FOOD LION NAMES WATSON VP, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
ic Watson vice president, diversity and inclusion, succeeding Natalie Taylor, who recently left the position. Watson will continue Food Lion's business strategy in these areas. Most recently, he was executive director of diversity and workforce capability at the Williams Cos., Tulsa, Okla. For the 21 years prior to that, he was vice president of global diversity for St. Paul Cos., St. Paul, Minn. Food Lion, a division of Delhaize America, operates 1,200 stores in 11 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states.
WINN-DIXIE PROMOTES BARTON TO GROUP VP POST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores here has named Joel Barton group vice president, a new position. Barton will be responsible for overseeing the company's merchandising, category management and pricing. Previously, he was division manager, Winn-Dixie Charlotte. Before that, Barton was executive vice president, merchandising and marketing, and president of retail stores for Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich. He also formerly worked for Raley's, West Sacramento, Calif., for 27 years, leaving as senior vice president, supermarket division. Replacing Barton as division manager is Cheryl Forehand, a 31-year Winn-Dixie veteran who most recently was senior director of operations.
BI-LO/BRUNO'S NAMES ZITZKE VP, CONSTRUCTION
MAULDIN, S.C. -- BI-LO/Bruno's Supermarkets here has appointed Larry Zitzke vice president, construction and maintenance. He is responsible for store layout, construction, equipment procurement, maintenance and energy management. Zitzke served in the same position previously for BI-LO before the companies merged their management operations. Prior to spending 16 years with BI-LO, he worked for Smith's Food King, Salt Lake City, and Kroger, Columbus, Ohio. BI-LO/Bruno's, a division of Ahold USA, Chantilly, Va., operates 500 supermarkets in the Southeast.
NIEMANN NAMES COX VP; COOK TO HEAD MARKETING
QUINCY, Ill. -- Niemann Foods here has named Jim Cox vice president. He will continue to fulfill his previous responsibilities as the east district director of operations. He will also continue to serve on the NFI board of directors. Prior to these positions, Cox was store director at County Market, Champaign, Ill. Niemann Foods also named Ron Cook director of marketing. Cook is responsible for all marketing activities for the 51 retail stores owned and operated by Niemann Foods. Most recently, Cook was director of marketing at Nash Finch, Minneapolis, where he worked for the past 27 years.
FIA OF NEW YORK APPOINTS CULLEN CHAIRMAN
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Food Industry Alliance of New York State here has named Thomas Cullen chairman of the board. Cullen is currently vice president of government and industry relations, King Kullen Grocery, Bethpage, N.Y. Prior to his appointment, Cullen served as first vice chairman on the FIA board. He also serves as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Crown Advertising Agency, an affiliate company of King Kullen. The FIA is a trade association that represents all aspects of the grocery industry.
