Ahold taps Wilkinson to lead Fresh Formats

Stop & Shop said that it has appointed Dean Wilkinson to lead Fresh Formats LLC, operator of bfresh stores, effective Wednesday.

Scott Miller, interim SVP of operations at Fresh Formats, has decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities, the company said. 

As previously reported, parent company Ahold Delhaize is folding Fresh Formats into its Stop & Shop operating division as part of a restructuring to support local brands.

Wilkinson has a retail career that spans more than two decades, first working at Stop & Shop as a customer service director and eventually being promoted to district manager before taking a regional VP position at Giant Landover. At Giant Landover, Wilkinson was also the director nonfood and divisional VP sales, merchandising and marketing. In 2015, Wilkinson joined the Ahold USA organization as SVP, store strategy and execution. 

“Dean brings years of retail operational experience, and he will be a valuable resource as we develop new and innovative format opportunities,” Mark McGowan, president, Stop & Shop, said in a statement. “We are proud of the excellent work of the Fresh Formats team as they just brought the third bfresh store to life in Somerville, Mass.”

Glenn Hogan, currently VP of regional operations for Stop & Shop New England, will leave that role to join Ahold USA and replace Wilkinson in the store strategy and execution role on an interim basis.