Jan 15, 2015

Time is Running Out By Tim Hodson

Have you registered for the 2015 Big Grower Executive Summit yet?

If you have, congratulations! The big event will be here before you know it – Feb. 8-10, in Orlando, Florida.

If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? You have less than a week to take advantage of our guaranteed reduced room rate at the Orlando Marriott Airport hotel.

During the Big Grower Executive Summit, we will tackle the issues that growers need to know about to survive in the current economic environment and thrive today and in the years to come.

We will examine critical business topics like selling to millennials, dealing with big data, the changing housing market, transportation issues, innovative marketing techniques and consumer behavior and the latest events in Washington that could impact our industry.

If you haven’t registered yet, don’t wait any longer – here is the direct link to our registration page.

If you’d like to learn more about the blockbuster program and our esteemed faculty of presenters then click here.

Time is running out, so sign up today!

I hope to see you in Orlando.

– Tim

Minimum Wage Increases Impact 1,400 Wal-Mart Stores in ’15

Employees at 1,400 Wal-Mart stores may be seeing a little something extra in their paychecks in 2015. That’s because on Jan.1, the minimum wage went up in 20 states – and it is expected to go up in four more state and the District of Columbia later this year. In addition to the 1,400 Wal-Mart stores in those 24 states, approximately 200 Sam’s Clubs will also be affected by the minimum wage bump.

Fresh Market Names Interim CEO

The board of directors at Fresh Market has appointed Sean Crane as interim chief executive officer replacing Craig Carlock who recently left the company. Prior to this appointment, Crane served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the specialty grocery retailer. Fresh Market’s board of directors has retained a national executive search firm to fill the position of president and CEO.

Nominations for GPN’s 40 Under Due Next Week

If you want to nominate someone for the Class of 2015 of GPN’s 40 Under 40, you better act soon. The deadline for nominations is next Friday – Jan. 23. We are looking for 40 men and women under the age of 40 who are trailblazers in their personal and professional lives and who demonstrate superior leadership, creativity, compassion and innovative thinking. Click here to nominate someone.