D&W Appoints Fresh Foods VP
&W Food Centers here has promoted Mike Eardley to vice president of fresh foods, a newly created position.
Eardley joined D&W Food Centers in 1972 as a night stock clerk while attending college. Since then he has held various positions with the company, including director of deli and director of food service. Most recently, he was senior director of fresh foods.
A senior director of fresh foods will not be appointed, a spokesman for the 25-unit chain said.
In his new post, Eardley reports to Doug Blease, D&W executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Albrecht Adds Food-Service Slot
AKRON, Ohio -- The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co., owner and operator of 19 Acme and Acme SuperCenter stores, has named Geralyn Esselburn director of in-store food service, a new position.
Esselburn has been with the company for 20 years and was most recently director of deli and seafood operations.
Her former responsibilities in that position have been assumed by George Romig, who has been appointed director of meat, deli and seafood operations. Romig had been director of meat operations, a position he has held for three years.
Both Esselburn and Romig report to Timothy Horvath, vice president of store planning and development.
Specialty Names President
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Specialty Foods Corp. here has named Lawrence S. Benjamin president and chief executive officer.
Benjamin succeeds Paul J. Liska, who left to pursue other business interests, according to the company.
Since 1994, Benjamin has been president and chief executive officer of Stella Foods, Specialty's Italian cheese division.
Prior to joining Specialty, Benjamin had been president of Kraft's All American Gourmet Company, vice president of marketing and strategy for Kraft's Frozen Products Group, and vice president and general manager of Kraft Food Ingredients.
Benjamin is expected to be elected to Specialty's board of directors.
He also serves as president and chief executive officer of Specialty's parent company, Specialty Foods Acquisition Corp. Specialty Foods is a group of diversified food companies with interests in specialty cheese, wholesale baking, cookies and snacks, and prepared meats.
Marketing Concepts Taps VP
CROSS PLAINS, Wis. -- Marketing Concepts, a food sales, marketing and consulting firm here, has appointed Kevin O'Conner vice president.
O'Conner is responsible for developing and implementing retail and retail/deli marketing programs.
O'Conner most recently managed the deli meats category for Bil Mar Foods, a division of Chicago-based Sara Lee Corp. Prior to that, he was director of retail marketing at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
Marketing Concepts, assists food industry manufacturers, retailers, distributors and operators with sales, marketing, research and business planning.
