Giant Taps CFO Herring as President

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold last week said it has named Rick Herring division president of its Giant of Carlisle chain, based here. Herring is a 20-year veteran of the EDLP banner and most recently had been executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer. He succeeds Sander van der Laan, who has been president and chief executive officer of the 152-store chain since July 2008. As previously reported, van der Laan is returning to the Netherlands to become general manager of Ahold's Albert Heijn banner, effective January 2010. Herring will report to Carl Schlicker, CEO of Ahold USA Retail and himself a former CEO of Giant-Carlisle. Herring has been instrumental in the organization of Ahold Financial Services, Ahold USA's shared financial service center located in Carlisle, the company said.

ROHTER NAMED NEW SEASONS CHAIR

PORTLAND, Ore — New Seasons Market last week said Brian Rohter, co-founder and chief executive officer, will retire and become chairman of the board of directors in January, 2010. President Lisa Sedlar will be promoted to president and chief operating officer and will assume Rohter's current responsibilities, completing a succession plan the company said it had initiated more than five years ago. Also, as part of this transition, New Seasons Market is partnering with Endeavour Capital, a Portland private investment firm, to “help prepare the company to meet its long-term goal of creating a more broadly-based ownership structure.” Stan Amy, one of the founders and current board chair, will continue as a director. New Seasons operates nine stores in the Portland area.

BI-LO PROMOTES FOUR EXECUTIVES

MAULDIN, S.C. — Bi-Lo here said it has named four executives to new posts. Mike Mannion was named director of grocery merchandising, effective immediately; John Gianakas was named vice president of Center Store, effective Jan. 1, 2010; Kip Faulhaber was named vice president of advertising, marketing and retail pricing, succeeding Gianakas; and Rondel Cuyler was named director of advertising and branding, also effective Jan. 1. The moves are part of a reorganization of the Center Store merchandising. Mannion, who succeeds Jim Weber, will also continue his previous position's duties by overseeing the corporate-brand activities. He joined Bi-Lo in 1988. Gianakas, who also joined Bi-Lo in 1988, has served various roles including store director, human resources manager of compensation, category manager, director of category management support and vice president of category management support. Faulhaber, the company's current vice president of sales, joined Bi-Lo in April of this year. He has also held the position of vice president of strategic initiatives for the company. Cuyler, who joined Bi-Lo in 2003, was senior manager of advertising and branding and will continue to lead the team that oversees and develops the company's weekly circular. Cuyler was also the company's manager of supplier diversity.

SMITS IS WINN-DIXIE PERISHABLES VP

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie Stores here has named Jim Smits its new group vice president of perishables, the company said last week. In his new role, Smits will be responsible for all aspects of sales and merchandising of Winn-Dixie's perishables departments, reporting to Dan Portnoy, the company's chief merchandising and marketing officer. Most recently, Smits served as group vice president of fresh food merchandising for Supervalu.