McLane Company Inc., one of the largest distributors in the U.S., has promoted Chris Smith to EVP and COO. Smith will support McLane’s growth strategy by leveraging resources and capabilities throughout the enterprise while continuing to lead McLane Retail.
Founded in 1894, Temple, Texas-based McLane serves convenience stores, mass merchants and chain restaurants, through more than 80 distribution centers, more than 25,000 teammates and deliveries reaching nearly every ZIP code in the U.S. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
“Chris is a proven leader who understands our business, our customers and our teammates,” said Tony Frankenberger, McLane CEO. “His continued leadership will help McLane build on our strong foundation, advance innovation and deliver the reliable, high-quality service our customers and suppliers expect.”
As EVP and COO, Smith will continue reporting to Frankenberger and will work with McLane’s executive leadership team to advance the company’s technology transformation, including investments in AI and digital systems. His position spans McLane’s three business units – retail, restaurant and Empire Distributors – as well as corporate functions and subsidiaries, to optimize operations throughout the company’s nationwide network.
“This role creates an opportunity to help shape McLane’s future and influence how we tap into the full range of resources and assets throughout our business,” Smith said. “By leveraging the vast experience of our teammates and industry-leading supply chain services, we can maximize the value we provide to our customer and supplier partners.”