Coborn’s Inc. has appointed Kris Roberts as SVP of center store merchandising, a role she will transition into when Andy Knoblauch retires on March 1.
Roberts, who will work alongside Knoblauch for six months before his retirement, will be responsible for leading the company’s strategic merchandising initiatives in grocery, dairy, frozen, health and beauty and general merchandise.
She comes to Coborn’s with experience in buying, merchandising, business development and sales. She spent more than 25 years at Target Corp., having also worked for Summit Point Services, Power Objects, Microsoft and Wipro Limited.
COO David Best said Roberts will be a “crucial part of the Coborn’s leadership team as we continue to advance our organization.”
“She’s known for driving profitable growth and transformational change with a collaborative and inspiring leadership style,” he said.
Knoblauch joined Coborn’s in 1990 as a buyer, moving up to become the VP of sales in 1995 and SVP of sales and marketing in 2003, where he oversaw merchandising for fresh, center store and marketing. He was promoted to VP of center store merchandising in 2015.
About Coborn’s
Coborn’s Inc. is a 102-year-old employee-owned grocery retailer with about 10,000 employees and 77 grocery stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods and Sullivan’s Foods banners. It also operates fuel, liquor and pharmacy locations.
To support its more than 135 various retail business units, the company also runs its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center.
In 2021, Coborn’s Inc. was named The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year.
