EXECUTIVE CHANGES: KING KULLEN ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS...TOPCO APPOINTS NEW VP OF PRODUCE 2004-09-20 (2)

KING KULLEN ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS

Grocery Co. recently promoted several executives in the produce area.

Joseph Forte, the company's new vice president of perishables, succeeds Tom Massaro, who was appointed senior vice president of operations at the chain, replacing Thomas Reilly, who retired. Forte, who joined King Kullen in 1997, most recently was director of produce/floral. Forte reports to Massaro.

Richard Conger replaced Forte as director of produce and floral. Conger, who previously served as produce coordinator, joined King Kullen in March 1999. He reports to Forte.

The company's new produce coordinator, Guy Savio, joined King Kullen in 1979 when he was hired as produce manager for the company's store in Riverhead, N.Y. Before joining King Kullen, Savio worked for the old Hills Supermarkets chain on New York's Long Island. Savio reports to Conger.

John Porco, King Kullen's new produce specialist, began his career in the supermarket business working for Food Emporium in the New York City borough of the Bronx. In 1999, he was hired as produce manager for King Kullen's Port Washington, N.Y., store. Porco reports to Savio and Conger.

King Kullen operates 49 stores in the New York area.

TOPCO APPOINTS NEW VP OF PRODUCE

SKOKIE, Ill. -- Topco Associates announced the appointment of Rob O'Rourke as vice president of produce. O'Rourke will oversee development, management and growth of Topco's produce program and will report directly to Jeff Posner, Topco's executive vice president and chief procurement officer.

O'Rourke most recently served as president of RJO Produce Marketing, a company he founded in 1993. RJO specialized in the procurement, inspection and category planning of certain highly perishable produce categories. Previously, O'Rourke served as vice president of Sterling Oak Produce, a company specializing in the inspection and procurement of West Coast fruit commodities.

Topco is a food industry cooperative with 51 members.