LETTER TO THE EDITOR 2003-12-29

Albertsons Over the Years

g Albertsons," Nov. 24, 2003] was well deserved. While I was still at Fred Meyer, we served as Albertsons' wholesaler in Spokane, Wash., and at the same time competed at retail in the Portland, Ore., area. Jonathan Scott was Albertsons' [vice] chairman and chief executive officer. Scottie, [who left Albertsons in 1974], understood the sensitivity of the association. He was a very effective CEO, and I learned to have great respect for him. He went on to become chairman of A&P.

Bob Bolinder [vice chairman] was an outstanding financial man. Bob was a man of great integrity and a major force in Albertsons' growth.

Gary Michael's great strength was in the overall financial area. Possibly the timing [of his appointment in 1991] as CEO, with the company's many challenges at that time, was not the best, but his contributions to Albertsons' success should not be questioned.

Finally, if someone were to ask who contributed the leadership behind Albertsons' tremendous growth, it would be Warren McCain [president and CEO, appointed in 1974]. While I was at Supervalu, Warren and I communicated frequently. He was never real active in industry affairs, but he was as effective as any CEO in our industry: a no-nonsense guy who started at the store level. He was always fair and objective. Above all, he had a very strong will to win.

The story of Albertsons is one of the great stories of the American system of free enterprise.

Jack J. Crocker

retired chairman, CEO

Supervalu

Palm Desert, Calif.