Industry News

Each year, we gather together a unique group of industry leaders to participate in the Perishable Pundit’s Thought-Leader Breakfast at The New York Produce Show and Conference. You can review some of the previous year’s participants at these links: The panel is important in two ways. First, it is a vibrant discussion about industry issues and so helps the industry to move forward. Second, because the breakfast takes place just before the trade show, it serves to open minds and makes attendees more receptive to new products, new packaging and new ideas. It is with great pride and pleasure that we unveil The Perishable Pundit Thought-Leader Panel for 2019: RICH DACHMAN Chief Executive Officer Brighter Bites Rich Dachman is the Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. Rich comes to Brighter Bites with more than 40 years of experience in the produce industry, 28 of them at Sysco, the world’s largest broadline food distributor. He retired from Sysco in June of 2019 as Vice President of Produce for the global company. He had been a member of the Brighter Bites Board of Directors for more than three years. Rich was awarded the Foodservice Achievement award by The Packer in 2010, and served as chairman for the Produce Marketing Association in 2012. KELLY DAVIS Director of Produce & Floral Allegiance Retail Services A Produce industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in procurement and category growth within the Supermarket industry. Kelly currently serves as the Director of Produce and Floral for Allegiance Retail Services. Her responsibilities at Allegiance include managing sales, coordinating advertising, merchandising and operations activities, and managing a procurement team and merchandising team. She began her supermarket career at Wakefern Food Corporation where she served 31 years honing her skills in a variety of departments including Grocery, Commercial Bakery and Produce. In her 18 years in the Produce Division, she was a Category Manager and successfully managed a multitude of commodities and was instrumental in the yearly growth of sales for the Division. Kelly was also a Regional Sourcing Category Manager in South America, South Africa and California […]