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Wakefern creates chief customer officer, chief merchant roles

Steve Henig to lead customer efforts, Bryant Harris joins to lead merchandising

Russell Redman

March 19, 2020

2 Min Read
Wakefern headquarters.png
Wakefern has 51 independent grocery retail members who own and operate 354 supermarkets in the Northeast.Wakefern Food Corp.

Grocery retail cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. has promoted Steve Henig to chief customer officer and hired Save A Lot executive Bryant Harris as chief merchandising officer.

In announcing the appointments on Thursday, Wakefern said both are newly created positions. Members of the Keasbey, N.J.-based cooperative own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market and Gourmet Garage banners.

Steve Henig-Wakefern.png

Henig (left) previously served as vice president of digital commerce and analytics, directing e-commerce initiatives, app development and analytics needs. That included the launch of Wakefern’s first automated micro-fulfillment center and leading the ShopRite from Home online service, the company noted.

As chief customer officer, Henig will oversee the branding, e-commerce, marketing and advertising departments and work with members, leadership and associates to develop a “single, consistent brand voice” for customers, according to Wakefern. A key goal will be providing a “deep understanding of the market, customers and competitors,” the company said.

Henig has spent more than 25 years at Wakefern, starting at the company in 1992 as a category manager and then advancing through various procurement roles and leadership posts in corporate merchandising and marketing.

Related:Wakefern’s The Fresh Grocer expands footprint

Meanwhile, Harris comes to Wakefern from discount grocer Save A Lot, where he served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. At the Onex Corp.-owned retailer, he had responsibility for assortment strategy, procurement, pricing, visual merchandising and store design.

Bryant Harris-Wakefern.png

In his new role at Wakefern, Harris (left) will oversee product procurement strategy, in-store merchandising, pricing and promotion. The company noted that he will work closely with Henig to devise and enact strategies to spur sales growth.

Harris brings 20 years of retail experience to Wakefern. Before joining Save A Lot, he he held a range of positions at Walmart and Sam’s Club. At Sam’s, he most recently served as senior vice president of real estate and business development. Prior to that, he led the warehouse club chain’s fresh foods division, overseeing $13 billion in annual sales. 

Overall, Wakefern has 51 independent grocery retail members who own and operate 354 supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

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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