Wal-Mart Creates 4 Core Merchandising Areas

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here said it has created four core merchandising areas that align similar categories — a move designed to make the company more competitive in each customer channel and improve how it targets and localizes merchandise, Bill Simon, president and chief executive officer of Walmart U.S., said.

The food area will continue to be run by Jack Sinclair, executive vice president. Working under him will be Steve Bratspies, senior vice president, dry grocery; DeDe Priest, senior vice president, fresh; Santiago Roces, senior vice president, grocery small formats; Steve Breen, senior vice president, snacks and drinks; and Bruce Nelson, vice president, planning, pricing and modular development.

With the departure of Michael Lewis, Wal-Mart said it is consolidating all fresh and packaged grocery under one manager — Pam Kohn, senior vice president, who will assume responsibility for all global food and consumables, assisted by Andy Ruben as vice president, packaged goods/sourcing, and Rich Rothamel, vice president, product development.

Another of the four core areas will be headed by Duncan Mac Naughton, who is moving from his post as chief merchandising officer for Walmart Canada to become executive vice president of consumables, health and wellness and Walmart.com. MacNaughton was formerly executive vice president, merchandising and marketing, for Minneapolis-based Supervalu.

The other two core merchandising areas are general merchandise and replenishment, headed by John Westling, executive vice president; and soft lines, under Andy Barron, also executive vice president.