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Sue Klug tapped for Gelson’s board

Longtime grocery executive brings deep operations, marketing experience to SoCal chain

Russell Redman

July 15, 2019

2 Min Read
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Photos: Gelson's Markets

Supermarket industry veteran Sue Klug has joined the board of directors at Gelson’s Markets.

Gelson’s said Klug brings extensive operations and marketing experience to the Southern California grocery chain, including more than 30 years in leadership posts at some of the nation’s largest supermarket retail and distribution companies.

She currently serves as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Republic Services, a $10 billion, Phoenix-based recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal firm.

Sue_Klug_Gelsons_board.pngBefore joining Republic, Klug (left) was executive vice president and chief marketing officer from 2012 to 2016 at distributor Unified Grocers Inc. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade at Albertsons, including five years as president of Albertsons’ Southern California division, where she was responsible for the operations and financial performance of the retailer’s 248 stores in California and Nevada.

Earlier in her career, Klug was a senior vice president of sales and marketing for Safeway Inc.’s Vons Grocery Co. unit, overseeing sales and marketing for 330 Vons and Pavilions stores in Southern California and southern Nevada. She also has 10 years of experience at Catalina Marketing, most recently as chief development officer.

Related:Mariano joins Gelson’s board

Gelson’s noted that Klug, a Southern California native, also brings a deep understanding of the competitive California grocery market. In addition, she is widely recognized as one of the grocery industry’s top women executives. Her previous industry board experience includes the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) in Chicago and the Western Association of Food Chains in L.A. County, where she served as its first female president and chairwoman.

"We are thrilled to have Sue Klug join our board of directors," Gelson’s CEO Rob McDougall said in a statement. "Her savvy marketing and operations experience in wholesale grocery, supermarket retailing and waste/recycling services will bring valuable insight to Gelson's, and we are grateful to have her onboard."

Encino, Calif.-based Gelson’s operates 27 full-service specialty supermarkets in Southern California, primarily in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

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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