Last updated on December 13th, 2024
Ontario, California-based Heritage Grocers Group has named Suzy Monford as chairman and CEO.
Monford, who most recently served as CEO of Food Sport International, a global consultancy that advises retailers on financial and impact value creation, has more than 25 years of experience and a record of leadership and innovation at industry-leading food retailers.
Heritage Grocers Group operates in six states: California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas and Illinois, with 58 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, 29 El Rancho Supermercado locations, 21 Tony’s Fresh Market sites and seven Los Altos Ranch Markets.
“I look forward to helping Heritage build on its strong foundation and am honored to lead the company into its next chapter of growth,” Monford said.
“Heritage’s differentiated value proposition and operational excellence will enable the business to capitalize on macroeconomic tailwinds and grow at scale over the years to come. I am excited to lead Heritage and its brands, and to serve our customers, team members and communities, while honoring the uniqueness of each of our banners across the country.”
[RELATED: Heritage Grocers Group Redesigns Tony’s Website, Enhances Loyalty Program]
Prior to her role at Food Sport International, Monford was the CEO of PCC Community Markets, where she grew membership to more than 100,000 for the first time in co-op history. Before that, she served as a president and group VP at Kroger and as CEO of Andronico’s Community Markets. Across her career, she has spearheaded innovative growth initiatives that improved sales and profitability by bolstering merchandising, marketing, operations and digital capabilities.
In a statement, Apollo partners and Heritage board members Andy Jhawar and Joanna Reiss welcomed Monford to the company: “[We] are confident that her unparalleled industry experience and track record of driving transformational growth will allow her to lead the company into its next phase of growth.
“Heritage is well-positioned in the Hispanic and ethnic grocery industry, serving as a one-stop-shop for the fastest growing demographics in the United States. Under Suzy’s leadership, we expect the company to further its mission to bring fresh and affordable groceries to the communities it serves while growing and enhancing its operations.”
