EXECUTIVE CHANGES 2007-12-17

CHEESEWRIGHT NAMED CEO AT WAL-MART CANADA

MISSISSAUGUA, Ontario — Mario Pilozzi, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Canada, will retire effective Jan. 31, the retailer here said last week. David Cheesewright, currently the chief operating officer of Wal-Mart's Asda chain in the United Kingdom, will replace Pilozzi Feb. 1. Pilozzi, 61, has served as Wal-Mart Canada's CEO for seven years. He joined the company upon its acquisition of Woolworth Canada, where he held leadership positions for 30 years. Cheesewright, 45, was chief operating officer of Wal-Mart Canada in 2004 and 2005 before taking on the same duties at Asda.

FORMER H-E-B EXECUTIVE JOINS RESTAURANT FIRM

ATLANTA — Restaurant operator and franchisor Focus Brands, based here, said last week it has named Kelly Roddy president of its Schlotzsky's sandwich chain. Roddy most recently was director of retail operations for H.E. Butt Grocery Co., San Antonio, and before joining H-E-B he held positions with Scholastic Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores. At Schlotzsky's, which is based in Austin, Texas, Roddy succeeds Steve Romaniello, president and chief executive officer of Focus Brands, who had been serving as interim president of the quick-service chain since Focus acquired it last year.

UNITED NATURAL FOODS PROMOTES KOCH, SIGEL

DAYVILLE, Conn. — United Natural Foods here said it promoted Carl F. Koch to vice president, human resources, and named Robert A. Sigel to the newly created post of president of specialty distribution. Sigel, formerly president and chief executive officer at Millbrook Distribution Services, which United recently acquired, will remain president of the Millbrook operation. Koch, 39, joined United in 2001 and most recently was vice president of risk and compliance. At its recent annual meeting, United said shareholders reelected three directors: Gordon D. Barker, Gail A. Graham and Thomas B. Simone.