EXECUTIVE CHANGES 2008-02-18

SMITH PROMOTED TO SENIOR VP AT SWEETBAY

TAMPA, Fla. — Sweetbay Supermarket here said last week that Steve Smith has been promoted to senior vice president of merchandising. He previously was vice president of merchandising, and before that he was vice president of marketing. “Steve was instrumental in building and implementing the brand that hundreds of thousands of consumers today know as Sweetbay,” said Shelley Broader, president and chief executive officer. “His extraordinary capacity for learning has allowed him to play a pivotal role in our transformation, and his true commitment for doing what's right for the future of our company is core to his work.” Smith joined Sweetbay in 2003 from Hannaford Bros., a sister chain under Delhaize Group, as Sweetbay was launching its transformation from Kash n' Karry.

SUNFLOWER TAPS SIMS FOR REAL ESTATE POST

BOULDER, Colo. — Sunflower Farmers Market has named Kim D. Sims its new director of real estate. She brings more than 12 years of experience in the retail real estate industry to the position, in which she will manage all real estate endeavors for the 130-store chain, including Sunflower's expansion plan, which consists of six to eight store openings per year in existing and new markets. Since the beginning of the year, Sunflower has announced seven signed leases throughout Colorado and Utah. Stores are slated to open this year in Greeley, Boulder, Arvada, Littleton and Aurora, Colo.; in Utah, the chain is opening sites in Murray and Orem. The company, which is not affiliated with the Sunflower chain being shuttered by Supervalu in the Midwest, said it is also looking at store locations in California.

C&S VETERAN ST. LOUIS JOINS AG NEW ENGLAND

PEMBROKE, N.H. — Associated Grocers of New England has appointed Karen St. Louis, formerly of C&S Wholesale Grocers, to Center Store procurement manager. St. Louis replaces Clem Deschenes, who has assumed the new position of director of procurement strategy. St. Louis reports to Rick Wheeler, vice president of wholesale merchandising and procurement for AG New England. She was strategic pricing manager for C&S Wholesale Grocers. She also held positions in strategic pricing, procurement, category management and logistics with Supervalu. AG New England services more than 400 customers in the six-state New England region and eastern New York.