Big Y Promotes Eight, Hires One

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Big Y Foods here last week unveiled a series of new staff appointments at the regional, privately owned chain, which has 56 stores in New England. Phillip J. Schneider was promoted to senior vice president of sales. A 47-year industry veteran who began his career at Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop, Schneider joined Big Y as director of grocery procurement in 1996. He most recently was vice president of sales. Libby L. Pidgeon has been named vice president of employee services. She began her career in 1991 at Tops Friendly Markets, Williamsville, N.Y., and worked in a variety of human resources positions in the industry for the past 19 years. She most recently was corporate vice president, human resources, at Supervalu, Minneapolis. At Big Y she reports to Donald H. D'Amour, chairman and chief executive officer. The following Big Y employees were aslo promoted: Thomas M. Butler was named director of compensation and benefits; Kelly A. Carrington was named director of tax and internal audit; Mathieu L. D'Amour has been named director of store development; Brian J. Gannon has been appointed to the new position of director of process improvement; Laurie A. Hebert has been named director of employee development; Theresa Jasmin has been appointed to corporate controller; and Jeremy P. Payson was named treasurer.

PRICESMART NAMES LAPARTE CEO

SAN DIEGO — PriceSmart here, which operates 27 member-club warehouse stores in Central America and the Caribbean, said last week that Jose Luis Laparte, who had been president of the company, has also been named chief executive officer. Robert Price, who had been both CEO and chairman, remains chairman. “Jose Luis Laparte has demonstrated excellent operational and merchandising skills since he joined our company in 2004. Under his leadership as president, net warehouse sales have more than doubled from $605 million in fiscal year 2005 to over $1.3 billion in the most recent 12-month period,” Price said in a prepared statement.