IGA Hires Horrigan as Area Director

CHICAGO — IGA here said last week it has hired Brian Horrigan as one of its four area directors, with responsibilities for domestic operations and, for the first time, overseas ventures. Horrigan succeeds Shane Ferris, who left IGA last month after several years with the alliance overseeing three IGA licensed distributors — Bozzuto's, Cheshire, Conn.; Associated Grocers of Florida, Miami; and Ira Higdon Grocery Co., Cairo, Ga. IGA said Horrigan will also take on new responsibilities with IGA Global to advance the company's interests in Russia, Poland, the Caribbean and South Africa. Horrigan spent the last few years as president of a chain of cigarette stores after working in the CPG industry for 16 years, including stints at R.J. Reynolds and Dole. As area director, he will serve as a liaison between the wholesale and retail members to ensure that members receive the maximum benefit from IGA programs.

WHOLE FOODS NAMES BESANCON SVP

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market here has announced the promotion of its Southern Pacific regional president, Michael Besancon, to the newly created position of senior global vice president of purchasing, distribution and marketing, reporting directly to A.C. Gallo and Walter Robb, co-presidents and chief operating officers. Besancon served as president for the Southern Pacific region for more than seven years, overseeing operations, marketing and real estate development, profitability and financial growth for stores in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. He joined Whole Foods in 1994 as director of purchasing in the Southern Pacific region and became regional vice president two years later. In 1998 he was promoted to president of the mid-Atlantic region, and in 2001 he returned to Los Angeles as Southern Pacific president. Besancon currently chairs Whole Foods' Green Mission Task Force, dedicated to environmentally sustainable practices such as promoting sustainable agriculture, store recycling and composting programs. Prior to joining Whole Foods, Besancon worked in many areas of the natural products industry, including retail, sales and brokering, manufacturing and distribution. In 1970, he opened and operated a vegetarian natural food store and restaurant, Follow Your Heart, in Canoga Park, Calif., which remains in business.

BIG Y APPOINTS WHITE NEW CFO

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The board of directors of Big Y Foods here has named industry veteran William D. White as the company's new chief financial officer. White succeeds Herbert D. Dotterer, who retired in July. White has more than 30 years of experience in the finance and real estate fields and is a former CFO for food and retail companies including Balls Food Stores, Richfood Holdings, Farm Fresh Supermarkets and Snyder's Drug Stores. Most recently White served as vice president and CFO for Osschein Farm & Home, Moberly, Mo. White previously served as a division controller for McLane/Western, as a director of financial accounting and real estate for King Soopers, and as assistant controller for Affiliated Food Stores.

KINGS' DOWNEY HEADS N.J. BAKERS

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Ken Downey, director of bakery sales and merchandising for Kings Super Markets here, has been elected president of the New Jersey Bakers Board of Trade, Kings said. Downey becomes the first supermarket retailer to hold that title in the 90-year history of NJBBT, which promotes the baking industry in the state.