The Giant Co. appoints John Ruane president

John Ruane, who has served as the interim president of The Giant Co. following Nicholas Bertram’s departure last year, has been named president effective immediately, the grocer's parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA, announced on Thursday.

“We have been fortunate to have John lead The Giant Co. as interim president during a time of transition, and we are excited about this next step in his career,” CEO JJ Fleeman said in a statement. “He has led the team during a very important time in the company’s history as it celebrates its 100-year anniversary this fall. John is a leader who cares deeply about his team and serving customers. He will continue to drive strong performance and advance many of the hallmarks of The Giant Co. brand, including growth in its local markets, innovation in operations and a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as health and sustainability.”

Ruane, who started his career in the grocery industry at age 14 at Foodtown in New Jersey, joined Ahold Delhaize USA companies in 2011 and The Giant Co. in 2018.

“I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of The Giant Co.,” Ruane said in a statement. “Guided by our purpose of connecting families for a better future in all that we do, I’m looking forward to building on The Giant Company’s incredible legacy and working with our entire team to do what we do best: ensuring we are always well-positioned to not only meet but exceed the needs of our customers and communities who’ve trusted us for the past century.”

Ruane currently serves as chair of FMI’s Fresh Food Leadership Committee and is on the board of directors at Philabundance, one of the largest hunger-relief organization’s serving the Philadelphia area. Ruane attended Rutgers College and has completed post-graduate programs at Cornell University and Harvard Business School.

Founded in 1923, The Giant Co. family of brands includes Giant, Martin’s, Giant Heirloom Market, Giant Direct and Martin’s Direct.