Save-A-Lot CEO Eric Claus and Onex, the company’s controlling shareholder, have “mutually agreed to part ways” as the discount chain has appointed former Lidl leader Kenneth McGrath its new chief executive, effective April 21. “We want to thank Eric for his contributions to Save-A-Lot over the past year,” said Matthew Ross, chairman of Save-A-Lot’s board of […]
Category: Executive News
Grocery industry executive news: appointments, promotions and leadership changes at retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.
Follow every leadership change in Executive Moves.
Nestlé Waters North America Names New CEO
Fernando Mercé has been named president and CEO of Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA), effective May 1. Mercé, formerly CEO of Nestlé Purina Latin America & Caribbean, will oversee all NWNA’s operations in both the U.S. and Canada. Mercé also will serve as a member of the global Nestlé Waters board of directors. “I am delighted […]
Publix Names VP Of Real Estate Strategy
Publix Super Markets has promoted Bob Balcerak to VP of real estate strategy, effective April 3. “Promoting associates from within the company is one of the ways we perpetuate our Publix culture,” said CEO and President Todd Jones. “Bob will play a critical role as we continue our focus on store growth.” Balcerak, 56, started […]
SpartanNash Promotes Pahud To COO Of Caito Foods
SpartanNash has promoted Mike Pahud to COO of Caito Foods, effective immediately. Pahud has been serving as Caito’s CFO since joining the company in February 2013. In addition to his current responsibilities of managing finance and information technology for Caito, Pahud will assume responsibility for sales, procurement and operations. He will report directly to Bob Kirch, […]
Kroger Names New Presidents For Fred Meyer Stores, Columbus Division
The Kroger Co. has named Joe Grieshaber president of Fred Meyer Stores, replacing Jeff Burt, who resigned Monday to accept the position of SVP of grocery, fresh food and beverage at Target Corp. Grieshaber has been serving as president of Kroger’s Columbus division. Succeeding Grieshaber will be Dan De La Rosa, who has been promoted […]
Dollar General’s Chief Merchandising Officer Retiring
Dollar General’s James “Jim” W. Thorpe, EVP and chief merchandising officer, will retire on April 15. “Jim’s strong understanding of our core customer and passion for our business have been instrumental in driving innovation in our merchandising initiatives,” said Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos. “When Jim rejoined the company in 2015, we agreed upon a […]
Talking Rain CEO Abruptly Departs
Kevin Klock, president and CEO of Talking Rain Beverage Co., the maker of Sparkling Ice, has left the company. A reason was not given in press release issued Friday by the company, though Klock was in New York City conducting media interviews as recently as late February with new chief marketing officer Brian Kuz, according […]
Perdue Farms Gets New CEO For First Time In 25 Years
Randy Day has been promoted to CEO of Perdue Farms, effective immediately. Day has served as COO since May 2016. He also will serve on the company’s board of directors. “Randy has done an outstanding job as chief operating officer over the past year, and he has my trust and the trust of our leadership […]
New Bfresh Leader Named
Stop & Shop has appointed Dean Wilkinson bfresh lead at its Fresh Formats division. “Dean brings years of retail operational experience, and he will be a valuable resource as we develop new and innovative format opportunities,” said Stop & Shop President Mark McGowan. “We are proud of the excellent work of the Fresh Formats team […]
Cub Foods President Departs, Interim Leader Named
Cub Foods President Eric Hymas, who has served in the role since January 2016, will leave the grocery chain Feb. 25, according to Cub parent company Supervalu. The announcement was made to Supervalu employees on Feb. 20. Supervalu VP of Marketing and Consumer Insights Chad Ferguson has assumed the role of interim president. Ferguson joined […]
Blue Bell Gets New President As Kruse Retires
Blue Bell Creameries’ Ricky Dickson has been promoted to president of the Brenham, Texas-based company as longtime leader Paul Kruse retires. While Kruse is retiring as president and chairman, he will remain on the company’s board. Kruse began working at Blue Bell in 1986 and was elected CEO and president of the company in 2004. […]
Tyson Foods Shakes Up Leadership Team, Unveils New Logo
Tyson Foods is making some changes—revealing a new senior leadership team, executives who the company says will “propel” it forward and accelerate growth, and unveiling a new corporate logo. The new appointments come as the company announces the departure of Donnie King, president, North American Operations; Sara Lilygren, EVP, Corporate Affairs; and Gary Cooper, chief […]
Fareway Stores Promotes Eight
Fareway Stores on Tuesday announced eight promotions during the Boone,-Iowa-based company’s quarterly managers meeting. The company did not provide the employees’ previous roles. • SVP-procurement: Aaron J. Irlbeck • SVP-merchandising: Michael J. McCormick • VP-engineering: Matthew J. Sherwood • VP-direct store delivery: Thomas J. Laven • VP-warehouse and trucking operations: Wesley D. Bass • VP-produce […]
WAFC Elects Four New Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has elected four new board members during its annual meeting, held last month in LaQuinta, California. Newly elected directors are: • Joe Falvey EVP, Unified Grocers; president, Market Centre, Livermore, California • Mike Hendry, EVP, marketing and merchandising, Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Anaheim • John Mathews, VP, sales and marketing, Cash&Carry […]
Kroger Names New President For Mid-Atlantic Division As Fey Readies To Retire
The Kroger Co.’s Mid-Atlantic Division President Joe Fey will retire Feb. 10 after more than four decades with the grocer. Jerry Clontz, currently SVP of operations for the company’s Harris Teeter subsidiary, will succeed him. The supermarket chain’s Mid-Atlantic Division is based in Roanoke, Virginia; it includes the Richmond, Roanoke, Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach areas of […]
ShopRite Supermarkets Names New President
ShopRite Supermarkets Inc. (SRS), which owns and operates 34 ShopRite stores in New Jersey and New York, has named industry veteran Brett Wing president of the company. He replaces Dave Figurelli, who retired this month after 15 years with the company. SRS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative with members […]
Southeastern Grocers Taps Former Ahold USA Leader To Lead Pharmacy Operations
Southeastern Grocers has hired Gayle Shields as the company’s new VP of pharmacy. Shields will be responsible for overseeing the day-to- day and strategic operations of the company’s several hundred pharmacy locations throughout the Southeast. For nearly 30 years, Shields has worked in the pharmacy industry in various positions for Allied Health, Maxor National Pharmacy […]
Former Walmart, Supervalu Exec To Lead Dollar Tree’s Family Dollar Banner
Discount variety store operator Dollar Tree has made some management changes, hiring former Walmart and Supervalu executive Duncan Mac Naughton to lead its Family Dollar banner as president and COO. The company also has promoted Gary Philbin to enterprise president of Dollar Tree. Mac Naughton will report to Philbin. Mac Naughton, 54, has more than […]
Brookshire Grocery Co. Names New Division, District Managers For Super 1 Foods
Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) has promoted two of its leaders to division and district manager roles. Ronny Hurst will serve as division manager for the company’s 34 Super 1 Foods stores, and Jay Holmes is now district manager for Super 1 Foods stores in central and south Louisiana. Hurst is a 38-year employee […]
Phil Smith Elected Stater Bros. Markets Chairman
Stater Bros. Holdings Inc., parent company of Stater Bros. Markets, has elected Phillip J. “Phil” Smith to chairman of the board of Stater Bros. Markets, following the passing of Executive Chairman Jack H. Brown on Nov. 13. Smith formerly served as vice chairman of Stater Bros. Holdings—a position to which Brown appointed him in 2012. […]
