Thibodaux, La.-based Rouses Markets has hired Rob Ybarra as its director of produce.
Ybarra starts his new role Sept. 2. He most recently served as director of produce and floral for St. Cloud, Minn.-based Coborn's. His lengthy tenure in the business also includes 30 years with H-E-B.
“I’m excited to meet the entire team there," Ybarra said. "As soon as I can, I really want to start touching all the 60 stores and getting to meet the people ... and it’s holiday season, so right now what’s going to drive us is (we) really want to make sure that we have some great holiday plans for the rest of this year.
"Football season’s here, so you’ve got September and October that dominates with football, and then you have November, December, which is more of a family gatherings," Ybarra said, "so we just need to be right in produce for that and get it situated nicely so we can end the year on a great note."
The move to Rouses brings Ybarra much closer to his family in San Antonio, which was very important to him.
“The good Lord blessed me with a great opportunity, just like the good Lord blessed me with a great opportunity at Coborn’s," Ybarra said. "I feel like a really lucky guy to have worked for Coborn’s, and we did a lot of great things here, and then I’m looking forward to the future at Rouses.”
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