Retail giant Wal-Mart has moved to appoint industry veteran Manolo Reyes as its new vice-president/divisional merchandise manager of produce and floral for its US operations.

According to reports in the country, Mr Reyes will take on the role that was vacated by Ron McCormick following a reshuffle in the group's produce department during the summer, although it is not known whether he is taking on all of Mr McCormick's former duties.

Mr Reyes joins the group from a Costco location in Mexico, retail analyst Dick Spezzano told The Packer, and could be part of a move by Wal-Mart to improve its Hispanic consumer relations with regards to perishable products.

'Wal-Mart - not just Wal-Mart, but all supermarket chains here, are slow to market to a Hispanic audience,' he told the publication. 'When you compare them to independent retailers on the grocery side they fall short, especially where independents are big in produce.'

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