Grocery industry veteran Nicholas Bertram joins advisory board of Divert

Grocery industry veteran Nicholas Bertram has joined the advisory board of Divert as a founding member. The tech company, which is on a  mission to solve the wasted food crisis, announced the executive news on Thursday.

“Nick is widely respected for his vision and leadership in the retail industry, and has been at the forefront of sustainable retailing,” said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder, Divert, Inc. “His vast knowledge of retail operations and the food supply chain will be invaluable to Divert as we enter this next phase of growth. We are thrilled to welcome Nick as the founding member of our advisory board and are actively working to bring on additional advisors that mirror our shared commitment to building a healthier, more sustainable future.”

The new advisory board members will focus on corporate strategy, product development, marketing activities, research and more. Divert experienced significant business growth in 2022, expanding its retail customer base by nearly 35% to now include nearly 5,400 retail stores, the tech company said in a statement.

Bertram brings over 20 years of experience in the retail industry, having served as the past president of The Giant Co.

During his tenure at The Giant Co.,  Bertram drove omnichannel growth in expanded markets and championed the company’s transformation toward zero-waste by connecting it to the shared purpose of its 37,000 teammates.

“Working at every level of retail, from part-time stocker to leading a company, has given me a holistic view of the industry and just how pervasive the wasted food problem is - not only for retailers, but for our larger world,” said Bertram in a statement. “Over the last near-decade of my career, Divert was an incredible partner, and I saw firsthand the real impact their solutions had on our business and the broader industry. It is an honor to serve as an advisor as the company accelerates its mission to protect the value of food.”

Prior to his role at The Giant Co., Bertram held a variety of senior leadership positions while at Ahold Delhaize including commercial integration, merchandising, and store strategy as well as sales development.

Bertram also led retail operations for Albertsons banner Jewel-Osco and had 12 years of progressive leadership roles at Walmart.

Founded in 2007, Divert, Inc. is a company that creates advanced technologies and sustainable infrastructure to eliminate wasted food.