Bashas’ Appoints New Marketing Exec

Bashas’ Family of Stores has hired retail industry veteran Barry Craft as VP of marketing, merchandising and procurement. Following a transition period, Craft will replace Phil Hawkes, who is retiring.

Hailing from leadership roles at regional retailers in Southeastern U.S. and Texas, Craft brings with him extensive supermarket experience in merchandising, marketing and category management, as well as developing new brands and private labels.

Barry Craft photograph courtesy of Bashas'

“Barry brings almost 40 years of experience in the supermarket industry, with a notable track record of generating sales and margin growth,” Bashas’ President Edward “Trey” Basha said in a statement. “He has built and maintained excellent relationships within the organizations he has worked for, as well as with the vendor community, and this business philosophy makes him an ideal fit for our Bashas’ leadership team.”

Craft was most recently director of pricing and business integration at Fiesta Supermarkets, where he previously led the center store category management team. Prior to that, Craft spent 16 years at H-E-B serving as unit director/team leader, senior business development manager and director of merchandising.

Craft’s grocery career began with a Winn Dixie Retail Career Scholarship out of high school, followed by a 10-year stint at Bruno’s Inc., where he launched the company’s Tennessee market and later became district manager over multiple formats in Birmingham, Ala.

Related:1-on-1 With Bashas' President, CEO Edward 'Trey' Basha

Craft also was director of retail operations for SGSM Acquisition Group, where he oversaw the Schwegmann Supermarket chain in New Orleans, and later maintained the chains operational value through divesture.