The up-and-coming leaders in grocery

Chloe Riley is the Executive Editor of Supermarket News, which delivers the ultimate in competitive business intelligence, news and information for executives in the food retail and grocery industry. A graduate of the School of Journalism at Columbia College Chicago, Chloe previously served as a Digital Strategist at SEO firm Profound Strategy, Associate Editor at B2B hospitality mag HOTELS Magazine, as well as CEO of her own digital strategy company, Chlowe. She lives in Woodstock, Illinois. 

Here in the Midwest, where the SN crew is based, we’re in full-blown winter. It gets darker earlier, the days have a chill, and a new season is upon us. It’s a beautiful time of year, one that I find myself looking forward to more and more.  

Speaking of seasons: This is the inaugural issue of our SN Leaders to Watch — kind of the spring chickens of the grocery world. This new feature is a chance to highlight the up-and-coming grocery workers already doing great things in their careers. 

Take Sal Costanza, director of procurement for The Save Mart Companies. A company-wide change was needed, and Costanza was the one to lead it. He orchestrated strategic alterations in item setup, procurements, warehousing, and distribution methods — moves that resulted in a substantial reduction in cost of goods sold and a corresponding increase in gross profit. 

Or take KeHE’s Jennifer Onoja. She’s the distributor’s senior category manager for dairy, non-dairy and refrigerated beverages now in her 10th year with the company. Part of the way Onoja exercises leadership is via helping product suppliers grow their sales. Last year she participated in the NY MilkLaunch event, a dairy product accelerator program, which gave her an opportunity to work with smaller brands in her category as a mentor.

“I’m very people oriented. That’s how I was raised,” said Onoja. “It’s about how you treat people. I always feel like goodness comes back to you when you give that out.” 

A great message, both within grocery and without. As we continue into winter, I invite you to kick back with our magazine and a warm mug of something in your hand. Enjoy the beauty all around you.