Acosta Group has created a new executive position – chief retailer partnerships officer – aimed at deepening the company’s relationships with grocery retailers, and has named CPG veteran Joe Mueller to fill it.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based sales and marketing agency collective announced the move July 14, noting that Mueller has worked closely with Acosta Group throughout his career on retail execution and customer development initiatives in his roles at Kellogg Company and Kellanova.
In the newly created role at Acosta, Mueller will work with the leadership in Acosta Group’s Omnichannel Sales & Services organization. His responsibilities include strengthening ties with grocery retailers and other retail partners; identifying growth opportunities for clients and customers; and providing marketplace insights to help shape strategy across the business.
“Strong retailer relationships are fundamental to helping our clients grow,” said Mark Rahiya, group president of Omnichannel Sales & Services for Acosta Group.
“This role reflects our continued investment in the retailer relationships and strategic partnerships that drive growth across the retail ecosystem. Joe has earned tremendous respect across the retail industry throughout his career.”
Mueller joins Acosta Group after 35 years with Kellanova and Kellogg, most recently serving as VP of industry and customer development. He led several of the company’s largest customer businesses, built retailer partnerships at scale and developed commercial strategies across multiple channels, according to Acosta.
Acosta Group is a collective of retail, marketing and foodservice agencies that includes Acosta, ActionLink, ADW, Core Foodservice, Crossmark, Mosaic, Premium Retail Services and Product Connections.