Dollar Tree names chief supply chain officer, Family Dollar chief merchant

Dollar Tree has hired John Flanigan as chief supply chain officer and Larry Gatta as chief merchandising officer for its Family Dollar business unit.

Flanigan brings about 30 years of management experience in retail logistics, while Gatta brings more than 35 years of retail industry and marketing experience, Chesapeake, Va.-based Dollar Tree said yesterday. Most recently, Flanigan served as executive vice president of global supply chain at rival Dollar General, and Gatta held the role of senior vice president and general merchandise manager for consumables at Dollar General.

Rick McNeely, chief merchandising officer for Dollar Tree, will continue to lead the Dollar Tree merchandising teams, the retailer said.

“Driving supply chain efficiencies and improving the operating performance of our Family Dollar banner are important elements to long-term value creation for our shareholders,” Dollar Tree President and CEO Michael Witynski said in a statement. “I am pleased to announce the recent additions of proven retail leaders John Flanigan and Larry Gatta to our organization.”

'The investments in renovations and the new combo-store formats are a tremendous foundation to grow and improve the Family Dollar business,' stated new Family Dollar chief merchant Larry Gatta.

Flanigan had served as executive VP of global supply chain at Dollar General through April 2016. He joined the company as senior VP of global supply chain in May 2008 and was promoted to executive VP in March 2010. Before coming to Dollar General, he was group VP of logistics and distribution at Longs Drug Stores (now part of CVS Health) from October 2005 to April 2008. In that role, he oversaw warehousing, inbound and outbound transportation, and facility maintenance in serving over 500 retail outlets.

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From September 2001 to October 2005, Flanigan was VP of logistics at Safeway, where he directed distribution of food products from the retailer’s distribution centers to all stores, inbound traffic and transportation. He also has held distribution and logistics leadership posts at Vons, Specialized Distribution Management Inc. and Crum & Crum Logistics.

“I am excited to join the Dollar Tree organization. Mike Witynski and I share a common vision to improve the organization’s supply-chain performance through improved distribution center conditions, hiring and retention of teams, and efficiency improvements throughout the supply chain, from our suppliers to our store shelves,” Flanigan commented. “I am eager to drive our team’s contribution to the company’s performance through improved shopper and associate experience. My focus will be on leading productivity improvements across the logistics function through use of data, analytics, process improvements and automation.”

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As senior VP and GMM for consumables at Dollar General, Gatta oversaw the food, perishables, candy, snacks, beverage, paper, cleaning, pet and tobacco categories, Dollar Tree noted. He joined Dollar General in 2009 as VP and divisional merchandise manager for food, pet, beverages, candy, snacks, perishables and the Market Store Format. In 2011, he was elevated to senior VP and GMM for discretionary, spending two years overseeing soft lines, seasonal, hardware, housewares, stationery, electronics, gift cards and automotive. Prior to joining Dollar General, he was senior VP and chief marketing officer at Longs Drug Stores and previously held leadership roles at Rite Aid and Phar-Mor.

“In the current economic climate, households need Family Dollar to provide value and convenience to help stretch their budgets. Family Dollar is part of the solution to millions of households across the U.S.,” Gatta stated. “I will be focused on improving the banner’s productivity and operating performance through sales-driving initiatives, margin enhancements and leveraging our cost components. The investments in renovations and the new combo-store formats are a tremendous foundation to grow and improve the Family Dollar business.”

Overall, Dollar Tree operates 16,077 stores in 48 states and five Canadian provinces under the Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree Canada banners.

“Both John and Larry have decades of experience and are proven leaders in small-box value retail and I am extremely pleased to welcome them to our team,” Witynski added. “In their leadership roles, they will each be key components to our success in the next chapter of our company’s growth, especially as it relates to improved performance, efficiencies, and shopper and associate experiences, in our Family Dollar stores and throughout our supply chain.”