Jason Ulichnie has joined SpartanNash as vice president of OwnBrands marketing. In this role, Ulichnie will oversee the end-to-end portfolio management, product development and brand equity of SpartanNash OwnBrands for company-operated stores and wholesale customers. Bringing nearly 20 years of retail and restaurant industry experience at Schnuck Markets Inc. and Brinker International, Ulichnie will also manage product innovation, pricing and promotions, forecasting and sourcing, working cross-functionally to enhance the OwnBrands portfolio and elevate brand presence.

Brad Moorer, CEO of MBG Marketing, died Aug. 7, 2025. Mr. Moorer proudly served MBG Marketing, a domestic blueberry and blackberry cooperative that sells its fruit under the Naturipe Farms label, and its growers for nearly 15 years. He started his career as chief financial officer and vice president of value added business before being promoted in 2022 to the position of CEO. Under his leadership, MBG Marketing strengthened and expanded its Berry Blue genetics program and its focus on the development of new and improved blueberry varieties. Mr. Moorer placed enormous value on the quality of

Brian Hughes and Barbra Chase have joined Simbe Robotics — both serving as vice president of sales. Hughes and Chase bring significant experience in shelf digitization and store intelligence retail technology. "Their decision to join Simbe sends a clear message: retailers and top talent recognize Simbe as the leader in retail technology," said Brooks Augustine, senior vice president of sales. Hughes most recently worked at Brain Corp., where he built high-value partnerships with Fortune 500 retailers and drove adoption of autonomous floor scrubber solutions across thousands of stores

Mission Produce Inc. announced that Juan Wiesner, Mission’s president of Central and South America, will retire from the company effective Nov. 1, following 14 years of dedicated leadership. As part of the company’s strategic succession plan, Simón González, a 13-year Mission veteran, will be promoted to senior vice president, international farming, upon Wiesner’s retirement. During his tenure, Wiesner led the company’s growth across Central and South America, playing a pivotal role in the development of Mission’s vertically integrated and international farming operations. Most notably, he

Dustin Duerr has joined Coborn's as the retailers new director of produce and floral merchandising. In this role, Duerr will lead the strategy, sourcing and execution of Coborn's produce and floral programs, ensuring quality, freshness and innovation. Duerr brings over 20 years of grocery industry experience, most recently serving as director of produce and floral at Cub Foods. His background spans store operations and category leadership across produce, floral and center store, including 10 years as a store director at both Cub Foods and Rainbow Foods. St. Cloud, MN-based Coborn’s is a 103

Kiaran Locy, director of brand and industry communications at the California Prune Board, was elected the new chair at Buy California Marketing Agreement (California Grown), a partnership between the California Department of Food and Agriculture and commodity organizations representing California’s agriculture industry. Locy follows former Chair Todd Sanders, executive director of the California Apple Commission, who led California Grown for two years. “Congratulations to Kiaran on her election as Chair of California Grown. I look forward to working with her and the balance of the board as we