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Sprouts Farmers Market names Petco’s Nicholas Konat president, COO

Veteran merchant also brings food, grocery and private-label expertise from Target

Russell Redman

February 25, 2022

2 Min Read
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Nicholas Konat, previously chief merchandising officer at Petco, is slated to take the president and COO reins at Sprouts Farmers Market on March 21.Sprouts Farmers Market

Petco executive Nicholas Konat is joining Sprouts Farmers Market as president and chief operating officer.

Plans call for Konat, previously chief merchandising officer at pet care retailer Petco, to take the president and COO reins at Sprouts on March 21, the Phoenix-based specialty grocer said yesterday after the market close.

In his new role, Konat will oversee Sprouts’ operations, marketing, merchandising and innovation functions. He will report directly to CEO Jack Sinclair.

“I am honored to join Sprouts and look forward to working with the team as we continue to profitably grow by fulfilling our mission of providing healthy living options for less to more people,” Konat said in a statement. “Sprouts pioneered making healthy food affordable 20 years ago, and I hope to build on this foundation by serving our customers, making lasting positive changes to the company and improving access to fresh, natural and organic foods as we expand across the country.”

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Konat (left) served as executive vice president and chief merchant at San Diego-based Petco from October 2018 to February 2022. He joined the retailer in September 2015 as vice president of brand, product innovation and design and then became vice president of private brands and merchandising in June 2017. Konat was elevated to senior vice president and general manager in January 2018 before being promoted again to executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.

Related:Sprouts goes cage-free or better with all eggs

Prior to Petco, Konat spent nearly seven years at Target Corp., most recently as director of food merchandise planning and director of food operations. He also served as senior buyer for kids apparel and accessories, brand manager/senior buyer for private-label food and candy buyer. In an earlier, year-and-a-half stint at Target, Konat was retail negotiations and partnerships leader for grocery. He first came to Target in August 2006 from Accenture, where he most recently served as manager of finance and performance strategy in over six years at the consulting firm.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Nick to the Sprouts executive leadership team,” Sinclair stated. “Nick’s deep-rooted merchandising and product innovation experience with preeminent retail brands will help to propel our company forward as we continue to execute on our strategic plan.”

Overall, Sprouts operates more than 370 stores in 23 states across the country.

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

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