edward hoffmanEdward Hoffman, executive VP for Porter Novelli focused on the food and beverage sectors, has moved to PadillaCRT to head its food, beverage and nutrition group as a senior VP.

Hoffman earlier ran his own food-centered marketing shop, The Varick Group, and oversaw the PepsiCo account for Landor Associates and as VP and group manager at Ketchum, where he directed its food & nutrition marketing practice.

PadillaCRT's food/bev roster (the firm billed $5.6M in the area in 2014) includes Hass Avocados, the Florida Tomato Commission, US Highbush Blueberry Council and Wines from Rioja (Spain), among others.

Lynn Casey, CEO of PadillaCRT, where food/bev is one of the firm's four core practices, called the sector a "strong growth area for the firm" because of its commodity business.