Alliance Retail Group Hires New Chief Sales Officer

Sam Rhodes has joined Alliance Retail Group (ARG) as chief sales officer. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading all merchandising and advertising activities for the Nashville.-based self-negotiating retail ad group covering 27 states.

Rhodes, who will report to Joe Wolf, president of ARG, will also be responsible for helping the 960-store Alliance grow their sales. “We are very excited to have Sam join our team to help us further our mission of improving the profitability and competitiveness of our independent retailers,” Wolf said in a statement.

Photograph courtesy of ARG

With more than 25 years of sales experience acquired from roles with the Pillsbury Co. and Coca-Cola, Rhodes most recently led Associated Wholesale Grocers’ J.M. Smucker Co. team, and said he is “excited to join the premier negotiating company for independents in the U.S. Their vision to help independent retailers presents an awesome opportunity ... to utilize my skills and experience in a positive way for the industry,” Rhodes said.

In addition to negotiating the lowest cost of goods for independent retailers, Alliance provides a suite of services, including category management, advertising and operational analytics for independents.