SpartanNash hires Greg Crane as food distribution finance VP

Greg Crane has joined grocery wholesaler/retailer SpartanNash as vice president of finance for food distribution, the company’s largest business unit.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash said Crane starts at the company effective June 6. In the role, he will serve as finance business partner to Bennett Morgan, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer and support the food distribution leadership team. For the 2021 fiscal year ended Jan. 1, 2022, the food distribution segment totaled net sales of about $4.46 billion, just under half of SpartanNash's overall net sales of more than $8.93 billion.

Crane (pictured left) comes to SpartanNash after over three-and-a-half years as chief financial officer of GHSP Inc., a global supplier of mechanical and electromechanical systems to the automotive, transportation and appliance industries. Prior to that, he spent five-and-a-half years at footwear maker and market Wolverine Worldwide, most recently as vice president of finance for e-commerce, and served as vice president of investment banking at Deutsche Bank and held associate roles at Huron Consulting Group and KPMG.

SpartanNash noted that Crane brings more than 15 years of financial and operational experience, with skills in financial management, strategic and financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and performance optimization. In his new position, he will oversee budgeting, forecasting, monthly results analysis and risk, and opportunity assessment activities for the food distribution business. The grocery wholesaler added that he also will provide thought leadership and financial guidance on strategic initiatives and day-to-day opportunities to improve efficiency and rein in company operating expenses.

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“Our finance department is critical to the success of the company’s mission to deliver the ingredients for a better life,” Jason Monaco, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in a statement. “We’re excited to welcome Greg to our team. His experience leading high-performing teams and developing strategies to improve financial performance and growth will help us achieve our earnings targets and contribute to SpartanNash’s operational excellence.”

SpartanNash’s core food distribution segment distributes to all 50 states, supplying its 145 corporate-run supermarkets in nine Midwestern states and over 2,100 independent grocers nationwide. The company also distributes to 160 military commissaries and over 400 exchanges in United States and internationally. Its network of owned-and-operated supermarkets includes the banners D&W Fresh Market, Dan’s Supermarket, Family Fare, Family Fresh Market, Forest Hills Foods, Martin’s Super Markets, No Frills Supermarkets, SunMart, Supermercado Nuestra Familia and VG’s Grocery in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

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