Heritage Grocers Group named David Hinojosa as its new CEO, following a comprehensive search. Hinojosa will lead Heritage into its next phase of growth, with a continued focus on operational excellence, fresh food leadership and strengthening the company’s deep connection to the communities it serves. Under Hinojosa’s leadership, Heritage plans to accelerate strategic growth across its banners while continuing to invest in fresh foods, operational excellence and community-driven retail experiences.

“Over the past several months, the board set out to identify a leader who brings exceptional

Bako Sweet is strengthening its team with new hires in sales and marketing to support the existing sales and supply chain team. The company said additional staff reinforces Bako Sweet’s focus on delivering strong customer partnerships, category expertise and supply chain management for retail and foodservice partners nationwide.

“Bako Sweet continues to grow, and building the right team is essential to delivering on our promise to customers and consumers,” said Susan Noritake, vice president of sales and marketing at Bako Sweet. “Each of our talented professionals brings unique strengths that

As Exp. Group enters 2026 with a forward-looking vision, the organization has announced plans to establish a comprehensive fruit department designed to meet the evolving needs of its clients and expand its product offerings across the produce landscape. This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, flexibility and growth while maintaining its strong foundation within the tropical fruit and vegetable industry.

Recognizing shifting market demands and the increasing desire for broader product availability, Exp. Group is taking decisive steps to evolve its distribution

The California Fresh Fruit Association will present fresh fruit industry leader David Marguleas with the Lifetime Achievement Award at CFFA’s 90th Annual Meeting on March 16.

This recognition will honor Marguleas’ lifetime of service to the California fresh fruit industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon an individual whose pioneering spirit and inventiveness throughout his or her career has inspired others and influenced the industry in a positive way.

Marguleas is the board chairman of Sun World International LLC, a global fruit genetics company that was founded as a

Jim McErlean has joined JOH as vice president of produce, North Central.

McErlean brings nearly two decades of experience across the retail and CPG landscape, with a strong track record of building partnerships and driving growth across the Midwest produce market. He began his career at a Chicago-based food brokerage, where he built a strong foundation in retail and CPG sales while developing key relationships across the region.

In 2014, McErlean joined a leading organic produce company as regional manager for the Midwest, where he managed major retail partnerships and helped expand the brand’s

Clean Works, a global leader in advanced food-safety technology, announced the appointment of Ellise Fallon as senior sales executive, effective immediately. Fallon will focus on driving commercial expansion and strengthening strategic customer partnerships as the company continues to scale its global footprint. She reports to Michele Visser, Clean Works vice president.

Fallon brings over a decade of experience supporting the growth of innovative technologies across the food and agriculture industries. Prior to joining Clean Works, she held commercial roles at Pivot Bio and Apeel Sciences