Armand Lobato

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Columnist Armand Lobato shares a phased strategy for grand openings that prioritizes disciplined scheduling and expert oversight to prevent exhaustion.
When individual challenges arise, produce professionals have their own way of rallying together, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Stacking or pouring produce in displays? Columnist Armand Lobato discusses the rare exceptions to the rules.
Columnist Armand Lobato explains why nonproduce chatter — and the three B’s — are valuable tools that can help build key relationships.
What exactly goes into writing an effective labor schedule? Columnist Armand Lobato offers insights he used to coach a produce manager in the process.
Columnist Armand Lobato notes that in the ongoing battle of attaining or deducting labor hours in the produce department, one question often goes unasked: How will this affect produce department standards?
Displaying fruits and vegetables in their natural state helps instill the idea to customers that your store is indeed fresh, yet produce departments rarely make the effort.
Just as the industry itself has evolved, so have technological advancements — even if it takes some time.
Columnist Armand Lobato recalls a trip to the Northwest highlighted by rolling hills and a “water park” for packing fresh cherries and shares how the small fruit has a big impact on the produce aisle.
Columnist Armand Lobato shares how a simple moment helped unlock a big idea.