EXECUTIVE CHANGES 1995-11-06

Fleming Unit Names Manager

ng Cos. has named Brannon Smith produce operations manager for its El Paso, Texas, division. He succeeds Mark Croft, who has joined Topco Associates.

Smith was most recently a senior buyer at Fleming's Lubbock, Texas, division. He reports to Fleming's home office here.

Topco Appoints Southeast Director

SKOKIE, Ill. -- Topco Associates here has named Mark Croft director of Southeast produce operations. He succeeds Vern Smith, who left the company.

Croft works out of Topco's Lakeland, Fla., office. He reports to Ron Bajda, vice president of produce and floral operations, who is based here.

Croft was most recently produce operations manager for the El Paso, Texas, division of Fleming Cos.

Harp's Adds Merchandiser Post

SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Harp's Food Stores here has named Dennis Baker produce merchandiser, a new position.

He reports to Vince Terry, director of produce operations. Baker was a store manager for Harp's.

New PMA Directors Take Posts

NEWARK, Del. -- The Produce Marketing Association's 1995-96 board of directors assumed office during the PMA convention and exposition in San Diego.

Chairman of the board is Warren Hutchins, vice president of purchasing and distribution for Ground Round, Braintree, Mass. He succeeds Jeff Gargiulo, chairman and chief executive officer of Gargiulo L.P., Naples, Fla. Gargiulo has been named chairman of the executive committee.

Other officers are:

Chairman-elect, Robert DiPiazza, vice president of produce operations for Dominick's Finer Foods, Northlake, Ill.;

Secretary-treasurer, David Eldredge, vice president of sales and marketing for Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, Calif.

Directors are:

Floral Marketing Association chairman, O. Stanley Pohmer Jr., senior buyer for Target Stores, Minneapolis;

Foodservice Division chairman, Timothy York, executive vice president of Markon Cooperative, Salinas;

Retail Division chairman, Grant M. Hunt, president of Grant J. Hunt Co., Oakland, Calif.

Also on the board are: Julie Anderson, floral buyer-merchandiser for Furr's Supermarkets, Albuquerque, N.M.; Fred Caito, executive director of Caito Foods, Indianapolis; Ted Campbell, corporate director of produce for Supervalu, Minneapolis; Thomas Chan, president of General Produce Co., Sacramento, Calif.; David DeLorenzo, president, international, for Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.; Paula Trott Fouchek, owner of Produce Promotions, Edinburg, Texas; Mike Hambelton, director of marketing for Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, Wash.; Jim Hill, president of CFX/La Fleurette, Miami; Carl Hyde, vice president of sales and marketing for Dixon Tom-A-Toe Cos., Marietta, Ga.; W. Powell Jones, president of W. J. Powell, Thomasville, Ga.; Steve Kenfield, president of Corrin Produce Sales, Reedley, Calif.; Ed Laster, director of produce operations for Associated Grocers, Seattle; Richard J. Mead, vice president of fresh fruit marketing for Sunkist Growers, Van Nuys, Calif.; Claude Moldenhauer, vice president of produce-floral for Kroger, Cincinnati; David Nemarnik, vice president of Pacific Coast Fruit Co., Portland, Ore.; Bruce Peterson Jr., produce director for Wal-Mart Supercenters, Bentonville, Ark.; Roger Schroeder, vice president of produce for Hughes Family Markets, Irwindale, Calif., and Bruce Taylor, Taylor Fresh Foods, Salinas.

Retiring board members are former chairman of the executive committee, Richard Spezzano, vice president of produce-floral for Vons Cos., Arcadia, Calif.; Gary Hammonds, chairman of David Oppenheimer & Associates, Vancouver, B.C.; Bill Schaefer, general manager for Couture Allen International, Miami, and John Sozio, director of produce for the Miami division of Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla.