FMI Names Eight Execs to Board

ARLINGTON, Va. — Food Marketing Institute here last week said it had elected five new members to its board of directors and appointed three others. Newly elected board members were James Buchanan, president and chief executive officer, Laurel Grocery Co., London, Ky.; Steven Goddard, president and CEO, WinCo Foods, Boise, Idaho; Robert G. Miller, CEO, Albertsons LLC, also in Boise; Art Potash, CEO, Potash Bros. Markets, Chicago; and Bruce Weitz, CEO and operating partner, Kings Super Markets, Parsippany, N.J. Three board members were also appointed by Chairman Steve Smith, CEO of K-VA-T, Abingdon, Va.: Lawrence Benjamin, president and CEO, Ahold USA, Quincy, Mass.; Oscar Gonzales, chief operating officer, Northgate Gonzalez Market, Anaheim, Calif.; and Mike Stone, president and CEO, Mollie Stone's Markets, Mill Valley, Calif. The institute announced the elections after its pre-FMI Show board meeting in Las Vegas.

NIEMANN FOODS PROMOTES COX, COOK

QUINCY, Ill. — Niemann Foods here has announced the promotions of Jim Cox to senior vice president and Ron Cook to vice president and director of marketing. Cox's responsibilities will encompass all supermarket, pharmacy and Ace Hardware operations throughout the company. Cox, who has been part of the organization for over 20 years, became a vice president in 2004. Cook, meanwhile, will be responsible for coordinating marketing activities for the supermarket, convenience stores, pharmacy, pet and hardware store formats. He joined the organization in 2003 after 27 years with Nash Finch Co. Niemann Foods operates 37 supermarkets, seven pharmacies and 11 convenience stores, primarily under the County Market banner, along with 11 Save-A-Lots and Pet Supplies Plus; it is also planning to open three Ace Hardware stores in 2008.

PUBLIX VETERAN SHIVERS RETIRES

LAKELAND, Fla. — Ed Shivers, vice president of risk management for Publix Super Markets and a 50-year veteran of the retailer here, will retire effective June 16, Publix said. Shivers began his career at Publix as a part-time service clerk in Winter Haven, Fla., in 1958 and became a store manager in Gainesville, Fla., in 1967. He was later promoted to district manager, then director of insurance and safety, and in 1985 was elected vice president of risk management. He served as chairman of Food Marketing Institute's risk management committee and served on two Florida workers' compensation oversight boards, Publix said. Marc Salm, currently director and counsel for risk management at Publix, has been elected to serve as vice president of risk management following Shivers' retirement.

SHOPRITE'S BROWN JOINS STAR GROUP

PHILADELPHIA — Steve Brown, an operations manager with Brown's ShopRite, a 10-store chain based here, has joined marketing communications firm The Star Group, also based here, as managing partner and executive vice president of business management, said Linda Rosanio, the agency's president and chief executive officer, last week. Brown will also head up the Star Equity Group, which seeks equity positions with celebrity figures to develop branded products, and will help lead Star's Food and Beverage Division, managing work for such brands and clients including Margaritaville Foods, Coca-Cola, Saladworks, Louisiana Fish Fry, Village Farms and Catelli Italian Bistro.