Bozzuto's Inc., a leading food distributor serving the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, hosted its annual Independent Retailer Conference April 20-21 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT.

The event provided an opportunity to re-connect the supplier-retailer community and impart thanks for the essential services these valued professionals have provided. With the latest products and deals on full display, the food show generated elevated interest in all facets of the business, including perishables, grocery, frozen, dairy, specialty, non-foods/general merchandise, health and beauty

Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility were busy recently with a seizure of alleged methamphetamine valued at $8.2 million discovered within a commercial shipment of fresh strawberries.

“Our officers definitely rose to the challenge by detecting these narcotics loads,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “As daunting a task as this may seem, our officers are able to effectively balance processing lawful trade while maintaining a robust enforcement posture to advance our

Philadelphia-based Ryeco continues to invest to keep business current. Last year, the company purchased a new 30,000 square-foot warehouse in South Philadelphia to support its PWPM facility and operations. “We use it to support our main store here at the market,” said Filindo Colace, vice president operations at Ryeco. “We can store more items there to send to the market as needed and it enables us to handle more variety of product.”

The new building, which opened in October 2020, serves as a repack facility. “We have numerous repacking opportunities now,” said Colace. “This year we will be

The Southeast Produce Council held its first STEP-UPP Virtual Classroom within the SEPC Virtual Garden on Wednesday, April 28. STEP-UPP, which is an acronym for Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals, is SEPC’s flagship program giving retail and foodservice produce professionals a greater understanding of the industry through an emphasis on strategic orientation, personal leadership and hands-on field experience. 

The session included a welcome by STEP-UPP Committee Co-Chairs Mike Roberts of Harps Food Stores and Gary Baker of Merchants Distributors, followed

Weis Markets Inc. Chairman, President and CEO Jonathan H. Weis announced the company’s plans to invest $135 million in its growth during 2021.

Weis made the announcement during the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Sunbury, PA. He said the company continues to invest in new stores, remodels, fuel centers, information technology upgrades and more than a thousand smaller store improvement projects.

“Already this year, we’ve opened a new store in Martinsburg, WV, and a remodeled store in Gap, PA, which was closed for 18 months due to a fire,” he said. “We are currently finishing up work

Valerie Shepler has joined Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc., as commercial manager for the United States and Canada, where she is responsible for establishing and developing strong relationships with the company’s blueberry nursery and genetics customers, overseeing the implementation and administration of new plant preview and genetics licensing programs, and managing the customer service, sales, and grower support team. Based in the company’s Lowell, Ore. office, she reports to Scott Cully, regional director for the U.S. and Canada, and Jason Wolcott, commercial director for Fall Creek