EXECUTIVE CHANGES: ALBERTSONS TAPS VAN HELDEN FOR CALIFORNIA DIVISION...PLAISANCE RETURNS TO SAFEWAY AS SENIOR VP OF FINANCE...GOURMET GARAGE ADDS LAW FIRM VETERAN TO HEAD HR

ALBERTSONS TAPS VAN HELDEN FOR CALIFORNIA DIVISION

it has named Pete Van Helden president and chief executive officer of the company's newly formed California Food division, which combines the Northern and Southern California divisions, and will be based in Fullerton. He most recently was president of the Jewel-Osco division in Chicago. Albertsons said the move would accelerate the California Food division's dual-branding partnership with its Sav-on Drug division, while Van Helden "explores key synergies in human resources, procurement, merchandising and Six Sigma quality," referring to the company's improvement initiative. Dave Simonson and Donna Robbins remain presidents of the Southern and Northern California divisions, respectively. Albertsons said it would name a successor at Jewel-Osco "in the near future."

PLAISANCE RETURNS TO SAFEWAY AS SENIOR VP OF FINANCE

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway here last week said it has named Melissa C. Plaisance senior vice president of finance and investor relations. She will be responsible for the company's treasury and investor relations functions. Plaisance returns to Safeway from Del Monte Foods, where she was senior vice president of finance and corporate communications. She first joined Safeway in 1990 and held various positions in finance and investor relations before leaving last year.

GOURMET GARAGE ADDS LAW FIRM VETERAN TO HEAD HR

NEW YORK -- Gourmet Garage here said last week it had named Lisa Farrell as vice president, human resources. She most recently was a litigation associate specializing in workers' compensation at Miller, Kagan, Rodriguez & Silver, a law firm in West Palm Beach, Fla. Gourmet Garage operates four specialty grocery stores in Manhattan.

NEW YORK UFCW LOCAL NAMES PRESIDENT, TREASURER

NEW YORK -- United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 here last week said it named Bruce W. Both president after serving as its secretary-treasurer since 1999. Both, who has been with the union since 1986, succeeds Frank Meehan, who resigned in September. Leonard Salvo was appointed secretary-treasurer after serving as the union's executive vice president since 1999. Salvo has worked for Local 1500 for 27 years, and has been a member for more than 30. Local 1500 represents 22,000 workers in the New York area.