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H-E-B creates chief digital officer role

Appointment of Favor’s Jag Bath underscores omnichannel growth plans

Russell Redman

May 15, 2018

2 Min Read
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H-E-B’s sharper focus on digital has brought a new executive to its C-suite.

The Texas supermarket chain said late Monday that it has named Jag Bath to the newly created post of chief digital officer. Bath also will continue as chief executive officer of Favor Delivery, the Austin-based on-demand delivery service that H-E-B acquired in February.

As chief digital officer, Bath will oversee all of H-E-B’s digital products and services as the retailer expands its omnichannel presence. He reports to Martin Otto, chief operating officer at San Antonio-based H-E-B.

Jag_Bath_HEB_chief_digital_officer_1.jpg"I'm excited to take on this new role as we accelerate H-E-B's efforts to become the digital industry leader in Texas,” Bath (left) said in a statement. “The investment we are making is reflective of the importance of building out new digital products and services to complement H-E-B's world-class brick-and-mortar stores."

H-E-B noted that Bath brings key skills as an e-commerce entrepreneur and innovator to the company’s efforts to ramp up its omnichannel capabilities and offerings.

"Jag is a leading national figure in the digital space, and this appointment reflects the central importance of building out H-E-B's omnichannel service to meet customers' evolving needs and expectations," Otto stated.

Besides the acquisition of Favor — which was founded in 2013 and is now available in 50 cities across Texas — H-E-B has continued to expand its HEBtoyou Delivery and H-E-B Curbside. The services, now offered in more than 100 locations, are slated to become available in 200 locations during 2018.

Customers also can order grocery, drug and general merchandise products online at HEB.com and have the items shipped to 48 states and military bases worldwide.

"Our primary goal is to enable our customers to shop, pay for and receive their products in whatever way they choose, all while delivering an exceptional customer experience,” Otto added.

H-E-B, which generates annual sales of $25 billion, operates 400 stores overall, including about 340 stores in Texas and nearly 60 stores in Mexico.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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