SpartanNash Names Communications VP

SpartanNash has signed on another of CEO Tony Sarsam's former colleagues from Borden Dairy, naming Adrienne Chance as the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based grocery retailer and wholesaler's VP of communications. 

Chance previously was senior director of corporate communications for Dallas-based Borden, where Sarsam was chief executive from 2018-2020 before taking over the top spot at SpartanNash. At Borden, Chance reestablished the communications department and led internal and external communications for the company amid its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and subsequent sale.

Most recently, she served for seven months as communications director at strategic advisory firm TrailRunner International in Dallas. In 2017, while leading corporate communications at Topgolf Entertainment Group, PR News named her a Top Woman in PR.

Sarsam, who joined SpartanNash in September, has been steadily building out the company's leadership team, naming a new chief strategy officer, chief supply chain officer (hired away from competitor C&S Wholesale Grocers) and CFO (Jason Monaco, another Borden veteran) this year, as well as new VPs of fresh merchandising; talent, diversity and inclusion; and environmental health and safety. 

In a LinkedIn post announcing the appointment, Sarsam said, Chance "brings terrific energy and experience to us as we set course for a more aggressive communications agenda." Sarsam praised Chance's "extensive experience in fostering culture, driving associate engagement, brand building and leading teams through change" in a company news release.

SpartanNash operates 154 supermarkets, both corporate-owned and under regional chain banners. It also operates a military division that serves as a leading distributor to U.S. military commissaries.