The flurry of supermarket company acquisitions -- and some retirements by longtime food industry leaders -- made 1997 a busy one in terms of high-level executive moves. Here are a few of the changes that made headlines in SN this year:
l, Pompano Beach, Fla., where he was executive vice president and chief financial officer.
The chain's president and chief executive officer, Joseph J. McCaig, resigned. Chairman Roger Stangeland became interim CEO until the company named J. Wayne Harris chairman and CEO. Harris was chairman and CEO of A&P Canada. Stangland became chairman emeritus and remains a director. In October, Gary Philbin became president and chief merchandising officer. Also in the year, Darrell W. Stine retired as executive vice president of operations, following a 44-year career with the company. William C. Louttit resigned as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
At Minneapolis-based Supervalu, executive vice president Larry Anderson retired after 22 years with the wholesaler. He later joined Kmart, Troy, Mich., as president of the Super Kmart division and a corporate executive vice president. Late in the year, Supervalu named William J. Bolton to the position of corporate executive vice president and president and chief operating officer for retail food companies, succeeding Anderson. The Kmart vacancy was created when Ronald J. Floto resigned as executive vice president of Kmart and president of Super Kmart Centers to accept a position with a U.K.-based division of Dairy Farm International, Hong Kong.
A&P, Montvale, N.J., elected Christian Haub, president and chief operating officer, to the additional post of co-CEO, to serve jointly with James Wood, chairman and CEO. In addition, William Louttit, the former Grand Union executive, was named president and CEO of Metro New York operations; and Craig Sturkin, president of A&P's Farmer Jack chain, was named chairman and CEO of Midwest operations. This summer, a former A&P executive, Michael J. Larkin, rejoined the company as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, allowing Haub to relinquish those duties.
Lawrence Del Santo retired as chairman and CEO of Vons Cos., Arcadia, Calif., ending a 40-year career in the industry. Del Santo's retirement coincided with the acquisition of Vons by Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif. He was succeeded by Richard Goodspeed, Vons' president and chief operating officer. Goodspeed said he would retire in April 1998.
At Fred Meyer Inc., Curt Lerew 3rd resigned as president and chief operating officer. His responsibilities were assumed by Robert G. Miller, chairman and CEO. Southwest Supermarkets' Jim Pack relinquished his duties as chairman of the board of the Phoenix-based chain to concentrate on on acquisitions with Kohlberg & Co., the owner of Southwest. David Green, formerly president and CEO of Smitty's Super Valu, became Southwest president and CEO after a brief period with Ralph's Grocery Co., Compton, Calif. Pack was named president of Schwegmann Giant Super Markets, the New Orleans-based chain also owned by Kohlberg. Mark S. Sellers, CEO of Schwegmann, became chairman of the chain when John F. Schwegmann, CEO, retired, ending 128 years of family management.
Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Jackson, Miss., appointed Michael E. Julian CEO, and he picked up the president title when Roger P. Friou retired. Julian was president of Farm Fresh, Norfolk, Va. Later in the year, Julian hired Ron Johnson, Farm Fresh's chairman, president and CEO, to become president and chief operating officer at Jitney-Jungle.
Penn Traffic Co., Syracuse, N.Y., hired Vons executive Phillip E. Hawkins as president and CEO, succeeding John T. Dixon, who resigned in September 1996 for personal reasons.
Nash Finch Co. acquired Super Food Services, Dayton, Ohio, and named James K. Buchanan president of that division. Vaughn C. "Vic" Fisher, vice president of sales, became president and chief operating officer of Ingles Markets, Black Mountain, S.C. E. John Burgon, vice president of supermarkets at Dillon Cos., became president of its Denver-based King Soopers division. James L. Moody Jr. retired as Hannaford chairman, ending a 38-year career with the company. He was succeeded as chairman by Walter J. Salmon, a longtime board member.
Pat Quinn retired from Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich., after 12 years as CEO. James Meyer, president and chief operating officer, added the CEO title.
Shoppers Food Warehouse, Lanham, Md., named veteran food retail executive William J. White president after the chain bought out the Haft family's 50% stake for $210 million.
Dale Henley, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Haggen, Bellingham, Wash., was named president and CEO after Don Haggen, chairman and CEO, and Rick Haggen, president, became co-chairmen of the company.
Tampa, Fla.-based Kash n' Karry Food Stores named Mike Byars chief operating officer. He succeeded Ronald E. Dennis, who was president for an eight-month period. Dennis later joined Farm Fresh as president.
Homeland Stores, Oklahoma City, named John A. Shields acting chairman and Larry W. Kordisch acting CEO in the wake of the resignation of James A. Demme, who was chairman, president and CEO. Demme left the company to join Bruno's, Birmingham, Ala., as chairman and CEO, after William J. Bolton left Bruno's.
Larry Castellani retired as president and CEO of Tops Friendly Markets, Buffalo, N.Y., to accept a corporate post with Ahold in international and U.S. development. Bob Tobin, chairman and CEO of Stop & Shop Cos., Quincy, Mass., took over the helm at Tops on an interim basis. Stop & Shop President William J. Grize added the title of CEO late in the year, succeeding Tobin in that post. Stop & Shop's senior vice president and chief financial officer, Joseph D. McGlinchey, retired after 35 years with the company. Brian Hotarek, senior vice president of real estate and development, added chief financial officer duties and succeeded McGlinchey.
Twin County Grocers, Edison, N.J., named longtime executive James F. McGuire as CEO. McGuire succeeded John D'Ambrosio, who resigned abruptly for personal reasons.
Richfood Holdings, Richmond, Va., named Alec C. Covington president of wholesale operations. He was corporate executive vice president and chief operating officer of wholesale operations.
Independent Grocers Alliance, Chicago, named Mike Abney to the position of president and managing director of IGA Pacific, Sydney, Australia.
Fred J. Morganthall 2nd was named president of Harris Teeter, Charlotte, N.C., succeeding Edward S. Dunn Jr., who had been president since 1989.
Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., named Mark Hansen president and CEO of its Sam's Club division. He was president and CEO of PetsMart, Phoenix.
Acme Markets of Virginia, North Tazewell, Va., named Michael Heintzmann president of the 13-store operation, succeeding J. William Crowe, president and CEO, who resumed his duties as vice chairman.
At Boulder, Colo.-based Wild Oats Markets, S.M. "Hass" Hassan, president, resigned from the company early this year and was replaced by Jim Lee, chief operating officer. Hassan founded the 11-store Alfalfa's chain, which was acquired by Wild Oats in 1996.
Robert D. Bolinder retired from Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Salt Lake City, as executive vice president of corporate planning and development following a 32-year career in the food industry. Later, Al Rowland resigned as president and chief operating officer, as the company was being acquired by Fred Meyer Inc., Portland, Ore.
Byron Allumbaugh ended a 38-year career with Ralphs Grocery Co., Compton, Calif., when he retired this year as chairman and CEO. Ron Burkle, managing partner of Ralphs' parent company, Yucaipa Cos., Los Angeles, resumed the title of chairman of Ralphs.
At Hughes Family Markets, Irwindale, Calif., President Fred B. McLaren retired while that chain was being acquired by Quality Food Centers, Bellevue, Wash.
Charles H. Losey retired as president of United Wholesale Grocers, capping 40 years with the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based wholesaler.
United Grocers, Portland, Ore., named Charles E. Carlbom as acting president and CEO while the company conducted merger talks with Associated Grocers, Seattle. Carlbom succeeded Alan C. Jones, who took early retirement.
Robert P. Hermanns left his position as chief operating officer for procurement and logistics at American Stores Co., Salt Lake City, after 33 years with the company.
Darryl Wikoff resigned as president of Dierbergs Markets, Chesterfield, Mo. Chairman Bob Dierberg re-assumed the role of president, and Roger Dierberg continued as vice chairman.
Alfred A. Marasca, president and chief operating officer of Ralphs Grocery Co., Compton., Calif., said he will retire Dec. 31, after 40 years with the company, but plans stay active in the food industry.
T.E. "Tommy" McDonald, senior vice president at Winn-Dixie Stores, Jacksonville, Fla., will retire at the end of the month, after 43 years with the company.
