The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has revealed its association officers and members of its board of directors for 2022-23. The elections took place at the trade organization’s annual board of directors meeting on Oct. 15.

Kevin Schwab, EVP/CCO sales and marketing at The Pictsweet Co., in Bells, Tenn., was elected to serve a second term as chairman of the board. Schwab (pictured) has served on the board from 2003 to 2005 and again from 2012 to 2022, and was as chairman-elect 2019-2021. Schwab is also a member of the Honorable Order of Golden Penguins. 

Other officers elected at the meeting were Neil Ritchey, InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises, chairman-elect; Tracy Aquila, Southeastern Grocers, secretary; Mark Tarzwell, Ateeco Inc./Mrs. T’s Pierogies, treasurer; Tye Anthony, Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWS), vice chairman – frozen; and Joey Bates, Harris Teeter, vice chairman – refrigerated.

Newly elected to the board were Bryan Chartrand, Acosta Sales & Marketing; Parag Shah, The Giant Co.; Clinton Wilson, Sargento Foods; Shawn Darmody, Target Corp.; and Teresa Whitney, Albertsons Cos., while Jim Buchta, Crossmark; Tony Caloroso, Schraad Sales & Marketing; Angie Christos, Tyson Foods; Derek DeMuth, Ajinomoto Foods North America; Joe Mueller, Kellogg Co.; and David Panter, Associated Food Stores were all re-elected.

Harrisburg, Pa.-based NFRA is a nonprofit representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. It’s the sponsor of March National Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month, the June/July Ice Cream & Novelties promotion, and the Cool Food for Kids educational outreach program. NFRA also provides consumer information such as food safety guidelines, meal preparation tips, recipes and sweepstakes opportunities at http://www.EasyHomeMeals.com.

Following its success in Europe, Quotient has launched the Shopmium app in the U.S. to deliver savings and brand discovery to consumers, all in a single, convenient experience.

Part of the media tech company’s promotions network, Shopmium is the leading grocery savings app in France, where the product originated, and is also available in the U.K. and Belgium.

The U.S. Shopmium app allows consumers to earn cash back on the things they buy every day, giving them more flexibility, information and savings to make informed decisions that help stretch their dollars. Shoppers simply buy the featured product online or in-store, take a picture of the receipt and receive cash back paid into their PayPal account.

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With media that proactively surfaces new brands and products to consumers as they browse for savings, the Shopmium app offers the ability to discover alternative products and then dive into available offers.

For brands, Shopmium will offer an engaged audience to introduce new products, drive trial and loyalty, gain valuable consumer insights and generate measurable sales, all while benefiting from Quotient’s advanced anti-stacking technology that prevents multiple offers from being redeemed for the same product at one time. With engaging media ads built directly into the app, Shopmium gives advertisers a unique opportunity to communicate their brand message via media while delivering valuable savings via promotions, to drive incremental revenue.

“Consumers have responded to inflation-related price pressures by seeking value and savings more than ever,” said Matt Krepsik, CEO of Salt Lake City-based Quotient. “This exciting U.S. launch of Shopmium offers American consumers an interactive platform to discover products and earn cash back, while brands and retailers can grow their consumer relationships through new, revenue-driving touchpoints and powerful audience insights.”

Continuing its expansion in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex, Texas-based H-E-B has revealed plans to open a new location at the northwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and North Riverside Drive. The store, which is on the northern edge of Fort Worth, builds on the company’s longstanding presence in the area and reinforces its commitment to serve more customers in this growing part of the Lone Star State. This H-E-B joins two Central Market locations, which have served Tarrant County for more than two decades.

Additional details will be shared at the store’s groundbreaking, which will take place on Nov. 16.  

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The grocer opened the doors to its first H-E-B store in the DFW Metroplex last month in Frisco. The company hopes to serve even more of the Metroplex in the future.

The largest privately held employer in Texas, San Antonio-based H-E-B has more than 420 stores and 145,000 employees in Texas and Mexico. The company is No. 16 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. PG has also named H-E-B a 2022 Super Regional. 

Independent distributor Harbor Foodservice has acquired NW Foodservice Distribution Inc., a broadline foodservice distributor servicing southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. The move to acquire NW Foodservice continues Harbor Foodservice’s long-term strategy to grow its presence throughout the Pacific Northwest.

“Joining forces with the NW Foodservice team represents the perfect addition of like-minded team members driven to provide the highest level of products and service to their customers,” noted Kevin Pribilsky, president of Kent, Wash.-based Harbor. “Their proven track record in being a local solution to restaurants and convenience stores bolsters Harbor’s efforts to provide a trusted independent local option to the communities we serve.”

Added Michael Donaldson, president of Longview, Wash.-based NW Foodservice: “Joining the Harbor Foodservice team allows us to still be family-owned, to still be local, and to still provide the inspired customer service experience that our customers have known and loved for the last 68 years.”

With more than $1.5 billion of collective purchasing power, Harbor and NW Foodservice are well placed to offer competitive programs to customers while generating strong returns to reinvest in facilities, technology and innovative solutions for customers.

The largest independent distributor in the west, fourth-generation family-owned Harbor now serves more than 8,000 restaurants, convenience stores, independent grocers and quick-serve restaurants with a wide variety of local and national-brand products.

The National Grocers Association (NGA) has presented Karen and Kim Eskew, of Springdale, Ark.-based Harps Food Stores, with the Thomas F. Wenning Pinnacle PAC Award. The honor, bestowed during NGA’s Executive Conference & Public Policy Summit, recognizes the Eskews’ years of service to the independent grocery industry in government advocacy. 

“Karen and Kim are longtime supporters of NGA’s Grocers PAC, an essential component to our efforts in fighting for policies that help independent grocery stores compete against their larger competitors,” said Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based NGA. “From hosting congressional store tours to attending congressional meetings in Washington, their service to our industry has been invaluable. NGA is only as strong as our members, and Karen and Kim are the backbone of NGA’s government advocacy.” 

The Pinnacle PAC Award was established in 2014 in honor of Tom Wenning, retired NGA EVP and general counsel, for his years of service to the association and the independent grocery industry.

“Karen and Kim are strong advocates for independent grocers in Arkansas and across the United States, working tirelessly to advocate for policies that create a level playing field for community grocers,” noted Christopher Jones, NGA SVP of government relations and counsel. “They have both made countless trips to Washington, D.C., for events like Day in Washington, where they have met with members of Congress to advocate for policies that benefit independent grocers. I’m grateful for their leadership in the Grocers PAC and NGA.” 

During its event, NGA has also given awards to Michael Ridenour, former head of industry relations and sale operations at Chicago-basedKraft Heinz Co., and Zulema Wiscovitch, co-CEO of Port Washington, N.Y.-basedAssociated Supermarket Group (ASG).

To improve omnichannel shopping at its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners, parent company Southeastern Grocers, Inc. is officially rolling out a new e-commerce service. Customers at those banners can now shop online for delivery in as little as two hours and enjoy the same deals as they would in store for a minimal $9 delivery fee.

Southeastern Grocers worked with various technology partners to offer the enhanced e-comm service to shoppers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. One of those partners is DoorDash, which will fulfill delivery orders through its white label fulfillment program, DoorDash Drive.

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“We are excited to introduce our new online shopping and grocery delivery service to our Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket customers. At Southeastern Grocers, we prioritize our people – associates and customers alike – and aim to offer products and services that better their lives and stretch their wallets. This innovative online shopping feature is an extension of shopping our local stores, offering the same promotions and savings they will find in store,” said Andrew Nadin, Southeastern Grocers' chief customer and digital officer.  

To mark the debut of the new delivery service to Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, the company is offering free delivery for a limited time to shoppers who buy $35 or more in grocers. Southeastern Grocers also confirmed that it is expanding delivery to Fresco y Más customers and introducing curbside pickup in Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Más stores in early 2023.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeastern Grocers is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S., with grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies. The company is No. 39 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer's 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.