Empower Fresh Co., the developer of a cloud-based software solution that aims to modernize produce departments of independent grocers in North America, has added Jesse Himango as chief operating officer.
“Jesse is a highly competent, passionate FreshXpert who adds more octane to the Empower Fresh solution,” Anthony Totta, Empower Fresh’s president and chief visionary officer, said in a news release. “His interests and strong background are perfect for our oncoming development at Empower Fresh. When he was a teenager, he not only worked various capacities within a grocery store, but as a hobby, he and his brother developed computer hardware and software. Those are the critical components of what we’re driving at Empower Fresh.”
Himango, a second-generation grocer, clerked for Cub Foods while attending college in Illinois from 2000-2003. He was a Cub produce department manager for 10 years before working his way up in the industry, with SpartanNash and Gordy’s Markets, before spending six years as senior category manager for Fresh Thyme Markets, according to the release.
Himango loves produce departments because, uniquely within a grocery store, “the produce rack is still an art form. Hands are critical to building beautiful displays, and product experience and creative perception are essential for product quality. Not everything has a shelf code,” the release said, adding that produce departments are exciting because they still center on “touch, feel and impulse.”
Empower Fresh CEO Mike Nicometo and Chief Finance Office Tim Vaux joined Totta in announcing Himango’s new position.
About the software
Empower Fresh was conceived and founded by industry consultant Totta, who observed disadvantages independent retailers face in competing with broad-based data mining at the fingertips of well-staffed, large corporate produce operations, according to the release.
For independent retail operations — from produce buyers’ offices to the backroom cooler and display floor — Empower Fresh says it addresses the inherent advantages of the conglomerate grocery chain competition.
Himango said in the release that both produce directors and managers can benefit from the software, adding that he is surprised it took so long for such technology to reach the fresh industry sector. He said that, until now, all grocery technology was oriented to counting no-shrink cans, bottles and boxes.
“There was never any software for fresh departments to track costs, margins, shrink, information on competitors’ pricing, and even tools for ad writing and forecasting available for fresh departments,” Himango said in the release.
Other services offered by the secure, proprietary software solution are the ability to input in-store new case costs, new sizes, and weights, which fresh produce departments previously had to manually enter, according to Empower Fresh.
Himango said the software takes that off directors’ and managers’ plates and makes managing produce becomes simpler.
More broadly speaking, Himango added that “Fresh technology is really coming on in recent years. Retailers cannot afford to fall behind technologically. If you are behind the curve, it will cost your business financially. This has been needed for a long time.”
More information is available at empowerfresh.com.
