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Harps CEO adds chairman’s title

Board names Kim Eskew to take reins from Roger Collins

Russell Redman

November 16, 2018

1 Min Read
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Kim_Eskew_Harps_CEO_Chairman_0.pngKim Eskew (left), president and chief executive officer of Harps Food Stores, has been elected chairman.

Eskew succeeds Roger Collins, who is retiring, Springdale, Ark.-based Harps said late yesterday following its annual board meeting.

Also at the meeting, the Harps board elected three new members: David Ganoung, vice president of marketing; Frank Ray, vice president of human resources; and Mike Thurow, vice president of store systems.

Collins has held the chairman’s title for the past 17 years and served as CEO from 2000 to late 2016. He started with the company in 1986 as vice president of finance and chief financial officer and was promoted to executive vice president in 1995.

“Roger Collins was exactly the right person at the right time to lead Harps from a family-owned and -operated business to an employee-owned and -operated business,” Eskew said in a statement. “Every employee owner will have a better retirement and future because of Roger’s leadership.”

Eskew has been with Harps for four decades, starting out as a student checker in 1977. He was appointed CEO in November 2016, taking over from Collins, after having served as chief operating officer since November 2008. His career at Harps also includes roles as grocery manager, store manager, district manager, director of merchandising and advertising, and vice president of marketing.

Related:Harps launches same-day delivery with Instacart

Harps, which became 100% employee-owned after a buyout in 2001, operates 90 supermarkets in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

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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