Buehler’s Fresh Foods has appointed Ali Rizvi as CFO, effective Jan. 12. He succeeds Peter O’Donnell, who retired at the end of 2025 following years of service with the employee-owned grocery company.
In his new role, Rizvi will lead Buehler’s overall financial strategy and also oversee information systems strategy, ensuring alignment between financial planning, technology infrastructure and long-term value creation for the company’s employee-owners.
Rizvi joins Wooster, Ohio-based Buehler’s from Northeast Grocery Inc., where he served as VP of finance – FP&A and corporate treasury since 2018. In that role, he oversaw enterprise-wide financial planning and analysis, forecasting, treasury operations and strategic performance initiatives across a large, multi-banner retail organization.
With more than 20 years of financial leadership experience, Rizvi has held senior roles spanning finance transformation, operational strategy, enterprise planning and analytics.
His background includes leading financial modernization efforts, optimizing processes and building cross-functional systems to support data-driven decision-making in complex, multi-unit environments.
Throughout his career, Rizvi has focused on strengthening financial structures and leading high-impact initiatives that align financial discipline with operational performance.
“Ali’s experience and leadership align strongly with Buehler’s long-term priorities, including operational excellence, financial discipline and continued success as an employee-owned company,” said Mike Davidson, president and CEO of Buehler’s Fresh Foods.
“We welcome Ali to the Buehler’s Fresh Foods team and are excited about his future contributions to our ESOP.”
Rizvi and his family will relocate from Atlanta, Georgia, as he transitions into the role.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods operates supermarkets throughout northeastern Ohio, with a focus on fresh food, customer service and community engagement.
I have shopped at Wooster’s Buehlers stores for the past 50+ years. As a customer I have watched Buehlers grow and I have also observed the growth of the community which has added many grocery competitors including ALDI, Walmart and Meijers. I worry about Buehler’s survival in such a competitive market. To me, what sets Buehlers apart is customer service. I don’t mind that prices on particular items may be pennies higher. Of primary importance is happy staff, friendly, helpful employees and loading my groceries into my car. I hope you will address these things as well as the financial system and the IT improvements. Please listen to your customers!