Nichols Named President at Bigg's

CINCINNATI — Steve Kaczynski is leaving Bigg's, an 11-unit supermarket chain based here, to pursue other interests, Bigg's parent company, Minneapolis-based Supervalu, said last week. He will be succeeded, effective today, by Jimmy Nichols, who was vice president of merchandising at Bigg's. Kaczynski joined Bigg's in 2006 after serving as senior vice president of sales, merchandising and marketing for Wild Oats Markets. He is one of several Supervalu executives to leave the company since the hiring in May of Craig Herkert as chief executive officer. Nichols previously had worked in marketing and category management at Supervalu.

MICHAEL FOODS TAPS AHOLD VET AS CEO

MINNETONKA, Minn. — James E. Dwyer Jr., the former executive vice president of private brands and e-commerce at Ahold USA, has joined food product supplier Michael Foods here as president and chief executive officer, effective last week. Dwyer also had been chief business development officer for Ahold's Stop & Shop banner. At Michael Foods, Dwyer succeeds Gregg A. Ostrander, who had been serving as president and CEO since April. Ostrander is assuming his prior role as executive chairman, the company said.

PRICE CHOPPER NAMES RITZERT MEAT VP

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Price Chopper Supermarkets here said it has named Larry Ritzert vice president of meat merchandising, reporting to Mark Brown, vice president of perishable merchandising. He joined Price Chopper in 2007 as a senior category manager.