Publix has shared that Executive Chairman Todd Jones will retire, effective May 31, but remain involved in the company as chairman of its board of directors. The announcement caps a 46-year career at Publix that began with Jones as a front-service clerk and culminated in him serving as the company’s top executive. Publix CEO Kevin […]
Category: Executive News
Grocery industry executive news: appointments, promotions and leadership changes at retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.
Follow every leadership change in Executive Moves.
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Health & Wellness, News
FMI Appoints Visioni As Director Of Health, Well-Being
FMI – The Food Industry Association has appointed Kim Visioni as its director of health and well-being, supporting the organization’s work advancing the role of grocery stores as destinations for those services The position covers nourishing food, wellness products, credible guidance and health-related services, along with the expansion of FMI’s relevant programs and community. “With […]
Posted inExecutive News, Independent Store News, Midwest, News
ARG Welcomes O’Hara To Board Of Directors
Alliance Retail Group (ARG) has appointed Chris O’Hara to its board of directors, adding 37 years of grocery retail experience to its leadership. O’Hara currently serves as director of operations for G&W Foods, which operates 30 locations in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri with more than 1,100 employees. O’Hara’s journey in the grocery business began at […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Executive News, Featured News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City’s Greene Named TGCSA Retailer Of The Year
The board of directors of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association has selected Joe Greene, VP of produce and floral operations for K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. (operating as Food City), as its 2026 Retailer of the Year. Greene will be recognized at the association’s annual Convention & Expo June 2-4 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The […]
Posted inExecutive News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, National, News
Breez AI Appoints Former AWG CEO Smith Board Chairman
Breez AI Corp., a white-label artificial intelligence platform powering personalized grocery experiences for regional and independent retailers, has appointed David Smith, former president and CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers, as chairman of its board of directors. The appointment comes as Breez AI has moved from pilot into commercial scale, with the company’s consumer-facing assistant now […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Independent Store News, News, Southeast
HFG Appoints Bryant, West To Leadership Roles
Houchens Food Group Inc. has announced two leadership appointments – Misty Bryant to director of retail operations and Boyd West as senior director of fresh merchandising. Bryant, who joined Houchens Food Group in 2007 as a merchandising assistant, has held a series of progressively senior roles over nearly two decades with the company, including category […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Featured News, Midwest, News
OGA Names Ewig Executive Director Following Mullins’ Retirement
The Ohio Grocers Association (OGA) has named Joe Ewig as executive director, following the retirement of President and CEO Kristin Mullins after 36 years with the organization. Ewig brings more than 13 years of government affairs and public policy experience related to the retail food and beverage industry to the role. He previously served as […]
Posted inExecutive News, Beverage News, News, Southeast
Community Coffee Promotes Crump As SVP, Chief Commercial Officer
Community Coffee, a family-owned retail coffee brand, has appointed Kristi Crump as SVP of brand, retail and e-commerce and chief commercial officer. In this expanded role, Crump will lead the brand’s commercial strategy. She will bring together consumer insights, digital growth and product innovation. Her goal is to continue expanding Community Coffee’s presence in homes […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, National, News
Store Owner Indicted For SNAP Fraud Scheme In Tacoma, WA
The 64-year-old owner of a small Tacoma market was arraigned April 22 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for multiple counts of wire fraud and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington announced. Manjit Bedi of Kent, Washington, allegedly exchanged food benefits for cash, resulting […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News
eGrowcery’s Feder Joins Women Grocers Of America’s Board Of Directors
Anne Feder, SVP of client growth at eGrowcery, has been appointed to the board of directors for the Women Grocers of America (WGA). Feder leads eGrowcery’s client growth organization, partnering with independent retailers in the United States and internationally to launch and optimize unified commerce platforms that integrate online shopping, store operations and marketing. She […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, News, West
‘Being Eddie Basha’ Exhibit Open In Chandler, AZ
The Chandler Museum in Chandler, Arizona, opened a new exhibition in March called “Being Eddie Basha.” “Businessman, devoted family man, philanthropist, education advocate and patron of the arts, Eddie Basha was more than a grocer,” the museum stated. The exhibit traces the Basha family’s journey from late 19th-century Lebanon to 20th-century Arizona, examining the places, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Beverage News, National, News
The Coca-Cola Co. Taps Chandele As Global Chief People Officer
The Coca-Cola Co. has named Tapaswee Chandele as global chief people officer, effective May 1, succeeding Lisa Chang, who is stepping down after a seven-year tenure. Chandele currently serves as SVP and executive assistant to President and CFO John Murphy, a position she has held since May 2025. She will report to CEO Henrique Braun. […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Finance News, National, News
Conagra Brands Names J.M. Smucker President, COO Brase As CEO
Conagra Brands has appointed John Brase as president and CEO, effective June 1. Brase, who will also join the company’s board of directors, succeeds Sean Connolly, who is stepping down after more than a decade leading the Chicago-based food company. Brase most recently served as president and COO of The J.M. Smucker Co., where he […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Hy-Vee, Midwest, News
Hy-Vee Mourns Loss Of First Female President
Donna Tweeten, a marketing executive who became Hy-Vee’s first female president and spent decades shaping the Midwestern grocer into a nationally recognized brand, died April 8. She had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Tweeten retired from her role as president in January 2025 but remained with Hy-Vee as a consultant up until […]
Posted inExecutive News, Anniversary Issues, Feature, Featured News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
Stewardship And Growth: Former AWG CEO Smith Reflects On Leading Through Change
As Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates its centennial, former CEO David Smith looks back on his tenure with the perspective of a steward who sought to leave the cooperative stronger than he found it. Smith joined AWG in August 2003 as director of real estate. He stepped into the CEO role at the end of 2015, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Ohio Grocers Association’s Mullins Leaves Legacy Of Fighting The Impossible
Kristin Mullins started at the Ohio Grocers Association on April 4, 1990, as a receptionist. She is leaving as its president and CEO – and, by her own account, she’s ready. “A 36-year run – I think I’m ready for something, quite frankly, a little less demanding, a little less stressful,” she said with a […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart Appoints Cox As Chief Legal Officer
Walmart Inc. has appointed Erin Nealy Cox as EVP of global governance, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective April 13. Cox is coming from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she served as a partner in the Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group since 2021. She previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the […]
Posted inExecutive News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, National, News
AWG Taps Former Kroger Division Leader As COO
Associated Wholesale Grocers has appointed Joe Kelley as COO, effective May 4, overseeing merchandising, procurement, distribution, sales, marketing and division support center operations across AWG’s 33-state footprint. Kelley comes from Kroger, where he most recently served as SVP of retail divisions, leading 11 divisions across the central and western United States. His grocery career began […]
Posted inExecutive News, Dairy News, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News
Hiland Dairy Names Leibacher General Manager Of Dallas Operation
Hiland Dairy Foods Co. has promoted Mike Leibacher to general manager of its Dallas-Fort Worth operation, effective March 1. He replaces Ray Gibson, who retired after a 43-year career in the dairy industry. Gibson spent decades serving the Dallas-Fort Worth market. He began in 1982 as a route salesman with Borden Dairy, rose through a […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Executive News, Featured News, Finance News, News, West
Grocery Outlet Appoints Allen, Thornton To Board Of Directors
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. has appointed Frances Allen and Felicia Thornton as independent directors, effective April 1. “Frances and Felicia bring strong grocery and retail operational experience and significant strategic insight to our board,” said Eric Lindberg, chairman of Grocery Outlet’s board of directors. “Frances is an accomplished leader of nationally recognized restaurant businesses with deep […]