Effective Nov. 27, The Giant Co. has appointed Brian Lorenz as VP of omnichannel fresh merchandising and Kathy Sweigert as VP of the Mid-Atlantic division.
Lorenz will report to John Ruane, president, while Sweigert will report to Dave Lessard, SVP of operations, customer experience and perishable distribution.
“Brian and Kathy bring vast experience to our business, with more than 40 years of retail grocery experience between them, and have a strong understanding and appreciation of the needs of our team, customers and the communities we serve,” Ruane said.
“I am excited to see them grow in their new roles and continue to contribute to The Giant Co. in meaningful ways.”
In his new role, Lorenz will lead omnichannel fresh merchandising, including the produce/floral, meat/seafood and deli/bakery departments. Sweigert will oversee retail operations at 100 Giant and Martin’s stores across central and western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Lorenz joined The Giant Co. in 2014 as district director. He has held a variety of positions across the Ahold Delhaize USA family of companies, including district director and portfolio lead.
Most recently, Lorenz had served as category director, bakery/deli, since 2018. Prior to joining The Giant Co., he held several positions at Walmart and Tops Markets.
In 2023, Lorenz received the company’s highest honor, the Presidents’ Award, for consistently delivering exceptional performance and for contributing to the organization’s success in several ways. He serves as the co-chair of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.
An employee since 2000, Sweigert has held several roles with the company, from an entry-level, part-time position to store manager and regional director. Most recently, she served as director of human resources, a position she has held since May 2022.
In 2018, Sweigert was honored as one of the FMI – Food Industry Association’s Store Managers of the Year and the YWCA of Harrisburg as a “Woman of Excellence” for her professional and philanthropic contributions to the Capital Region in 2017.
Sweigert serves on the board of directors for the Blair County Action Program. She previously served as the executive advisor for The Giant Co.’s CARE business resource group and is also a member of the company’s LINC business resource group.
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