Edeker Named President of Hy-Vee

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee here said it has named a new president for only the fourth time in its 80-year history. Randall B. Edeker, 47, was confirmed as president of the 228-store chain at the company's annual meeting this month. He succeeds Ric Jurgens, who remains chairman and chief executive officer. Edeker, a 28-year Hy-Vee veteran who began his career as a part-time worker in a Hy-Vee store, most recently was executive vice president and chief operating officer. Jurgens had been president since 2001. Dwight Vredenburg, son of Hy-Vee co-founder David Vredenburg, was the company's first president, serving 45 years in the position before turning it over to Jurgens' predecessor, Ron Pearson, in 1983.

ARDEN GROUP TAPS NEUMANN AS CFO

LOS ANGELES — Laura Neumann has been named chief financial officer of Arden Group, parent company of Gelson's Markets, Encino, Calif. Neumann was formerly senior director of financial reporting and compliance. The post of CFO has been vacant since Debra Jensen left Arden in 2005.

CGA HIRES BUSH AS SECOND LOBBYIST

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Grocers Association has hired a second in-house lobbyist — Kara Bush. It is the first time CGA has had two in-house lobbyists, but Ron Fong, CGA president and chief executive officer, said the 2010 legislative agenda is expected to be “aggressive.” Bush formerly worked in the office of Republican Martin Garrick, a state assemblyman from the Carlsbad area, near San Diego. The association's other in-house lobbyist is Keri Askew Bailey, vice president of government relations.