Matt Zapczynski believes membership in industry organizations has its privileges, especially when you’re looking to create strong relationships with other potato pros. A year and a half into his position as Northeast/Midwest retail promotion director for the Idaho Potato Commission, Zapczynski said he sees firsthand the value that his broad industry involvement brings to both his customers and the IPC team.

“Being involved in groups like Southeast Produce Council, Eastern Produce Council, and New England Produce Council allows me to build strong connections with peers, customers and suppliers,”

Wakefern Food Corp. supermarket banners ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market are inviting job seekers to explore exciting career opportunities during a series of walk-in hiring fairs on Saturday, Jan. 31.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., participating store locations across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will host in-store recruitment events for full-time, part-time and management positions. No advance registration is required — candidates can simply stop by to speak with hiring teams

Currently Sprouts Farmers Market corporate offices are located above an express version of the specialty store in a North Phoenix development that includes retail, office and residential buildings. In mid 2026, the headquarters will move a few hundred yards east as Sprouts is building a new, larger headquarters campus in the adjacent City North development. 

Expected to open in late summer, the 180,000 square foot complex over seven acres will include a main office, flagship Sprouts store, retail, restaurants and wellness facilities like a gym, yoga studio and a kitchen. 

The new headquarters

With more than 100 years of retail merchandising, buying and category management experience among them, the Idaho Potato Commission retail promotion directors know their stuff. Here are their top tips for boosting sales of “gourmet potato” 24-ounce pack sizes.

1. Focus on the right product mix

The number of companies offering gourmet potatoes continues to grow each year, and retailers benefit from the fact that these mini offerings don’t cannibalize russet, red or yellow varieties. In fact, IPC data shows that when a customer visits a store for a russet ad and sees properly merchandised gourmet

When Sprouts Farmers Market Vice President of Produce Sonya Constable was promoted to her position in February of 2023, she readily admitted that job title “wasn’t on my bingo card.” She had been with Sprouts for just over a year and a half and brought limited direct produce experience to the role. 

Her background instead reflected nearly two decades in retail management, including close to 12 years at PetSmart’s corporate offices in Phoenix, preceded by four-year stints at both Pottery Barn Kids and Mervyns headquarters in San Francisco. After joining Sprouts, Constable learned the business as

When it comes to spuds, bigger is definitely better: bigger crops, bigger potatoes, bigger package sizes. It’s all adding up to bigger opportunities for category growth this season, said Mark Daniels, Idaho Potato Commission retail promotion director-Southeast/Central.

“It’s a very promotable Idaho® potato crop this year,” said Daniels. “We’re encouraging retailers to be promoting larger bags. If they promoted 5-pounders last year, then try promoting 8- and 10-pounders this year. I remember my days as a produce director and you have to find unique ways to get more dollars in the category.”

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