McNiff to Head Supervalu Division

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu said last week it has named Greg McNiff to be the new president of W. Newell, the company's national produce distribution company, effective July 19. McNiff, 46, most recently served as vice president of fresh merchandising in Supervalu's Albertsons Southern California division. He is a 29-year veteran of the company and has held leadership roles in several positions in California, Nevada and Idaho. He will report directly to Janel Haugarth, Supervalu executive vice president, and president and chief operating officer, supply chain services. “Greg's time overseeing the Albertsons Southern California division's fresh departments along with his broad experience in marketing and merchandising make him an excellent fit to lead W. Newell's operations,” Haugarth said in a prepared statement.

KENT, OLOFSSON CO-CHAIR GROUP

PARIS — The Consumer Goods Forum said it has elected two new co-chairmen of the global association of retail and CPG companies: Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive officer, The Coca-Cola Co., and Lars Olofsson, CEO of Carrefour. The two new co-chairs, who will serve two-year terms, succeed Pierre-Olivier Beckers of Delhaize Group and A.G. Lafley of Procter & Gamble. “The election of two very high-profile leaders from each of the retail and manufacturing sectors underlines our member companies' commitment to work together on today's key issues,” said Jean-Marc Saubade, managing director of The Consumer Goods Forum. “Muhtar and Lars bring a clear vision and very strong leadership as the forum gets down to work on the issues that consumers have asked the industry to tackle.”

The Consumer Goods Forum seeks to drive collaboration within the consumer goods supply chain on such issues as sustainability, consumer health and wellness, and food safety. Separately, last week the Cosumer Goods Forum said it had released a report called “A Global Language for Packaging and Sustainability,” which seeks to deliver a common framework and measurement system that trading partners can use to make better decisions about packaging and sustainability. It is the first of several planned reports on the topic. Pilots using the report's measurement system are under way.