Delhaize Taps Beer Veteran as CFO 2008-12-15

BRUSSELS — Delhaize Group here last week said it has named Stéfan Descheemaeker as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 5. He succeeds Craig Owens, who left in September to join Campbell Soup Co. Descheemaeker, 48, spent the last 12 years with Belgian brewer InBev, which recently merged with Anheuser-Busch. He had been executive vice president, external growth, with responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, and became an operations executive overseeing multiple regions, including the U.S. and Mexico, after the company's merger with AmBev in 2004. He became a non-executive director at InBev following the Anheuser-Busch merger this year.

UNIFIED'S LING TO HEAD CGA BOARD

Bob Ling

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Grocers Association here said that Bob Ling has been elected chairman of the board for 2009. Ling is executive vice president of Unified Grocers, Los Angeles. He succeeds Richard E. Morgan, president of Holiday/Sav-Mor Foods, Cottonwood, Calif. Other CGA board members elected to serve on the executive committee are George Frahm, executive vice president, retail operations and administration, Stater Bros. Markets, San Bernardino, Calif., first vice-chair; Jim Amen, president and chief operations officer, Super A Foods, Paramount, Calif., second vice-chair; and Mike Silveira, chief administrative officer, Save Mart Supermarkets, Modesto, Calif., treasurer. The chairman's three appointees to the executive committee are Bill Cote, chief financial officer, Superior Grocers, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; Karl Schroeder, president of Safeway's Northern California division; and John LeGuluche, vice president, retail, for Kraft Foods Global's Northern California region, Livermore, Calif.

MARTINDALE JOINS RITE AID AS EVP

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Ken Martindale, a former chief merchandising officer at Pathmark Stores, has joined Rite Aid here as its senior executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics. The move, effective immediately, reunites Martindale with former Pathmark executives John Standley, now Rite Aid's chief executive officer; and Frank Vitrano, chief financial officer. Standley and Vitrano served the same respective roles for Pathmark. Martindale, who started his retail career with Smith's Food and Drug in 1975, left Pathmark when it was acquired by A&P a year ago.

SPARTAN TAPS PIERCE AS GROCERY VP

Larry Pierce

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Spartan Stores here said it has named Larry Pierce vice president of center store merchandising. Pierce most recently worked for Coca-Cola Enterprises' Great Lakes division, where he was vice president of sales for its Meijer team and vice president of supermarket sales. He is a former director of grocery merchandising for Farmer Jack.

GIANT PROMOTES TOBIN TO AD DIRECTOR

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores here has announced the promotion of Greg Tobin III to director of advertising, reporting to Nancy Appleby, senior director of advertising and marketing. He will be responsible for managing advertising and marketing programs, print and electronic advertising, circular production and design development for the chain.