Amazon’s Hoggett Announces Departure From Company
Tony Hoggett, Amazon’s senior vice president of Worldwide Grocery Stores, announced on his LinkedIn account Friday, Oct. 25, that he was leaving the company.
“After nearly three years at Amazon, it’s time for the next step in my career,” he wrote. “My time at Amazon has been incredible, and I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support, guidance and friendship. I’m optimistic about the work Amazon is doing to improve the grocery shopping experience for customers, and have no doubt the teams will keep the momentum going in my absence. I’ll be cheering you all on.”
Many of the comments left on his post asked why he was leaving and where he was going, but Hoggett didn’t respond to them.
Three days before his post, Hoggett announced a pilot program for fresh grocery deliveries.
“We recently announced the launch of a new pilot in Phoenix where customers can shop fresh groceries alongside millions of general merchandise products, all delivered together in just hours,” he wrote. “Get organic ingredients from Whole Foods Market 🍎, affordable snacks from Amazon Fresh 🍪, and even socks from Amazon.com 🧦 —all in one order.”
The week before, he congratulated his team for the opening of a small-format store with Whole Foods Market.
“Exciting news in Chicago as we test a small-format store from Amazon under the same roof as Whole Foods Market in the One Chicago building!” he wrote. “Customers can now shop their favorite natural and organic brands while also quickly topping up their groceries with a larger assortment of favorite national brands, grab-and-go meals, and household essentials—all in one trip. Congratulations to the entire team on this opening!”
Hoggett joined Amazon two years and 10 months ago, according to his profile, after 31 years at British supermarket chain Tesco as group chief strategy and innovation officer and as group chief operating officer.
“Hoggett started his career at Tesco as a 16-year-old trolley bo,” an article from Reuters said at the time. “Over three decades he rose to become CEO Asia and then group chief operating officer.”
The Reuters article quoted Hoggett as saying:
“It was a big decision to move on from Tesco but after meeting members of the Amazon leadership team and hearing the ambitions for the business and physical stores, I know it’s a journey and an opportunity that I want to be part of.”
“After nearly three years of leading our grocery business, helping guide the organization to new levels of impact, and building a strong team that will continue to make grocery shopping simpler, faster, and more affordable, Tony Hoggett has decided to leave Amazon,” according to a company statement. “We thank Tony for his many accomplishments at Amazon and especially for what he’s delivered for customers.”
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USDA Issues Warning of Illegally Imported Myanmar Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were illegally imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.
The following products are subject to the public health alert, regardless of the product date. View labels in Burmese.
- 180-g. cans containing “BEST BEEF CURRY.”
- 425-g. cans containing “BEST Chicken Biryani.”
- 360-g. cans containing “Hti Mi Gwik Dry MoHinGa Paste.”
- 425-g. cans containing “BEST Myanmar Duck Blood.”
- 400-g. cans containing “Eain Chak MoHinGa Paste.”
- 160-g. vacuum sealed clear packages containing “Min Thar Gyi Dried Fish.”
- 400-g. cans containing “Eain Chak Coconut Soup Paste.”
The products subject to the public health alert do not bear an establishment number nor a USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
The problem was discovered when FSIS was performing surveillance activities at a retailer and found meat and poultry products from Myanmar that are not eligible to be exported to the United States.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries and on retailers’ shelves. Retailers who have purchased the products are urged not to sell them. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Media and consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Leo Chen, Managing Member, at 480-399-6811 or Leo251185@gmail.com.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
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CPG Industry Drives US Economy, Study Shows
The Consumer Brands Association released a study on the consumer packaged goods industry’s growing economic footprint across the United States.Conducted by PwC, the study found that the CPG industry is the largest manufacturing sector by employment. It supports 22.3 million jobs, which is almost three times the population of New York City and contributes $2.5 trillion — or nearly 10 percent — to the U.S. economy, which is more than Canada’s 2023 total gross domestic product.
“As one of the nation’s top job creators, the makers of the products consumers choose and the brands they trust play a crucial role in our national economy,” said Genna Gent, executive vice president of industry engagement for Consumer Brands. “When you look at how many jobs our industry proudly supports to make the food that families serve at the dinner table or the household and personal care products we use every day – from the scientist ensuring product safety, the farmer growing wheat for bread or the trucker on the road to the retailer, it’s clear the human-powered CPG industry has a massive impact on the economy.”
The study examined the total contribution of the CPG industry, including employment, labor income and economic value added, at the national, state and congressional district levels in 2022.
According to the study, the industry directly and indirectly supports:
- 22.3 million jobs, or 10.5 percent of total U.S. employment.
- $1.5 trillion of labor income, including $195.2 billion directly, which is a 30 percent increase in CPG wages over five years.
- $2.5 trillion in U.S. GDP, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the national total.
“Each one of the 22.3 million jobs the CPG industry supports is part of a greater purpose — contributing to the industry’s commitment to delivering for consumers every day — and the results can be found in nearly every American household,” Gent said. “The findings in this report also reinforce the need for federal and state policies that facilitate job creation, spur innovation and build consumer trust.”
The Consumer Brands Association champions the industry that makes the products you choose and the brands you trust. From household and personal care to food and beverage products, the consumer packaged goods industry plays a vital role in powering the U.S. economy, contributing $2.5 trillion to U.S. GDP and supporting 22.3 million American jobs.
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