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B&R Stores taps Mark Griffin as president, COO

Pat Raybould continues as grocery chain’s chairman, CEO

Russell Redman

November 1, 2019

2 Min Read
Pat Raybould_Mark Griffin_B&R Stores - Copy.jpg
B&R Stores Chairman and CEO Pat Raybould (left) with newly named President and COO Mark Griffin.B&R Stores

Midwestern grocer B&R Stores has promoted Mark Griffin to president and chief operating officer.

Plans call for Griffin, currently senior vice president of operations, to start in the new position on Jan. 1, 2020, B&R said yesterday.

With the move, Griffin takes over the president’s title from Pat Raybould, who will continue in his role as chairman and CEO. B&R noted that Raybould, the son of company founder Russ Raybould, will remain involved in supporting the retailer’s strategic growth initiatives and executive team.

“Leading such a highly regarded, community-minded and successful company is an assignment for which I am deeply grateful,” Griffin said in a statement. “Our associates delivering great experiences for our customers since 1964 is what makes B&R a truly unique and special place. I am proud to be a part of our employee-owned culture that is so clearly focused on our customers and those who make the company great — our people. Thankfully, we have the talent and leadership necessary to ensure success well into the future.”

Based in Lincoln, Neb., B&R operates 20 stores under the Russ’s Market, Super Saver and Apple Market banners in Nebraska and Iowa.

Griffin joined B&R as senior VP of operations in July 2016, coming to the company from SpartanNash, where he served as VP for Omaha retail stores. Besides SpartanNash, Griffin’s 25 years of grocery industry experience includes executive management positions at Associated Food Stores and Affiliated Foods.

Related:B&R acquires Heartland Foods store

“Mark’s promotion to president of B&R is a recognition of the leadership and responsibilities he has undertaken since he came to the company,” Raybould commented. “He is highly respected by our associates, vendors and our customers. I look forward to continuing to work with him for years to come.”

B&R’s retail network includes eight Russ’s Market stores (seven in Nebraska, one in Iowa), one Russ’s Market Express store (Nebraska), 10 Super Saver stores (nine in Nebraska, one in Iowa) and one Apple Market store (Nebraska).

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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