Dom's Kitchen & Market appoints Don Fitzgerald sole CEO

Dom’s Kitchen & Market, an upscale grocer with two locations in Chicago, has appointed Don Fitzgerald sole CEO. He had served as the grocery retailer’s co-CEO with grocery titan Bob Mariano.

Mariano will remain co-chairman of the board of directors along with Jay Owen, Dom’s co-founder and chairman.

Mariano previously headed Dominick’s Finer Foods and later created the upscale Mariano’s grocery concept in Illinois. The Mariano's name and 14 stores are being sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers as part of the recently announced $1.9 billion divestiture deal to satisfy requirements of the pending Kroger-Albertsons merger.

“We are excited to announce that the Dom’s Kitchen & Market leadership team has decided to name a singular CEO, Don Fitzgerald,” the retailer said in an email to WGB. “Since being elevated to co-CEO in 2021, Don has had all the operating roles reporting to him, and this will further solidify those lines of reporting. Don has been an integral part of the Dom’s team since inception and this change sets up the team to deliver on the next phase of growth for Dom’s.”

The leadership changes is designed to boost “efficiency and decision making and also reflect the evolving needs of Dom's Kitchen & Market,” the retailer said in a statement. “Bob and Jay will continue leading the board and setting long-term strategy.”

Fitzgerald, an industry veteran and former Mariano's executive, told WGB last fall at a Dom’s Kitchen & Market’s store opening in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood that more store openings are to be expected.

“We’re still on our path to 15 stores by 2025,” he said.