Hirz Named Smart & Final President 2010-04-12

LOS ANGELES — Smart & Final here said it has named Dave Hirz as president of the company. That post has been vacant for three years — since Apollo Management acquired Smart & Final from French-based Casino. The chain's last president was Etienne Snollaerts. At Smart & Final, Hirz will be the No. 2 person in the company, a spokesman told SN — behind George Golleher, who continues as chairman and chief executive officer. Hirz will be responsible for overseeing all Smart & Final operations and many corporate functions that support all the company's divisions, including Cash & Carry Stores and Henry's. However, those two divisions will continue to operate with their own presidents, who will continue to report to Golleher, the spokesman said. Hirz resigned his post as president of Food 4 Less, a Kroger subsidiary, to move to Smart & Final, effective last week. Golleher was one of the founders of Food 4 Less in Southern California and served as chairman of Ralphs after Ralphs acquired Food 4 Less — until it was acquired by Kroger in 1999.

FRESH & EASY HIRES WONNACOTT

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market here said it is adding a communications department at its headquarters here with the hiring of Brendan Wonnacott as communications director. Wonnacott is scheduled to assume his new position today. He has been an account manager with the Sacramento, Calif., office of Apco Worldwide, with responsibilities for the Fresh & Easy account since 2006 — a year before the British-based company opened its first U.S. store. Fresh & Easy is opening four stores in Southern California this week, including its 150th location, in Burbank.

B&R TAPS YAKOVSKY FOR MEAT POST

LINCOLN, Neb. — B&R Stores last week said it has hired Michael Yakovsky as meat director, overseeing the meat and seafood programs for the company's Russ's Market and Super Saver stores in seven cities across Nebraska and western Iowa. Yakovsky has held a variety of retail management positions and has served in marketing, merchandising and distribution positions at the corporate level. He began his industry career with Kroger Co. and has also worked for Brookshire Brothers, Bi-Lo and, most recently, Bruno's. “We believe we've found in Michael Yakovsky a meat director that has the skills, knowledge and experience to take our meat program to the next level,” said Pat Raybould, president of B&R.

RULON LEAVES CALIFORNIA GROCERS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Grocers Association here said last week that Jill Rulon, senior vice president, has left CGA to “pursue other opportunities.” Rulon, who was with the association for 13 years, was responsible for CGA's membership, communications, sales and marketing functions and its annual strategic conference; she also managed CGA s emergency management and organized retail crime prevention programs. No successor has been named.

TRIPP JOINS BOARD OF KIOSK MAKER

SAN DIEGO — Longtime supermarket and pharmacy executive Kevin Tripp has joined the board of directors of kiosk maker Asteres Inc., based here. He most recently was executive vice president of the Midwest division for Supervalu's retail operations. Tripp, who is a pharmacist, had been an EVP at Albertsons and president of that company's drug store division before Supervalu acquired much of the Albertsons chain in 2006. Asteres provides automated pharmacy and wellness kiosks to retailers and is the maker of the ScriptCenter technology solution for pharmacy dispensing.