There's one thing for certain about this year's SN Power 50 list: It's quite different than the 2003 version, which was the inaugural ranking.
e seen on the table below. SN received an overwhelming response to its call for this year's Power 50 nominations. Editors made the final choices based on industry input. The tables on the facing page show all of the key year-to-year changes in executives' rankings within their categories, including conventional supermarkets, food wholesalers and manufacturers. It's no coincidence, for example, that Safeway's Steve Burd rose to the top of the conventional supermarket category from third place last year. You can find out why in the profile of Burd on Page 26.
The heart of this week's presentation are the profiles of the 50 power players that fill the majority of the publication. Taken together, the tables and profiles spotlight how rapid industry change alters the standing of leaders. The Power 50 is all about the impact of labor battles, merchandising shifts, new competition, technology solutions, political wrangling and other major developments defining today's food retailing business and the people who run it.
New players in SN's Power 50
4. The late Dr. Robert Atkins
17. Ron Pearson, chairman, Hy-Vee
18. Eileen Scott, CEO, Pathmark Stores
20. Thomas Infusino, chairman and CEO, Wakefern
21. Robert A. Mariano, president and CEO, Roundy's
22. Gary Phillips, president and CEO, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City
24. Theo Albrecht Jr., CEO, Aldi (also Trader Joe's ownership)
26. David A. Perdue, chairman and CEO, Dollar General
27. John Rice, president and CEO, Unilever United States and N.A.
28. Roger Deromedi, CEO, Kraft Foods
31. E. Neville Isdell, chairman and CEO, Coca-Cola
32. August A. Busch 4th, president, Anheuser-Busch
34. James Kilts, president and CEO Gillette
37. The Shareholder: corporate governance
39. Miguel-Angel Lopera, CEO, Uniform Code Council and EAN International
48. Joe Hansen, president, United Food and Commercial Workers
50. Alan Greenspan, chairman, Federal Reserve
RANKINGS BY CATEGORY
Conventional Supermarkets
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. Steve Burd, chairman and CEO, Safeway: 3; 3
2. David Dillon, CEO, Kroger: 1; 5
3. Larry Johnston, chairman and CEO, Albertsons: 2; 6
4. Charles Jenkins Jr., CEO, Publix Super Markets: 5; 11
5. Pierre-Olivier Beckers, chairman, Delhaize: 6; 12
6. Bill Grize, president and CEO, Ahold USA: 4; 13
7. Danny Wegman, president, Wegmans Food Markets: 7; 14
8. Charles C. Butt, chairman and CEO, H.E. Butt Grocery: 8; 15
9. David Shapira, chairman and CEO, Giant Eagle: 9; 16
10. Ron Pearson, chairman, Hy-Vee: N; 17
11. Eileen Scott, CEO, Pathmark Stores: N; 18
N -- New to Power 50 in 2004.
Food Wholesalers
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. Jeff Noddle, president and CEO, Supervalu: 1; 8
2. Rick Cohen, CEO, C&S Wholesale Grocers: 2; 19
3. Thomas Infusino, chairman and CEO, Wakefern: N; 20
4. Robert Mariano, chairman and CEO, Roundy's: N; 21
5. Gary Phillips, president and CEO, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City: N; 22
N -- New to Power 50 in 2004.
Other Retailers Selling Food
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. H. Lee Scott, president and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores: *; 2
2. John Mackey, chairman, president and CEO, Whole Foods Market: 1; 7
3. Jim Sinegal, president and CEO, Costco Wholesale: 2; 10
4. Jim Keyes, president and CEO, 7-Eleven: 3; 23
5. Theo Albrecht Jr., CEO, Aldi (also Trader Joe's ownership): 4; 24
6. David W. Bernauer, chairman and CEO, Walgreens: 6; 25
7. David A. Perdue, chairman and CEO, Dollar General: N; 26
*H. Lee Scott was ranked in a separate Wal-Mart category in 2003.
N -- New to Power 50 in 2004.
Technology's Impact
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. Linda Dillman, CIO, Wal-Mart: *; 38
2. Miguel Lopera, CEO, Uniform Code Council and EAN International: *; 39
*Technology's Impact is a new category this year.
Manufacturers
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. A.G. Lafley, chairman and CEO, Procter & Gamble: 2; 9
2. John Rice, president and CEO, Unilever United States and N.A.: *; 27
3. Roger Deromedi, CEO, Kraft Foods: **; 28
4. Steve S. Reinemund, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo: 4; 29
5. John Tyson, chairman and CEO, Tyson Foods: 5; 30
6. E. Neville Isdell, chairman and CEO, Coca-Cola: ***; 31
7. August A. Busch 4th, president, Anheuser-Busch: N; 32
8. Steve Sanger, chairman and CEO, General Mills: 8; 33
9. James Kilts, president and CEO, Gillette: N; 34
10. Carlos Guitierrez, CEO, Kellogg: 7; 35
11. William Wrigley Jr., president and CEO, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.: 11; 36
*Rice's predecessor, Charles B. Strauss, was ranked first in the category and 25th overall in 2003.
** Betsy D. Holden was ranked third in the category and 27th overall last year as president and CEO of Kraft Foods North America.
***Isdell's predecessor, Douglas N. Daft, was ranked sixth in the category and 30th overall last year.
N -- New to Power 50 in 2004.
Supporting Roles
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. Gary Chartrand, chairman and CEO, Acosta Sales and Marketing: *; 40
2. Milton Sender, chairman, Daymon Associates: *; 41
*Chartrand and Sender were listed in separate categories last year, Sales Agencies and Private-Label Procurement, respectively.
Associations/Councils
Category Ranking: Power Player: Category Rank: 2003; Power 50 Rank: 2004
1. Tim Hammonds, president and CEO, Food Marketing Institute: 2; 42
2. C. Manly Molpus, president and CEO, Grocery Manufacturers of America: 3; 43
3. Thomas Zaucha, president and CEO, National Grocers Association: 4; 44
4. Brian Sharoff, president, Private Label Manufacturers Association: 5; 45
5. Bryan Silbermann, president, Produce Marketing Association: 6; 46
6. David T. McConnell Jr., president and CEO, General Merchandise Distributors Council: 7; 47
Note: Tom Rittenhouse, former CEO, Uniform Code Council, was ranked first in this category last year. The Uniform Code Council is represented this year in a separate Technology's Impact category.
