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Kroger promotes Keith Shoemaker to Dallas division president

Appointment follows passing of Adam Wampler in June

Russell Redman

July 27, 2021

2 Min Read
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The Kroger Dallas division operates 109 retail food stores and has more than 15,000 employees.Kroger

Keith Shoemaker has been appointed as president of The Kroger Co.’s Dallas division, taking over the business unit after the death of Adam Wampler last month.

Kroger said Tuesday that Shoemaker, previously vice president of operations for the Dallas Division, starts in the role effective immediately. He will report to Valerie Jabbar, who is slated to become senior vice president of retail divisions on Aug. 7.

Based in Coppell, Texas, the Kroger Dallas division has more than 15,000 employees and operates 109 retail food stores.

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Shoemaker (left) has been with The Kroger Co. for more than 44 years, the Cincinnati-based company said. He served in various leadership posts — including as perishable coordinator, deli/bakery buyer, store manager, district manager and regional director of operations — before being promoted to vice president of operations for the Fry’s division in 2012. Shoemaker was elevated to vice president of merchandising for the division in 2015 and then joined the Dallas division in 2017 as vice president of merchandising. He was named as the division’s vice president of operations in 2018.

“Keith is a highly regarded leader across the grocery retail industry and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience having served in various positions in the Dallas/Fort Worth market for 39 years,” Jabbar said in a statement. “We are confident Keith’s infectious dedication to the company’s promise to be friendly and caring and uplift every way is a true extension of Adam’s legacy that the division team will continue to benefit from under his leadership.”

Related:SpartanNash chief merchant Lori Raya joins Kroger as Mid-Atlantic president

Wampler passed away on June 30 at age 48. He had served as president of Kroger’s Dallas division since March 2020. Coming over from Bartell Drugs, Wampler joined The Kroger Co. in September 2019 as vice president of merchandising for the Fred Meyer division in Portland, Ore. His career also included serving as senior vice president of operations at Albertsons Cos. and more than 27 years at Safeway, most recently as senior vice president of operations.

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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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