Allegiance Retail Services COO John Derderian to take reduced role

John Derderian, president and chief operating officer of Allegiance Retail Services (ARS), is shifting to a part-time role at the grocery retail cooperative, parent of the Foodtown supermarket banner.

Plans call for Derderian, who has served as president since 2015, to become principal adviser for retail development and strategic business initiatives starting Oct. 1, Iselin, New Jersey-based ARS said Thursday. With the transition, ARS has appointed Joseph Fantozzi, vice president and chief financial officer, as interim president effective immediately.

Lou Scaduto, chairman and CEO of ARS, is slated to empanel a board of directors subcommittee to conduct a search for a permanent replacement for Derderian. ARS said the process is expected to be completed by the year’s end.

“We thank John for his years of service and profound accomplishments to successfully position Allegiance to continue to grow both membership and market share into the future,” Scaduto said in a statement.

Joseph Fantozzi, Allegiance Retail Services interim president. / Photo courtesy of ARS

“The board and I are very comfortable with naming Joe Fantozzi as interim president. His six years with Allegiance have been marked by improvements in all aspects of the business units he is currently responsible for, and his advocacy on behalf of the membership and understanding of the business is first-rate,” added Scaduto, who was named chairman and CEO of ARS in November with the passing of Daniel Katz.

An FMI-The Food Industry Association board member, Derderian has more than 45 years of experience in the grocery industry, including 33 years at Northeastern supermarket chain Pathmark Stores, where most recently he was executive vice president of business strategy and marketing. Upon leaving Pathmark in the spring of 2008, he formed and served as managing director of Consumer Comprehension LLC, a retail consultancy that provided marketing, communication and consumer analytics to clients in various retail channels.

Derderian joined ARS as vice president of sales, marketing and member development in February 2012. He succeeded Michael Stolarz as president of ARS in June 2015.

Overall, Allegiance’s retail network now encompasses over 140 supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island under the Foodtown, Freshtown Marketplace, D’Agostino, Gristedes, Pathmark, Morton Williams, LaBella Marketplace, Brooklyn Harvest Market, Market Fresh, Big Deal Food Market, Green Way Markets, Food Basics and and Shop n Bag banners. Last month, ARS added the Brigido’s Fresh Markets banner to its retail roster. The cooperative’s private brands include Foodtown, Green Way and Rancher’s Legend.