Industry legend Bob Palmer has come out of retirement to lead Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers as the company’s new CEO, succeeding Mike Duffy.
Palmer brings more than three decades of experience. After starting with the company in 1986, he retired from his role as C&S’s EVP and chief procurement officer in 2019. When he started some 34 years ago, the wholesaler was a $400 million company. By his retirement, it was nearly a $30 billion company.
In October 2019, Palmer was inducted into the Food Industry Hall of Fame, which was established to “recognize men and women across the U.S. food industry who have excelled in leadership and innovation over their careers.”
At the time of his retirement, Palmer said his career had been “the best thing that ever happened to me,” feeling great reward from the C&S team and the company’s growth.
C&S is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S., leading the rapidly changing grocery industry for more than a century. However, 2020 has brought unprecedented hurdles and change, requiring the wholesaler to refocus its efforts and priorities, according to Chairman Rick Cohen.
“We will continue to drive innovation and adapt to the dynamic market conditions to better serve and support our customers,” Cohen said. “Bob is a highly valued leader that has led C&S through times of change with much success. His unrelenting focus on customer service and innovative go-to-market strategies have helped us win in challenging times and will undoubtedly serve us well as we transform for the future.”
Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S serves customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with more than 137,000 different products.
For more information about C&S, visit cswg.com.
Bob Palmer was not chosen many of the times he possibly could have and likely should have been named CEO. I believe this is certainly the right executive at the right time.
Best of luck Bob, Joel Albrizio