Produce industry veteran Dave Rhodes has joined the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) as the commission’s retail promotion director for the Northeast. He will be based in Indianapolis. He replaces Ken Tubman, who is retiring after 15 years of service.
Rhodes will work with retail produce managers in the northeastern U.S. and Canada to help drive sales of Idaho potatoes through marketing and promotions, competitive research and point-of-sale materials, in addition to representing the Idaho potato brand at retail industry trade shows.
“My strong suit is that I can sit down and converse with produce managers and understand the situations they’re going through,” says Rhodes, who previously served as vice president of produce and floral for Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets, a regional retailer with 64 stores. “I can share similar situations and offer help based on what I’ve seen that works in the produce department.”
Rhodes has spent more than 40 years in the produce industry, starting as a store-level produce manager after serving four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. His extensive experience includes working as director of produce for a northern Michigan supermarket chain, vegetable category manager for a Midwest distributor, and produce category manager for Marsh Supermarkets.
“Dave is a valuable new resource for our northeastern retailers because he brings an incredible amount of hands-on industry knowledge to the table,” says Seth Pemsler, the IPC’s vice president over retail and international. “We’re really looking forward to having him as part of our great Idaho potato retail team.”
Rhodes says he’s looking forward to more opportunities to indulge in his favorite Idaho potato dish—a steaming baked russet topped with butter, sour cream and cheese.
Source: Idaho Potato Commission