The Southeast Produce Council has added Clark Roper to its team. Roper will focus on adding value to SEPC and its members by supporting produce farmers, suppliers, buyers and consumers, and fostering positive and productive relationships with current and prospective SEPC members.  

Roper brings a wealth of experience in the produce sector. Throughout his professional career, he has held various positions in the industry, encompassing sourcing, buying, and marketing produce. Most recently, Roper worked with Piggly Wiggly managing projects for the company’s IT, operations, marketing and

Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. announced Jeff Pedersen, executive vice president and chief sales and support officer, is retiring after 45 years in the grocery business, effective December. Emile Breaux will succeed Pedersen in the role of senior vice president of sales and member support, effective Sept. 20.

Pedersen began his grocery career in 1976 with Hinky Dinky. After joining AWG in 1997, he has played a key role in many of the exciting growth opportunities for AWG throughout the years. He moved from Kansas City to the Nashville Division in 2003 as vice president of merchandising. He

Vertically integrated grower-shipper Tanimura & Antle hired Vince Mier as senior sales account manager.  Mier joins the company with nearly 20 years of fresh produce sales experience in developing and managing national and regional sales accounts.   

"I am really excited to join the dynamic sales team at Tanimura & Antle,” said Mier.  “I look forward to leveraging my past experiences to make a difference with a new set of opportunities, challenges and business growth with this established industry leader."

Prior to joining Tanimura & Antle, Mier served as a product manager for The Nunes Co

Ahold Delhaize announced that Dave Bass will be appointed managing director of FreshDirect, effective Sept. 20. He succeeds Farhan Siddiqi, chief digital officer of Ahold Delhaize, who has served as interim CEO since May. Siddiqi has decided to leave the company, as of Oct. 15.

“I would like to congratulate Dave on his appointment to lead FreshDirect. He brings a wealth of experience to the brand, having recently led Omnichannel Merchandising Support for the Peapod Digital Labs division of Ahold Delhaize USA,” said Frans Muller, CEO of Ahold Delhaize. “He is a great choice to continue to

Publix Super Markets announced the promotion of John Goff to senior vice president of retail operations, effective Jan. 1, 2022. With Goff’s promotion, Regional Director Matt Crawley will be named Miami division vice president.

Goff began his career in 1991 as a front service clerk in Jacksonville, FL. He worked in various positions before being promoted to store manager in 2005. He was promoted to Jacksonville division district manager in 2010, Miami division regional director in 2014 and Miami division vice president in 2019.

Goff and his wife, Kristy, will be relocating their family to

Grimmway Farms' Sara Oliver has been promoted to chief people officer, a new position within the company’s executive leadership team. In this role, Oliver will be responsible for leading all aspects of human resources strategy and operations, and will oversee development of the company’s annual Environmental, Social and Governance report.

Oliver will continue to direct all areas of human resources for the company, focused on expanding opportunities for employees within the organization, recruiting and retaining exceptional talent, enabling a flexible and diverse workforce, and empowering a