Independents / Regional Grocers

The top ranks of the nation's food-retailing companies saw a lot of changes in 2005, as executives moved up, moved out, or moved on to other opportunities.hairman. He succeeded John Shields, who stepped down.Kroger, Cincinnati, named Geoffrey J. Covert to succeed Robert Hodge, who retired, as president of the Cincinnati-Dayton Division.Penn Traffic, Syracuse, N.Y., named Robert B. Dimond executive