DOMINICK'S REALIGNS MANAGEMENT

PAT NATSCHKE LENIUS

NORTHLAKE, Ill. -- Dominick's Finer Foods here has named Herb Young senior vice president and general manager of its Omni SuperStores division as part of a series of executive changes.

Young's position is new. He was senior vice president of marketing for Dominick's, a position he held since joining the company in 1990. His new responsibilities include overseeing operations of the 17-store Omni division.

Young continues to report to Dan Josephs, president and chief operating officer of the 101-store Dominick's chain.

Gary Benson continues as division vice president of marketing at Omni, but he now reports to Young. Benson previously reported to Josephs.

Additionally, Bob Mariano, who was senior vice president of perishables, will now assume Young's former marketing responsibilities. Mariano's new title, senior vice president of marketing, merchandising and procurement, reflects an expansion of his responsibilities beyond perishables, a spokeswoman said. He continues to report to Josephs.

The spokeswoman said the executive changes are part of Dominick's attempt to develop a long-term business plan. "We felt the need to focus our resources, bring together similar functions and shape it into a form that will help us develop our long-range plans," she said.

Mariano joined Dominick's in 1973 and has held a variety of merchandising, manufacturing and store operation positions. Young has been working in the food industry for more than 30 years, and he previously held positions at Topco, Skokie, Ill., and H-E-B Grocery Co., San Antonio.

Dominick's 84 conventional supermarkets and 17 Omni stores generate annual sales of more than $2 billion, the spokeswoman said.