The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has appointed Alice Chen, CEO of 99 Ranch Market, and Mike Molinar, president and CEO of PAQ Inc., to its board of directors. Chen has led Asian grocery chain 99 Ranch Market since 2018, following a decade as its CFO. Under her leadership, the company has evolved into a […]
Tag: WAFC
Posted inExecutive News, News, West
USC Marshall School Of Business Appoints Dimond As Executive Director
The University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Executive Education has named Andrea Dimond, senior director of strategy and development at the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), as its next executive director of food industry programs. Dimond succeeds Cynthia McCloud, who is retiring after 11 years in the position. USC Marshall credited McCloud’s […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, News, The Kroger Co., West
WAFC Adds King Soopers’ Albi To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) elected Chris Albi, president of King Soopers/City division of The Kroger Co., to its board of directors during an Aug. 1 meeting in Irvine, California. With more than 40 years of leadership experience in the grocery industry, Albi brings knowledge, strategic insight and commitment to serving the community. She […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, News, West
WAFC Mourns Death Of Former Longtime Leader
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has announced the death of former longtime COO Carole Christianson on Aug. 1 after a battle with leukemia. Christianson retired in 2022 following a 50-year career in the food and beverage industry and more than 15 years at the helm of the WAFC. During her time as COO, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, News, West
WAFC Elects 2025-26 Leadership, Adds To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) elected new leadership in May, as well as added new directors to its board. The 2025-26 WAFC officers are: President – Kevin Lovell, SVP of operations at Albertsons/Safeway NorCal; VP – Rebecca Calvin, SVP and CMO for Stater Bros. Markets; Treasurer – Wendy Coldesina, VP, general merchandise manager […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, West
WAFC Elects Four New Executives To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has added four industry executives to its board. “We are excited to welcome these four talented executives to the WAFC board of directors. We look forward to their contributions as we expand WAFC education initiatives for the benefit of our food industry associates,” said Sarah Wehling, WAFC president […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Slider, West
WAFC Elects Safeway, Food 4 Less Execs To Its Board
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has elected Kevin Lovell, SVP of operations for Safeway Northern California, and Mike Servold, VP of merchandising for Food 4 Less/Foods Co., to its board of directors during its annual January meeting in La Quinta, California. “We are so excited to welcome two of the most talented grocery […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, West
Saints Quarterback Drew Brees To Close 2019 WAFC Convention
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees will be the Tuesday morning keynote speaker at the 98th Annual “Advancing the Food Industry Through Education and Leadership” Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) Convention to be held May 4-8, 2019, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, California. Brees has had a banner year in […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, West
WAFC Elects C&S Wholesale’s Winn To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) elected Eric Winn, SVP and GM, West Coast and Hawaii, of C&S Wholesale Grocers to its board of directors during its annual meeting in November in San Francisco, California. “I am so excited and pleased to welcome Eric to the board. He brings a lot of passion and […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southwest, Sustainability News
FIM Program Teams Present Capstones At WAFC; First Up, Team ‘Waste To Wealth’
On Jan. 8 of this year, 32 people embarked on the 16-week Food Industry Management (FIM) Program at USC’s Marshall School of Business. The students were divided into six teams to work on capstone projects, each team tackling an industry issue or opportunity that will be important in the next five to 10 years. The […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, West
FIM Program Celebrates 60th Class At USC Marshall School Of Business
“We are delighted to welcome the 60th class of food industry executives to USC Marshall,” said Food Industry Management (FIM) Director Cynthia McCloud. “Each year companies choose their best emerging leaders to spend four months immersed in Marshall’s top ranked business education. It’s an investment of time that pays off greatly for them in the […]