Former Mrs. Green’s CEO joins Albertsons

Pat Brown, who most recently served as CEO of Natural Markets Food Group, has joined Albertsons Cos. as group VP of merchandising and will lead the company’s deli and prepared foods business initiatives.

Albertsons made the announcement Friday, saying that it also had promoted Dennis Clark to SVP of merchandising. Clark previously served in the role now assumed by Brown.

“The most powerful asset we have is our incredible team of talented people who day in and day out do what is needed to run great stores and take care of our customers,” Shane Sampson, chief marketing and merchandising officer for Albertsons, said in a statement. “Together, Dennis and Pat bring decades of proven experience to their roles that will only strengthen our service to vendors and stores alike as we continue our work to be the favorite local supermarket.”

Brown joined Albertsons late last month. He left Irvington, N.Y.-based Natural Markets Food Group late last year while the company experienced a supply chain disruption affecting both its Mrs. Green’s and Planet Organic stores, and abruptly closed several of them.

Brown previously was COO of New Seasons Market and director of retail operations for H-E-B, where he was instrumental in developing the Central Market format.

Clark started his career in Utah with Safeway and joined Albertsons in 1988. He held the role of VP of marketing and merchandising for Acme under both Supervalu and Albertsons ownership. In 2015, Clark was named to the company’s integration team to help develop operating strategy following the merger with Safeway.