UNITED SUPERMARKETS' CRAWFORD TO CHAIR GMDC 2004-01-19 (2)

LIZA CASABONA

NEW YORK -- Gary Crawford, director of nonfood operations for United Supermarkets, Lubbock, Texas, is the new chairman of the board of directors of the General Merchandise Distributors Council, Colorado Springs, Colo.

At a press event here this month, GMDC announced that Crawford would succeed Bill Mansfield, formerly with Marsh Supermarkets, Indianapolis, who served as chairman for two years. Crawford has been director of nonfood operations for United since 1999. Before that, he served in various positions with Randalls Food Markets, Houston. Early in his career, Crawford worked for Sav-on Drugs, Houston.

Following up on a decision made last year, GMDC named the first three suppliers to serve on the association's board of directors. Garry Briddon, vice president and general manager, U.S. trade relations and business development for Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y., will chair GMDC's General Merchandise Advisory Board; Roland Regnier, director of corporate development and e-commerce for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Coraopolis, Pa., will chair the Health and Beauty Care Advisory Board; and Jerry Brown, vice president of industry and business development, Unilever Home and Personal Care USA, Greenwich, Conn., will chair the Membership Advisory Board. Each is appointed for a two-year term.