FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- Webvan here said last week it has begun servicing customers in the Chicago area from a 370,000-square-foot distribution center in Carol Stream, Ill.
to Webvan employees, George Shaheen, Webvan's chief executive officer, said the decision to delay opening the Kent, Wash., center would allow for a smoother transition of its planned merger with HomeGrocer.com, Kirkland, Wash.
In a related move, Webvan said Mary Alice Taylor would join its board of directors, pending shareholder and federal approval of Webvan's merger with HomeGrocer.com. Taylor, currently the HomeGrocer CEO, formerly served as an executive for Citigroup and Federal Express.
In addition, Jim Barksdale, partner of The Barksdale Group and a major investor of HomeGrocer, will also join Webvan's board, the company said.
