Sponsored By

SpartanNash hires Greg Crane as food distribution finance VP

Seasoned financial executive to help sharpen operational efficiency

Russell Redman

June 6, 2022

2 Min Read
SpartanNash_truck_trailer-closeup_1_0_1.jpg
SpartanNash's food distribution business accounted for slightly less than half of the company's total fiscal 2021 net sales of about $8.93 billion.SpartanNash

Greg Crane has joined grocery wholesaler/retailer SpartanNash as vice president of finance for food distribution, the company’s largest business unit.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash said Crane starts at the company effective June 6. In the role, he will serve as finance business partner to Bennett Morgan, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer and support the food distribution leadership team. For the 2021 fiscal year ended Jan. 1, 2022, the food distribution segment totaled net sales of about $4.46 billion, just under half of SpartanNash's overall net sales of more than $8.93 billion.

Greg Crane-SpartanNash.jpgCrane (pictured left) comes to SpartanNash after over three-and-a-half years as chief financial officer of GHSP Inc., a global supplier of mechanical and electromechanical systems to the automotive, transportation and appliance industries. Prior to that, he spent five-and-a-half years at footwear maker and market Wolverine Worldwide, most recently as vice president of finance for e-commerce, and served as vice president of investment banking at Deutsche Bank and held associate roles at Huron Consulting Group and KPMG.

SpartanNash noted that Crane brings more than 15 years of financial and operational experience, with skills in financial management, strategic and financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and performance optimization. In his new position, he will oversee budgeting, forecasting, monthly results analysis and risk, and opportunity assessment activities for the food distribution business. The grocery wholesaler added that he also will provide thought leadership and financial guidance on strategic initiatives and day-to-day opportunities to improve efficiency and rein in company operating expenses.

Related:SpartanNash tallies across-the-board sales gains in Q1

“Our finance department is critical to the success of the company’s mission to deliver the ingredients for a better life,” Jason Monaco, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in a statement. “We’re excited to welcome Greg to our team. His experience leading high-performing teams and developing strategies to improve financial performance and growth will help us achieve our earnings targets and contribute to SpartanNash’s operational excellence.”

SpartanNash’s core food distribution segment distributes to all 50 states, supplying its 145 corporate-run supermarkets in nine Midwestern states and over 2,100 independent grocers nationwide. The company also distributes to 160 military commissaries and over 400 exchanges in United States and internationally. Its network of owned-and-operated supermarkets includes the banners D&W Fresh Market, Dan’s Supermarket, Family Fare, Family Fresh Market, Forest Hills Foods, Martin’s Super Markets, No Frills Supermarkets, SunMart, Supermercado Nuestra Familia and VG’s Grocery in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Related:SpartanNash taps DoorDash for on-demand grocery delivery

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like