Kings/Balducci’s Enhances Marketing Team

Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market has promoted two marketing leaders and has hired a new creative director while also elevating a key member of its finance team.

Photograph courtesy of Kings/Balducci’s

Karen Roche, most recently senior marketing director, has been promoted to VP of marketing and will continue to report to Stephen Corradini, chief merchandising and marketing officer. With a diverse background in retail marketing, including direct mail, email, website, social media initiatives and customer relationship management, Roche’s new role will encompass managing creative content, brand development, digital marketing, media and planning, budgeting and the retailer’s external agency team.

Photograph courtesy of Kings/Balducci’s

Laura Wallace has also been promoted to director of marketing at the Parsippany, N.J.-based retailer, which operates 25 stores under the Kings banner and another 11 Balducci’s, including eight stores, two Gourmet On the Go locations and one Express market in the Philadelphia airport. In her expanded role, Wallace will lead the grocer’s holistic content planning to expand the digital reach and e-commerce opportunities for both banners. Prior to joining Kings, Wallace was a marketing director at the Food Network and Cooking Channel, where she managed advertising partnerships and integrations.

Photograph courtesy of Kings/Balducci’s

Award-winning art director Don Morris has also joined Roche’s team as the regional retailer’s senior creative director. An accomplished storyteller versed in all media, Morris has launched and rebranded companies; designed three film festivals and numerous events; redesigned, rebranded and launched magazines, websites and products; and created numerous successful marketing campaigns. His clients include many of the top names in the publishing, culinary and broadcasting businesses, including American Express; A&E Network; AARP; Bloomberg LP; Cisco; Hearst Corp.; Little, Brown and Co.; Nickelodeon; Scholastic.com; Shake Shack; Sundance; Time Inc.; The Wall Street Journal; and Zappos.com.

Photograph courtesy of Kings/Balducci’s

“At Kings and Balducci’s, we are looking to marketing to test and roll out new ways to attract and retain customers for both banners,” Judy Spires, chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “Growing our marketing team and empowering them to develop innovative creative [coupled] with new technologies to reach new customers are the first steps.” Roche is well-equipped “to lead the charge” of Kings and Balducci’s,” Spires added.

In other Kings news, Stephen Palisi-Reynolds has added the title of VP to his existing controller duties. In his new role, Palisi-Reynolds will also assume additional responsibilities for the treasury functions of the company and will report to Jim Moriarty, EVP and chief financial officer.

“Stephen has consistently demonstrated that he is a collaborative, results-oriented business manager. and we’re thrilled to expand his portfolio and elevate his role,” said Moriarty.

Palisi-Reynolds began his career with Kings in 2008 in the finance department as general accounting and financial systems manager. In 2015, he was appointed as the company’s controller, responsible for all company internal and external financial reporting, corporate tax filings, as well accounts payable and accounts receivable.