Publix Super Markets CEO Kevin Murphy has announced the retirement of two VPs and the promotion of two new officers, effective Jan. 1. Randy Barber, VP of industrial maintenance and industrial operations purchasing, will retire after 46 years of service. Barber began his Publix career in 1978 as a front service clerk in Lakeland, Florida. […]
Category: Executive News
Grocery industry executive news: appointments, promotions and leadership changes at retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.
Follow every leadership change in Executive Moves.
Lowe’s Market Mourns Death Of Roger Lowe Sr.
Lowe’s Market has announced the death of Roger Lowe Sr., president and chairman, who died Oct. 3 following a brief illness. Lowe and his father, Bud, opened their first grocery store in Olton, Texas, in 1963; however, the family’s history can be traced to the late 1940s, when his father started selling candy and sundries […]
C&S Wholesale Grocers’ EVP, Chief Procurement Officer Papaleo To Retire
Michael Papaleo, EVP and chief procurement officer for Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, is retiring. He will continue to serve the company as a strategic advisor through the coming year. Mark McGowan, EVP of retail and CMO, will lead C&S’s merchandising organization. Andrew Connell, SVP of procurement, will lead all procurement, demand planning and inbound planning. […]
SpartanNash Promotes Porter To VP
SpartanNash has promoted Kristen Porter to VP, associate general counsel and compliance officer. She will oversee the company’s compliance efforts, including its food safety team. In addition, she will continue to manage the work of the licensing team. As compliance officer, Porter will lead the continued design, development and implementation of the company’s compliance structure […]
Stop & Shop President Reid To Retire, Wheeler To Assume Role
Roger Wheeler, chief commercial and supply chain officer for Ahold Delhaize USA, has been appointed president of Stop & Shop, effective Sept. 30, as current President Gordon Reid plans to retire in mid-2025. “At Ahold Delhaize USA, it’s a strength of our organization that we have a depth of internal leadership talent which will ensure […]
Village Super Market CEO Stepping Down, Successors Named
Village Super Market CEO Robert Sumas has notified the board of directors of his decision to step down as CEO and interim chairman of the board effective Dec. 13. The board plans to appoint John J. Sumas as new CEO and Nicholas Sumas as president and chairman of the board of directors, effective Dec. 13. […]
Acosta Group Leadership Changes Aim To Strengthen Relationships, Drive Growth
Acosta Group has made key leadership appointments to strengthen CPG client and retail customer relationships and drive growth. Mark Rahiya joins as group president, omnichannel sales and services, and Darian Pickett has been named chief global client officer. Ashley Roehm has been promoted to president of Acosta Sales Agency, while Jami McDermid will continue as president […]
Festival Foods’ Munns Named Wisconsin Grocer Of Year
Randy Munns, EVP and chief operating officer for Festival Foods, has been named the 2024 Grocer of the Year by the Wisconsin Grocers Association. This award is the highest honor presented by the WGA, recognizing lifetime achievement and exceptional leadership within the grocery industry. With a career that spans 40 years in the grocery business, […]
The Simply Good Foods Co. Appoints Clawson As CCO
The Simply Good Foods Co., a developer, marketer and seller of branded nutritional foods and snacking products, has named Mike Clawson chief customer officer, effective Oct. 14. A cornerstone of the company’s strategic growth plan is an enhanced selling model and approach. This new sales playbook is centered on building multi-year growth plans with a […]
IDDBA Combines Teams, Promotes Atkins
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) has combined its marketing and membership teams and promoted Whitney Atkins as VP of the newly formed marketing and membership department. “Since joining the association, Whitney has led marketing efforts that have produced event and membership growth, while working hard for the association’s endeavors to support the industry […]
Lipari Foods Taps Schuette As New CEO
Warren, Michigan-based Lipari Foods, a specialty food distributor, has appointed Stuart Schuette as its next CEO, effective Sept. 16. He succeeds interim CEO John Boucher, who stepped in for Thom Lipari, the company’s previous CEO for more than 30 years, as part of a contemplated leadership succession plan. Lipari was instrumental in establishing the company’s […]
Big Y Appoints New VPs Of Fresh Foods, Center Store
Big Y Foods has named John P. Fraro as VP of fresh foods, while Steve Nordstrom has been appointed as VP of center store. Both report to Michael R. Cormier, SVP of sales and marketing. “Our people are and always will be the heart of our company. They foster and grow our culture of caring, continuous […]
Fred Meyer President Kammeyer Named Executive In Residence For USC Program
The USC Marshall School of Business has named Todd Kammeyer, president of The Kroger Co.’s Fred Meyer Division, as the executive in residence for the Food Industry Executive Program for the 2024-25 academic year. “Each year, we select an industry executive who is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders to join us as […]
USC Marshall FIM Program Awards Allumbaugh Scholarship To Seriki
Oluwatobiloba “Tobi” Seriki, a recent graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Management program, has been awarded the Byron Allumbaugh Food Industry Leadership Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to one or two exceptional Food Industry Management alumni who have been accepted into a graduate or undergraduate program at the USC Marshall […]
NGA Adds Cutler, Longhofer To Leadership Team
The National Grocers Association has welcomed two recent additions to its leadership team – David Cutler as VP of media relations and public affairs, and Dean Longhofer as senior manager for membership and data management. Cutler brings extensive association experience, most recently serving as director of public affairs and strategic engagement for the National Association […]
Schnucks Names New Chief Merchant, Chief Growth Officer
Schnucks Markets has announced that Kim Gray will lead the company’s merchandising team as chief merchant, succeeding Ryan Cuba, who will become the company’s first chief growth officer. Gray brings to Schnucks more than 20 years of merchandising and leadership experience across fresh, center store and e-commerce category management. She previously held senior merchandising roles at […]
SpartanNash Welcomes Storm As SVP, CMO
SpartanNash has welcomed Erin Storm as SVP and CMO, leading the company’s marketing function, including the OwnBrands portfolio, retail marketing programs, e-commerce and digital experience, creative services, shopper insights and loyalty. Storm joins SpartanNash following an 18-year career with Kellogg’s and its spin-off Kellanova, where she was most recently VP of commercial strategy. Prior to that, Storm […]
Rice Retires From Utz Brands’ Board, Werzyn Jr. Appointed
Utz Brands Inc. has appointed William “B.J.” Werzyn Jr. to its board of directors, replacing Michael “Mike” W. Rice, who retired from his position on Aug. 20. Rice will continue to participate in board activities as an observer. Rice served Utz in numerous roles in a career that spanned more than 50 years. He joined […]
Alcocer Retiring From Duda Farm Fresh Foods
Duda Farm Fresh Foods SVP of Sales and Marketing Rick Alcocer is retiring after a 40-plus year career in the produce industry. Alcocer began his career in the fresh produce industry following graduation from the University of Southern California in 1980, when he joined Dole Fresh Vegetables (known then as Bud Antle Inc.) as a […]
The Giant Co. Names Lupfer As SVP, Chief Merchant
The Giant Co. has named Rebecca Lupfer as SVP and chief merchant, leading all aspects of merchandising for the company, as well as commercial planning and pricing. “With nearly 20 years of retail grocery experience spanning nearly all areas of the business, Rebecca brings a tremendous amount of expertise to the table as well as […]
