K.V. Mart Hires Alvarado as Executive VP

CARSON, Calif. -- K.V. Mart Co., a 22-store chain in Southern California, has hired Vincent Alvarado as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Alvarado replaces Phil Gentile, who has retired after spending over 50 years, the last 25 with K.V. Mart, in the grocery industry. Alvarado will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of K.V. Mart and report to the two owners of the company -- Darioush Khaledi, chairman and chief executive officer, and Paul Vazin, president. Alvarado comes to K.V. Mart with over 26 years of experience in the retail industry. He has 13 years' experience with Wal-Mart and for the past two years was COO of a high-volume Hispanic-formatted grocery chain in Northern California.