodservice Footprint
Europastry has reached an agreement to acquire Highland Baking Co., a family-owned U.S. producer of premium breads for the foodservice channel. Highland Baking Co. will continue to operate under its current brand and management team. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National, News
What Grocers Should Be Focusing On Post-IDDBA
The trends from IDDBA 2026 point to several opportunities for independent grocers from expanded offerings to permissible indulgence.
Posted inExecutive News, News, Northeast, Snacks Brands
The Hershey Co. Names Hoytink As President, U.S.
The Hershey Company has named Heather Hoytink as president, U.S., effective July 8. Hoytink brings more than 20 years of sales, operations and commercial leadership experience to the role, most recently serving as SVP and chief commercial officer, U.S. Away From Home Beverages at PepsiCo. “We’re thrilled to welcome Heather to Hershey,” said Kirk Tanner, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Beverage News, News, Southeast
Coca‑Cola N.A. President To Step Down; CFO To Lead On Interim Basis
The Coca‑Cola Co. announced that Jennifer Mann will step down from her role as EVP and president of the North America Operating Unit, effective Aug. 1. John Murphy, president and CFO, will assume responsibility for the North America Operating Unit on an interim basis. Mann will stay with the company through April as senior advisor […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Frozen Food, National, News
AFFI Adds Blake As SVP Of Communications
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has named Carol Blake as SVP of communications, effective June 15. In this role, Blake will lead AFFI’s integrated communications strategy, including public affairs, media relations, stakeholder engagement, member communications, and brand positioning. Blake brings more than 30 years of public affairs experience to the position. She previously served […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Jackson’s Chips Expands Into Publix, Adding 1.4K Stores Across Southeast
Jackson’s, the snack brand known for chips cooked in avocado oil, has launched its products in Publix stores, marking a significant milestone in the company’s national retail expansion. The rollout began June 24 across more than 1,400 Publix locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. The initial assortment includes […]