EXECUTIVE CHANGES: KROGER ELEVATES FLORA, TAPS MACAULAY...BJ'S NAMES A&P VETERAN STOUT AS EXECUTIVE VP

KROGER ELEVATES FLORA, TAPS MACAULAY

eek said Jon C. Flora has been promoted to senior vice president, with responsibility for several retail operating divisions. He also will become an officer of the company. Flora, 49, previously was president of Kroger's Great Lakes division, which operates 243 stores in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. He also served as president of the former Michigan division for several years before it was consolidated to form the Great Lakes unit in March 2003. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of Kroger's Southwest division, which is based in Houston. He began his retail career in 1971 at Dillon Stores, which has since been acquired by Kroger.

Bruce A. Macaulay, 50, will succeed Flora as president of the Great Lakes division, based in Columbus, Ohio. He previously served as group vice president of grocery/drug/general merchandise/pharmacy merchandising, procurement and advertising, a position he had held since 2001. He has held a series of management positions since joining Kroger as a part-time retail clerk in 1973.

BJ'S NAMES A&P VETERAN STOUT AS EXECUTIVE VP

NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club here last week named Karen Stout executive vice president of merchandising. Most recently, Stout was president of A&P's Mid-Atlantic division. In her new position, Stout will be responsible for BJ's food and general merchandise strategy. Stout, a 25-year industry veteran, has an extensive background in the buying and management of fresh areas, managing operations, distribution, marketing, human resources and finance. Before joining A&P in 1997, Stout had progressed through management to become senior vice president at Harris Teeter Supermarkets. She also had served as head of A&P's New Orleans division.