2011 Power 50

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 1 Title: CEO Company: Wal-Mart Stores New Development: Led return to EDLP, product selection. What's Next: Growth including small stores in big cities....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 2 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: Kroger Co. Key Development: Drove 30th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth. What's Next: Balancing inflation and rough economy....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 3 Title: Chairman, president and CEO Company: Safeway Key Development: Testing a personalized shopping program called Just for U; introducing new private-label lines. What's Next: Focusing on expanding loyalty among best shoppers....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 4 Title: President and CEO Company: Supervalu Key Development: Outlining “8 Plays to Win,” a series of initiatives designed to reverse nearly three years of sales declines. What's Next: Implementing the initiatives across its diverse portfolio of businesses....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 5 Title: Co-CEO Company: Whole Foods Market Key Development: A swift, post-recession rebound positioned the chain for a year of growth. What's Next: Deepen the value image to fend off regional competition....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 6 Title: CEO Company: Ahold Key Development: Took over the top spot at Ahold. What's Next: Growth by acquisition and innovation....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 7 Title: Co-President Company: Aldi U.S. Key Development: Averaging 80 new store openings each year. What's Next: Expansion in New York City area....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 8 Title: CEO Company: Delhaize America Key Development: Relaunched Food Lion in two markets. What's Next: Complete acquisition and integration of Delta Maxi....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 9 Title: CEO Company: Wegmans Food Markets Key Development: Leadership of Food Safety Task Force; year-long price freeze. What's Next: Focus on produce safety; measurement of carbon footprint....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 10 Title: CEO Company: Costco Wholesale Corp. Key Development: Generated turnaround, with same-store sales up 7% from previous year. What's Next: Ramping up new store openings....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 11 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: H.E. Butt Grocery Co. Key Development: Opened Central Texas warehouse; supported several health and wellness initiatives. What's Next: Expand discount banner Joe V's Smart Shop....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 12 Title: CEO Company: Publix Super Markets Key Development: Closed 40 Little Clinics and sold its Crispers restaurant chain. What's Next: Reinvestment in current locations and technology....More

>Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 13 Title: Chairman, president and CEO Company: Giant Eagle Key Development: Launched new “Advantage” advertising campaign; expanded loyalty programs and sustainable store technology. What's Next: Continue to evolve loyalty-card programs and eco-friendly initiatives....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 14 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: Hy-Vee Key Development: Helped institute Nutrition Keys, a voluntary labeling system. What's Next: Make a difference nationally with health and wellness....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 15 Title: President/Harris Teeter Chairman/FMI Company: Hy-Vee Key Development: Became chairman of Food Marketing Institute. What's Next: Sustaining Harris Teeter's growth and performance in a difficult environment....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 16 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: Wakefern Food Corp. Key Development: Strengthened hold on N.Y.-N.J. markets; expanded perishables warehouse. What's Next: Opening stores in Md. and N.Y.; building new grocery warehouse....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 17 Title: CEO Company: C&S Wholesale Grocers Key Development: New deals with labor, retailers. What's Next: Further consolidating network and improving efficiency....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 18 Title: President and CEO Company: Associated Wholesale Grocers Key Development: Private-label sales exceed $1 billion for the first time. What's Next: New distribution center under construction....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 19 Title: CEO Company: Unified Grocers Key Development: Helped member companies focus on competitive pricing and cost controls during an uneven economic recovery. What's Next: Focus on strategic goals of Unified after splitting president/CEO role....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 20 Title: President and CEO Company: United Natural Foods Inc. Key Development: Successfully introduced the company to the conventional channel. What's Next: Maintaining margins as it takes on larger accounts....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 21 Title: Chairman, president and CEO Company: Target Corp. Key Development: Expanded PFresh remodeling program; improved loyalty by offering 5% discount to Target credit and debit cardholders. What's Next: Prepare for expansion into Canada....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 22 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: Dollar General Corp. Key Development: 625 new stores in 2011; store upgrades. What's Next: Thousands of potential new locations; beer and wine rollout....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 23 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: Trader Joe's Key Development: Continuing to expand its successful, small-format concept. What's Next: Expanding to two new states — Texas and Florida....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 24 Title: President and CEO Company: Walgreen Co. Key Development: Refused to renew Express Scripts contract under proposed terms. What's Next: Regain potential loss from Express Scripts business; optimize its acquisitions....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 25 Title: CEO Company: Meijer Inc. Key Development: Embracing technology that allows for digital couponing and online ordering. What's Next: Focusing on growth and development in core markets....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 26 Title: CEO Company: Nestlé S.A. Key Development: Investing in research and brands in spite of the recession. What's Next: Global opportunity in healthier foods....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 27 Title: Chairman, president and CEO Company: Procter & Gamble Co. Key Development: Filling pipeline with innovations; global expansion. What's Next: Managing unexpected global volatility; launch Tide Pods....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 28 Title: President, Personal Care Company: Unilever Key Development: Launched the Sustainable Living Plan that sets three goals to achieve by 2020. What's Next: Maintaining adequate margins amid rising commodity costs, food prices and competition....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 29 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: PepsiCo Key Development: Acquisition of Russia's largest food and beverage company. What's Next: Leverage scale in produce, whole grains and dairy to innovate in entirely new product categories....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 30 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: Kraft Foods Key Development: Integrated Cadbury into Kraft Foods; increased sales in developing markets. What's Next: Focus on building fast-growing categories, reducing costs through efficiencies to reinvest in company....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 31 Title: President Company: Anheuser-Busch Key Development: Acquisition of Goose Island Beer Co. What's Next: More high-end products....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 32 Title: President and CEO Company: The Coca-Cola Co. Key Development: More than 1 billion incremental cases of volume added. What's Next: Social and environmental projects managed under a new Office of Sustainability....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 33 Title: President and CEO Company: Tyson Foods Key Development: Produced record sales and earnings in fiscal 2010; reduced debt to lowest level in a decade. What's Next: Taking good care of existing customers, reinvestment and expansion....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 34 Title: Chairman and CEO Company: General Mills Key Development: Improved the company's wellness portfolio with the purchase of a 51% stake in Yoplait. What's Next: Drive 2012 growth with strong line-up of new products and marketing initiatives....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 35 Title: President and CEO Company: ConAgra Foods Key Development: Fought growing inflation costs for consumer foods. What's Next: Strengthen operations and accelerate growth in core business; grow international sales and private-label presence....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 36 Title: President and CEO Company: Kellogg Co. Key Development: Launched first gluten-free cereal; brought Crunchy Nut to U.S. What's Next: $800 million worth of new products in 2011....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 37 Title: Chairman, president and CEO Company: H.J. Heinz Co. Key Development: Moving ahead in a variety of emerging global markets. What's Next: Standardizing systems around the world; distribution hub in Europe....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 38 Title: CEO Company: Grupo Bimbo Key Development: Acquired Sara Lee's North American bakery business; began national rollout of Bimbo Bread brand in U.S. What's Next: Integrate the Sara Lee business with Bimbo Bakeries USA; continue expansion outside Mexico....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 39 Title: President and CEO Company: Campbell Soup Co. Key Development: Crafted a plan to save $70 million annually. What's Next: Campbell's Slow Kettle soups and other product innovations....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 40 Title: President and CEO Company: Dole Food Co. Key Development: Rolled out healthful products; continued nutrient research; refinanced debts, making room for future acquisitions. What's Next: Push products and expand presence in fast-growing Asian market....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 41 Title: President and CEO Company: The Hershey Co. Key Development: Took over as permanent president and CEO. What's Next: Facing changing consumer attitudes and consolidated competition....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 42 Title: President and CEO Company: Acosta Sales & Marketing Co. Key Development: Creating programs to help CPG companies counter the consumer shift to private label. What's Next: Continuing to grow through acquisitions....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 43 Title: President Organization: United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Key Development: Response to labor strife in states; unionization in East; negotiations in West. What's Next: Working with A&P; protecting pensions; immigration reform....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 44 Key Development: The evolution of personal communication with shoppers. What's Next: Retailers adapting their operating structures to accommodate this evolution....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 45 Title: First Lady United States of America Key Development: Working with Wal-Mart Stores to develop its landmark health and nutrition goals. What's Next: Continuing to expand her “Let's Move!” health and fitness program for kids....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 46 Title: President and CEO Association: Food Marketing Institute Key Development: Advocacy victory regarding interchange fees; successful FutureConnect event. What's Next: Keeping in closer contact with member companies; continued focus on health and wellness....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 47 Title: President and CEO Association: Grocery Manufacturers Association Key Development: Nutrition Keys labeling program; supported food safety and kids' health legislation. What's Next: Continued lobbying on legislation involving ethanol subsidies and advertising to children....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 48 Title: President and CEO Association: National Grocers Association Key Development: Framed new value-add initiatives for NGA membership. What's Next: Execute initiatives, provide strong advocacy and work collaboratively....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 49 Title: Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture Key Development: Introduced new MyPlate dietary icon; saved $356 million by improving program payment accuracy for the SNAP nutrition program. What's Next: Continue implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; rollout of nutritional labeling for meat and poultry....More

Power 50 Ranking, 2011: 50 Title: Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration Key Development: Gathered data related to Food Safety Modernization Act's implementation; outlined a global strategy for food quality and safety. What's Next: Continue work on implementation of FSMA; move forward on nutrition and menu labeling....More