MINNEAPOLIS — Steve Michaelson has joined Supervalu as its chief marketing officer, replacing Susan Parker, who joined the company in that role last year. Parker, the Southwest Airlines executive who last February was named as Supervalu's first chief marketing officer and executive vice president, has left the company, a Supervalu spokeswoman told SN. Michaelson, who most recently was chief executive officer of New York-based Internet grocer FreshDirect, has also served as an executive for Weis Markets and for Wegmans. At FreshDirect, Richard Braddock, chairman, will serve as CEO, reports said.
WILD LEAVES WAL-MART FOR HALFORDS
LONDON — David Wild, who was said to be heading up the development of Wal-Mart's small-format Marketside concept, is leaving to join British retailer Halfords Group as chief executive officer, Halfords reported. Wild is currently senior vice president for new business development at Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores, a position he has held since January 2007. Before that he was president and managing director of Wal-Mart Germany, a position he took after 18 years with British supermarket giant Tesco. He is scheduled to join Halfords, an auto and leisure products retailer, effective Aug. 4. Wal-Mart reportedly plans to begin opening its 15,000-square-foot Marketside stores in the Phoenix area later this year.
GRISTEDES HIRES SCION OF RIVAL
NEW YORK — Gristedes here has hired Walter D'Agostino, a former executive at one of its biggest rivals, John Catsimatidis, chairman of the company that owns Gristedes, told SN last week. Catsimatidis said D'Agostino, whose family owns D'Agostino Supermarkets, Larchmont, N.Y., will be “part of the senior management team” at Gristedes that will help run the New York City supermarket chain while Catsimatidis focuses on other activities at his Red Apple Group. His title has not been decided, Catsimatidis said. Walter D'Agostino resigned as vice president, merchandising, at the D'Agostino's chain in 2002 after what both parties described as differences in management philosophy. He is the grandson of Nicholas D'Agostino Sr., the chain's late founder, and the brother of the current president, Nicholas D'Agostino 3rd.
