Harps Food Stores names new president

Harps Food Stores Inc. has appointed J. Max Van Hoose to president as of Jan. 3, the company announced on Tuesday. Springdale, Ark.-based Harps operates 120 stores in four states including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.

Holding an MBA from the University of Kansas, Van Hoose (left) joined Harps as director of construction and equipment In 1997 after six years with Hallmark Greeting Cards in Kansas City in various engineering roles. In 2002 he was named vice president of store planning and then later to executive vice president. Van Hoose continues to oversee store development, acquisitions, construction, and real estate activities for Harps.

“J. Max has demonstrated his value to Harps in a great many ways during his tenure as executive V.P. and I am very happy to see this well-deserved promotion take place,” said Kim Eskew, chairman and CEO of Harps, who previously served as president.

Van Hoose also has been involved with the Springdale Rotary Club serving as president in 2006, and the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, serving as chairman in 2012. He is a member of the University of Arkansas's Academy of Industrial Engineers, serves on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Grocers Association and is a commissioner of the Springdale Water and Sewer Commission. He and his wife Kelley reside in Springdale. They have two daughters and attend Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers.

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