SpartanNash Promotes Its Supply Chain, Communications Chiefs

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash announced the promotion of two executives who joined the retailer and wholesaler in 2021. 

Dave Petko, whom SpartanNash hired from distribution rival C&S Wholesale Grocers last April, was promoted from SVP and EVP; he retains his title of chief supply chain officer. Adrienne Chance, who also signed on to SpartanNash last April, was promoted from VP to SVP of communications. 

In separate news releases this week, SpartanNash touted the accomplishments that both company leaders have tallied in the past year. Petko, SpartanNash noted, helped lead the expansion of an agreement with Coastal Pacific Food Distributors that will see SpartanNash bolstering its West Coast presence, starting up distribution operations from a 500,000-square-foot facility in Stockton, Calif., this month. Petko's leadership also has been instrumental in SpartanNash's launch of a supply-chain transformation initiative that seeks to "drive savings, optimize the network footprint and rationalize SKUs," according to the company. 

See also: SpartanNash Retail Sales Fared Better Than Expected in 2021

"Dave’s leadership has resulted in immediate impact on our productivity, making us more efficient and effective and enabling us to focus more than ever on insights that drive innovative solutions for our food retailer customers," SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam said in a statement. 

Chance, who joined SpartanNash from Borden Dairy, where Sarsam previously was CEO, was praised for helping lead development of a more-robust ESG strategy for the company and directing the implementation and rollout of the SpartanNash's new Our Winning Recipe corporate identity.

Communications is a critical component of SpartanNash's People First culture, Sarsam said, adding that Chance in the past year has "demonstrated measurable results as we build associate engagement internally and brand awareness externally."