The 2022 West Coast Produce Expo, slated for June 3-4, is expected to draw 400 top buyers, along with the industry's leading growers and allied companies at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, Calif.
Hosted by Farm Journal, The Packer's parent company, WCPE will feature a robust educational agenda, networking opportunities, scheduled business meetings and a keynote address by Bo Jackson, one of the most decorated athletes in American sports history, who will speak to the importance of perseverance and persistence.
On the education front, the Fresh Trends at Retail session, set for 9:45-10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4, will bring together a dynamic panel of four retailers — each representing a different store format—to discuss the latest trends in fresh produce, as well as what products, displays, messaging and promotions resonate most with their shoppers.
Panelists include Shawn Peery, vice president of produce for Albertsons Cos.; Caitlin Tierney, senior director of produce, local and innovation for Sprouts Farmers Market; Rachel Shemirani, senior vice president for Barons Market; and Shonna Williams, vice president of produce for Cardenas Markets.
One session; four distinct perspectives
The retailer: Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Albertsons Cos. is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S. As of Feb. 26, 2022, the company operated 2,276 retail stores with 1,722 pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 20 manufacturing facilities. Albertsons operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market.
Shawn Peery
The retail produce expert: Shawn Peery, vice president of produce, Albertsons Cos., has more than 36 years of produce industry experience, including a combined 27 years with Albertsons, during which he has worked his way up through roles including store clerk, produce manager, assistant sales manager for produce/floral, and produce and floral sales/category manager to his current position as vice president produce, national merchandising team.
The retailer: Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., Sprouts Farmers Market is a specialty retailer focused on fresh, natural and organic food. The company employs approximately 31,000 team members and operates more than 380 stores in 23 states nationwide.
The retail produce expert: Caitlin Tierney, senior director of produce, local and innovation for Sprouts Farmers Market, says she truly thrives on
Caitlin Tierney
building relationships with local farmers and supporting local communities. “[I'm] very passionate about our mission at Sprouts. I get to work beside incredible people that wake up every morning trying their hardest to make natural foods accessible for everyone,” she said.
Before her time at Sprouts, Tierney was business director of western operations at Mastronardi Produce; senior director of fresh at 99 Cents Only Stores; and produce chain marketing manager at Bayer. She got her start in the produce industry in 2006 as a category assistant at SpartanNash.
Register now.
The retailer: Cardenas Markets is an independent Hispanic grocer operating a total of 52 stores under the Cardenas banner and seven stores under the Cardenas Ranch Markets banner. Today, Cardenas Markets is one of the largest Hispanic grocery chains in the country, with stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.
Shonna Williams
The retail produce expert: Shonna Williams, vice president of produce for Cardenas Markets, started her grocery career at Stater Brothers in 1991 as a courtesy clerk, becoming the third generation of her family to work for the San Bernardino, Calif.-based grocer. For the next 10 years, she worked her way up to produce manager. After serving 15 years at Stater Brothers, she went on to work for other companies, including Safeway as an inventory commodity specialist; a variety of foodservice roles; and Superior Grocers, where she became vice president of produce in 2018. Williams joined the Cardenas team in 2021.
The retailer: Family-owned Barons Market operates nine stores in San Diego and Southwest Riverside, Calif., that offer organic, natural and specialty food at affordable prices. The grocer prides itself on offering an array of fresh, local produce, top organic food brands and unique specialty products. From its antipasto bar to its fresh salad bar to its squeeze-it-yourself orange juice press, Barons aims to surprise and delight customers with the delicious.
The retail produce expert: As Barons Market senior vice president, Rachel Shemirani says she understands the value of good food at good prices. Born
Rachel Shemirani
and raised in San Diego, Shemirani is part of the second generation to join the family-owned Barons Market. She oversees advertising, marketing, brand strategy, operations and community engagement. She also serves as the gatekeeper for new products, leading weekly food panels to select high-quality products for the grocer's shelves.
