The Fresh Market hires Nathan Baldwin to lead food service

The Fresh Market has named restaurant veteran Nathan Baldwin vice president of merchandising food service.

In the move, which the Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer indicated will help the chain enhance its prepared food business, Baldwin will oversee a team and lead all the aspects of The Fresh Market’s new “kitchens” concept, including design, workflow, operations, product selection, merchandising, and profit and loss accountability. He will report to Dan Portnoy, chief merchandising officer.

Baldwin most recently was vice president of restaurant services at Chili’s, where he designed, simplified, and executed operational strategy and innovation to support more than 1,350 domestic company and franchised restaurants.

In his more than  25 years at Chili’s, Baldwin rose from restaurant manager to also serve as vice president of strategic growth and franchise development; vice president of operation services; and senior director of culinary operations.

Baldwin earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in restaurant and hotel management from the Anderson School of Management at The University of New Mexico.

“Nathan brings a wealth of experience in the restaurant industry to The Fresh Market, which will be key in helping us grow our store concept moving forward,” Portnoy said in a statement.

Related:The Fresh Market plans hiring push

The hiring of Baldwin is the latest in a string of personnel moves by The Fresh Market. In September, the grocer announced that Peter Mayes has been promoted to group vice president, merchandising, from meat and seafood director. In his new role, oversees meat and seafood while adding new functions and direct reports from supply chain, visual merchandising, and the company’s pricing team.

Also in September, The Fresh Market promoted Wade Yenny to vice president, center store, from director of grocery merchandising. In the new role, Yenny oversees grocery, dairy, and frozen foods, along with space planning and bulk, candy coffee.

The Fresh Market operates 160 stores in 22 states.