Wahlstrom Back as Shaw's President

JON SPRINGER

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Shaw's said Tuesday that Larry Wahlstrom is returning to once again serve as president of the retailer, based here.

Wahlstrom, who became the company's president in September 2007, returned to his role effective Tuesday after retiring last July. Mike Witynski, who had succeeded Wahlstrom as president upon his retirement, is leaving the company to pursue other interests, Shaw's said.

"Larry is a proven leader who, over the course of his impressive career, made many contributions to our company's success," Pete Van Helden, executive vice president of retail operations at Shaw's parent company, Minneapolis-based Supervalu, said in a statement. "I am pleased he will again be leading the Shaw's team. With his knowledge and experience, I know he will be able to hit the ground running."

Shaw's has endured a tumultuous year, including exiting from Connecticut and a four-month strike affecting a distribution center in Massachusetts.

"It is great to be back at Shaw's working again with my colleagues and friends in the company," said Wahlstrom. "I look forward to getting to work on the tasks ahead of us and meeting our customers' needs."

Wahlstrom has served in a wide range of positions in both food and drug store operations. He began his career in 1971 at Osco Drug as a store associate in Green Bay, Wis., before rising through the ranks in a number of leadership roles including store director, vice president of the Osco New England division, and president of one of the Albertsons food divisions. He also held a number of corporate leadership assignments for Albertsons before becoming president of Jewel-Osco in 2004.