King Kullen Grocery Co. Co-Chairman and former President Bernard D. Kennedy passed away Feb. 17 at his home in Point Lookout, New York. The announcement was made by Kennedy’s sons, King Kullen Co-President J. Donald Kennedy and King Kullen Secretary and General Counsel Bernard P. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy was 92. The second generation of four […]
Category: Executive News
Grocery industry executive news: appointments, promotions and leadership changes at retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.
Follow every leadership change in Executive Moves.
Bilbrey Retiring As Hershey Co. Chairman, Successor Named
John P. Bilbrey has informed The Hershey Co. of his plans to retire as chairman of its board of directors. He will not stand for re-election at the company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for May 2, 2018. Bilbrey, age 61, previously served as president and CEO and was elected to the board of […]
Morey’s Seafood Board Chairman Justin Heyman, 50, Dies In Accident
Justin Heyman, chairman of the board at Morey’s Seafood, passed away Friday, Feb. 9, as the result of injuries sustained in a snowmobiling accident while on retreat in Wyoming. He was 50 years old. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Mr. Heyman was an avid cyclist, sports enthusiast and true adventurer who lived […]
Chacko To Succeed Papadellis As President Of Ocean Spray Cranberries
Randy Papadellis, president and CEO of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., announced Feb. 15 that he plans to leave the cooperative on July 1, 2018, capping an 18-year career. Effective immediately, Bobby Chacko, who has been serving as SVP and chief growth officer since 2017, has been promoted to president and COO. Papadellis, whose career in the food […]
NGA Show Opens With Strong Attendance, 2018 Board Named
The National Grocers Association (NGA) opened its 2018 NGA Show yesterday with more than 3,000 attendees and experienced a 12 percent increase in its retailer/wholesaler attendance. Attendees heard from General Michael Hayden, former director of the CIA and NSA, during Sunday’s opening keynote address, sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Co. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue […]
Pamela Bailey To Retire After Nearly 10 Years As GMA President, CEO
Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), will retire later this year following nearly 10 years of leading the organization. Bailey will remain with GMA and manage the organization as the board of directors conducts a search for her successor, with Leslie Hortum of Spencer Stuart retained to lead the […]
CEO Out At New Seasons Market As Retailer Rethinks Calif. Strategy
New Seasons Market CEO Wendy Collie is departing the Portland, Oregon-based grocery chain as the company makes a “strategic shift in business direction.” Other changes include a flattening of the executive leadership structure, as well as a decision to close the Sunnyvale, California, New Seasons location and halt further expansion in the state. In California, […]
Hormel EVP & President, Business Units, Retiring; Day Promoted
Hormel Foods Corp. is making some changes to its executive team. Steve Binder, EVP and president of Hormel business units, will retire at the end of the company’s second quarter fiscal 2018. Tom Day, group VP, refrigerated foods, is being promoted to EVP, refrigerated foods. “The experience and knowledge of our senior leadership team have always been […]
Kroger Promotes Two, Names First African-American Division Leader
The Kroger Co. has made two leadership promotions that it says will support its Restock Kroger plan. Steve McKinney, currently president of the Fry’s Food Stores division, has been promoted to SVP of retail divisions for the company, effective Feb. 5. Monica Garnes, currently corporate VP of produce-floral merchandising, will succeed McKinney as president of the Fry’s division. […]
FMI Honors Three With Leadership Awards At Midwinter Exec Conference
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) honored three industry executives with leadership awards at its Midwinter Executive Conference. FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin presented the awards to individuals who “share a legacy of achievement in trade relations, entrepreneurial spirit and statesmanship.” “Our industry is rooted in a commitment to people and communities. It shines […]
Buehler’s Welcomes Former SpartanNash VP As CFO, Promotes Three
Buehler’s Fresh Foods has brought Peter O’Donnell on board as treasurer and CFO. He joins the company’s senior leadership team after spending 10 years as a VP in the grocery wholesale and retail industry with SpartanNash. His responsibilities include corporate governance, supervision and oversight of Buehler’s financial and accounting functions, IT, compliance, lender relations and […]
CGAEF To Induct Two Grocery Execs Into Hall Of Achievement
Kevin Davis, chairman and CEO of Bristol Farms, and Robert (Bob) Kelly, EVP of Hidden Villa Ranch, will be inducted into the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation (CGAEF) Hall of Achievement on March 21 at the Hilton Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa, California. The Hall of Achievement was created in 1992 to recognize grocery retailers […]
Smucker Co. Food & Bev Exec To Retire, New Appointments Made
The J.M. Smucker Co. has revealed its plans for the retirement of Steven Oakland, vice chair and president, U.S. food and beverage, on June 29. They include a number of executive changes that the company says will bring new leadership to the areas of U.S. coffee, consumer foods, and strategy and M&A. A 35-year veteran of […]
Two Whole Foods Market Veterans Join High Road Ice Cream
High Road Ice Cream, a maker of “premium” ice cream, has made new hires after growing by 70 percent in 2017. Stephen Corradini, formerly VP of Whole Foods Market South Region, has joined the company as chief people and strategy officer, and Arthur Reynolds, formerly an associate coordinator of grocery at Whole Foods, has joined […]
Jack Link’s Launches Five New Protein Snacks, Brings On R&D VP
Jack Link’s, a maker of meat snacks, has debuted new products that it says will not only “offer loyal fans new portable protein options but will reach new customers at varied snacking occasions.” The new products range from updated classics like Lorissa’s Kitchen 100 percent grass-fed beef sticks to the less traditional products like Jack […]
Aurora Organic Dairy Names New CEO, Peperzak Stays On As Executive Chairman
Scott McGinty has been named CEO of Aurora Organic Dairy as the company’s founder, Marc Peperzak, assumes a new role as executive chairman. McGinty brings 20 years of direct category experience and varied perspectives to the role as CEO, the company says. After joining Aurora at its inception to establish product distribution, he was asked […]
Former Supervalu President And COO Joins Logile’s Advisory Board
Mike Jackson, former President and COO of Supervalu, has joined Logile as an advisory board member. According to the company, Jackson’s leadership and executive guidance will help support its “transformation from a workforce and execution management provider of software and consulting services to become an even more significant player with an even larger industry footprint […]
Morris To Succeed Denningham As COO Of Albertsons Cos.
Albertsons Cos. said Jan. 16 that President and COO Wayne Denningham plans to retire near the end of the company’s fiscal year, which typically falls in late February. Denningham’s career at Albertsons has spanned 40 years, having started working as a clerk as a teenager. Susan Morris will become EVP and COO, overseeing supply chain, manufacturing […]
More Stater Bros. Leadership Changes Follow Promotion Of Frahm
Southern California-based supermarket chain Stater Bros. Markets has made a number of changes to its leadership team that it says “leverage the expertise and experience of key management members to guide and ensure the company’s continued success.” Dan Meyer, a 46-year member of the Stater Bros. “family” will assume the role of EVP of distribution. In […]
Gary Davis Of Russ Davis Wholesale Passes Away At Age 81
Gary Davis, former president and owner of Russ Davis Wholesale (RDW) in Wadena, Minnesota, died at his home Jan. 3 after a long battle with cancer. 2017 marked 60 years since Mr. Davis started selling fresh produce with his father, Russ. “Over the course of 50 years he leveraged a tremendous work ethic, significant smarts, […]
