EXECUTIVE CHANGES 2007-08-27

FOOD LION NAMES LOWDER VP OF FINANCIAL PLANNING

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion has named Maria Lowder vice president of financial planning and investment analysis, reporting to Carol Herndon, executive vice president of accounting and analysis and information technology. Lowder will lead the investment analysis team seeking to optimize returns. In her most recent role as director of financial planning and analysis, she developed and led the work of the company's strategic planning and forecasting team and will continue to do so in this new position. She began her career in accounting at Cooper Industries in Americus, Ga., in 1992. She joined Food Lion in 1995 as a corporate auditor. Since then, she has held numerous management and leadership positions in the accounting department, and spent three years as the corporate finance manager for Delhaize Group.

ALABAMA GROCERS TAP NEXT GENERATION FOR PRESIDENT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Alabama Grocers Association said it has named Ellie Smotherman Taylor as its president. She succeeds her father, James L. Smotherman, who served as president for 17 years. Taylor has worked for the AGA for the past 12 years, most recently as executive vice president. The association has 300 members representing about 1,100 supermarkets. Taylor also serves on the board of trustees of the Alabama Grocers Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization, which awards scholarships each year to individuals in the grocery industry.

AHOLD VET NAMED VP-REPLENISHMENT AT FAMILY DOLLAR

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores said it has promoted Jeff Thomas to vice president of replenishment. Thomas most recently served as vice president of merchandise logistics at Family Dollar. He previously held supply chain roles with Bi-Lo and Ahold.