Each year, The Shelby Report publishes a special section about Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates, better known as ROFDA. This special showcases the group’s work, its leadership and member-owners, as well as the independent grocery industry. The 2016 special appears below and also in the December print editions of The Shelby Report and The Griffin Report […]
Tag: executive
Lucky’s Market Leader Steve Black Joins Rouses As President, COO
Steve Black, previously president of Lucky’s Market, a specialty grocery chain focused on natural, organic and locally grown products, has been named president and COO of Rouses Markets, effective in December. Donny Rouse, CEO of Rouses Markets, made the announcement today. Rouse recently assumed his new role as CEO of the 56-year-old Thibodaux, Louisiana-based company. Before […]
Stater Bros.’ Jack H. Brown Passes Away
Stater Bros. Markets’ longtime leader—Mr. Jack H. Brown—has died, the company announced today. He passed away at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, surrounded by his family. He was 78. A native of San Bernardino, California, Mr. Brown began his supermarket career as a box boy at Berk’s Market Spot in San Bernardino at the age […]
Chex Finer Foods’ Founder David Isenberg Dies At 73
Mr. David Isenberg, owner and co-founder of specialty food distributor Chex Finer Foods, Mansfield, Massachusetts, died Nov. 12. He was 73. In 1965, Mr. Isenberg and his father Jay started Chex Finer Foods out of a small garage in Sharon, Massachusetts. Mr. Isenberg worked in all aspects of the business, serving as president for 25 years. He […]
Albertsons Cos. Supports, Celebrates Veterans
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Albertsons Cos. announced that it is paying tribute to veterans with a host of community-based events, financial support to veterans organizations and additional outreach to honor and show appreciation for America’s veterans. The company and its 19 store banners, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, has dedicated a week of […]
UNFI CEO Spinner Will Chair Company’s Board
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) President and CEO Steven Spinner has been appointed chairman of the company’s board of directors. Spinner succeeds Michael S. Funk, the co-founder, former CEO and current UNFI chairman. Funk will remain a director. “After 40 years of being involved with UNFI, I am as excited as ever about our future,” said Funk. […]
Gordy’s Market Appoints New CEO And COO, Makes Other Leadership Changes
Gordy and Donna Schafer today announced the retirement of their sons Jeff Schafer, president of Gordy’s Market, and Rick Schafer, VP of facilities. Jeff and Rick have worked for the Wisconsin-based, family-owned and -operated business for more than 80 years combined. Gordy’s Market CFO David Schafer, son of Gordy and Donna, will assume the role […]
Washington Food Industry Association Names New Board Leaders
The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) has named two longtime leaders in the state’s grocery industry to lead the organization’s board of directors in 2017. Mike Erickson, chairman of Harbor Wholesale Foods in Lacey, will serve as the WFIA’s board chairman, succeeding Mike Trask of Stanlar Foods Inc. The association’s new first vice chair, Metropolitan […]
‘King’ Of The Supermarket Industry Dies
Mr. Byron Allumbaugh, who spent 39 years with Ralphs Grocery Co., including nearly 20 years as chairman and CEO before his retirement, died over the weekend from a massive heart attack. He was 84. He was “a great leader and mentor to many in our industry,” said Carole Christianson, COO of the Western Association of Food […]
KeHe SVP Named To NGA Board Of Directors, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… The National Grocers Association has named David Ochs, KeHE’s SVP of sales, as one of three new board of director members. Ochs is a key member of KeHe’s East leadership team and is responsible for developing and implementing sales strategy. He has more than 20 years of experience in operations, […]
California Grocery Veteran Bob Wilson Passes Away
Mr. Bob Wilson, who spent 30 years with Nestlé/Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream in Northern California before he retired in 2015, has died. An obituary was unavailable at the time of this report. Mr. Wilson was inducted into The Food Industry Hall of Fame last year. In a special edition recognizing him, The Shelby Report noted […]
AWG’s Pickerill Retiring, Gates To Manage Kansas City Division
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) says that Division Manager Bob Pickerill is retiring from the Kansas City division at the end of the year. Pickerill joined AWG in 1997 at the Springfield, Missouri, division. Over the course of his career, he has served in a variety of progressive positions. In 2015, he returned to Kansas City as […]
NGA Makes Three Appointments To Board Of Directors
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has appointed David Ochs, SVP of sales, East, KeHE Distributors, and Jeff Strack, president and CEO of Strack & Van Til, to fill recent vacancies on its board of directors. Additionally, the organization has named Mike Stigers, EVP and president, wholesale and supply chain services, Supervalu, to serve on the board’s […]
Talking Rain Names New Chief Marketing Officer, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Talking Rain Beverage Co., maker of Sparkling Ice, has appointed Brian Kuz as its chief marketing officer. Kuz joins Talking Rain with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, including time with Red Bull, The Scotts Co., The Coca-Cola Co., Danone Waters of North America, Information Resources Inc. […]
CFA To Honor FMI’s Sarasin As 2016 Person Of The Year
The Connecticut Food Association (CFA) will honor Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), with its Outstanding Industry Leader Award during the group’s 2016 Person of the Year Banquet on Oct. 20 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. “Leslie is a tireless champion for the nation’s food retailers and wholesalers, and we’re […]
Weis Appoints Zeh Chief Information Officer, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… Weis Markets has named R. Gregory Zeh Jr. VP and chief information officer. He will oversee the company’s day-to-day information technology functions, working in support of marketing and merchandising, supply chain and in-store management retail applications. During his 25-year career, Zeh has worked in senior information technology and finance positions in […]
NatureSweet Tomatoes Taps Former Walmart, Costco Exec For Leadership Team
NatureSweet Tomatoes has named Manolo Reyes VP of business development. In his new position, Reyes is responsible for expanding the NatureSweet brand along with identifying and pursuing long-term growth opportunities to deliver sustainable profits for the company. He will report directly to CEO and President Bryant Ambelang. “I am thrilled to be joining NatureSweet, a […]
New IDDBA Officers And Board Of Directors Elected
The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) in Madison, Wisconsin, elected its 2016-17 officers and board of directors at its annual business meeting recently held in Chicago. Jewel Hunt, group VP-bakery for Albertsons Cos., was elected chair. Hunt has served on the board of directors since 2010 and has been involved in many committees. John Cheesman, VP […]
Former Delhaize Leader Named Center Store, Merchandising VP At Tops
Tops Friendly Markets, Williamsville, New York, has appointed grocery veteran Kristen Hanson VP of center store sales and merchandising. Hanson will lead all functions of sales and merchandising in edible and non-food grocery, dairy-frozen, general merchandising, health and beauty care, pharmacy, Tops’ fuel business and merchandising supply chain. Hanson served as VP at Delhaize America […]
Whole Foods Market Promotes Lorenzen To Pacific Northwest Regional President
Whole Foods Market has appointed Angela Lorenzen regional president of the company’s Pacific Northwest region. She will oversee 22 stores in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, including a store that opened this week in Eugene, Oregon, and a store in Victoria, B.C., opening in November. Lorenzen previously served Whole Foods Market’s Northern California region in various leadership roles, including […]
