Kroger Names Two Top Executives

CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. here said it has named Michael J. Stoll chief executive officer of The Little Clinic, the in-store health services provider that is now wholly owned by Kroger, and has elevated Bryan Kaltenbach to be president of the chain's Food 4 Less division. Stoll is a 34-year Kroger veteran with experience in corporate benefits, human resources management and store operations. Theresa Monti was promoted to succeed Stoll as vice president of corporate benefits. Prior to her promotion, she was director of corporate health and welfare benefit programs for Kroger. Kaltenbach was formerly senior vice president of sales and marketing for Food 4 Less, which is based in Compton, Calif., and operates 146 warehouse stores. He succeeds Dave Hirz, who left Food 4 Less earlier this month to become president of Smart & Final, Los Angeles. Kaltenbach, 54, began his career in 1973 at Alpha Beta Markets, which merged with Food 4 Less in 1991 and became part of Kroger in 1999.

SUPERVALU ADDS NON-EXEC CHAIRMAN

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu here last week said it would reduce the size of its board of directors from 15 to 12 members and has selected a non-executive chairman of the board. The company said the board expects to name Wayne C. Sales, 60, retired vice chairman of Canadian Tire Corp. and a director of Supervalu since the Albertsons acquisition in 2006, to the newly created position of non-executive chairman following the company's annual meeting in June. As planned following his 2009 retirement announcement, Jeff Noddle, 63, current chairman and former chief executive officer, will retire effective at the annual meeting. Lawrence A. Del Santo, 76, and Garnett L. Keith Jr., 74, are also retiring from the board. In addition, A. Gary Ames, 65, and Marissa T. Peterson, 48, whose terms would expire in 2011, voluntarily resigned from the board effective April 14, 2010. The board also announced that it is nominating Matthew E. Rubel, 52, chairman, CEO and president of Collective Brands, and Donald R. Chappel, 58, senior vice president and chief financial officer of The Williams Cos., to stand for election at the annual meeting.

HAGGEN OPERATIONS VP KARA TO RETIRE

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Haggen Inc. here said Ron Kara has retired as senior vice president, operations. Kara, who spent 12 years with Haggen, started his career with Jewel Stores, Chicago, then, after a stint in the Navy, spent 12 years with Kroger Co. as a senior industrial engineer and also as manager of store training. In 1985, he joined H.E. Butt Grocery Co., San Antonio, to help develop its Pantry Foods division; and in 1994 he became vice president at Shaw's Supermarkets, Bridgewater, Mass., before joining Haggen in 1998.

WEIS HIRES SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST

Patti Olenick

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets here said last week it has named Patti Olenick as the company's first-ever sustainability specialist to develop its sustainability and environmental responsibility programs. Olenick joins the company from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, Weis said it has named Regina Tator and Greg Oldright directors of Center Store sales and Bruno Garisto director of private brands. Tator most recently was director of corporate brands at Price Chopper. Oldright was the company's sales manager, and he previously was category manager for specialty and ethnic foods. Garisto was director of Center Store sales and merchandising.