Rouses Markets celebrates grand reopening in Mandeville, plans Q4 opening for new Baton Rouge supermarket

Rouses Markets this week celebrated the grand reopening of a Mandeville, Louisiana, supermarket following a “top-to-bottom” renovation, the grocer said.

Rouses also said on Friday, in an email to WGB, that a new store planned for north Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is slated to open during the fourth quarter, “assuming no supply chain issues with equipment,” a spokeswoman said.

The Baton Rouge grocery store is currently under construction and will be about 44,000 square feet, serving as the anchor of a redevelopment of the Ardenwood shopping Center. The area is known as a food desert, according to local media.

The remodeled Mandeville store includes several new features, including a Mongolian Grill with made-to-order stir fries and a temperature-controlled, dry-aged beef locker.

Deli case at the remodeled Rouses store. / Photo courtesy: Rouses

There’s also an olive bar, expanded produce department and a revamped deli case with housemade food. An extensive beer, wine and spirits selection is home to a Rouses Barrel House, with a vast bourbon selection.

Rouses took over the Mandeville store in 2007, after purchasing A&P’s Southern Division that year.

Bakery case at the remodeled Rouses. / Photo courtesy: Rouses

Rouses on Friday also named two new vice presidents: Ron Bonacci in the newly created post of VP of advertising and marketing, and Brian Bosworth as VP of center store. Both report to CEO Donny Rouse.

Bonacci will lead the grocer’s “shift to customer-centric promotions,” joining the chain after serving as VP of advertising for Weis Markets. He also previously led marketing departments at Albertsons banner United Supermarkets, as well as for Food City and S&H Solutions. He has also worked in store operations, category management, merchandising and loyalty marketing for Kroger, where he launched and managed the Kroger Plus Card.

In his new role, Bosworth will oversee grocery, general merchandise, health and beauty care, frozen food, dairy and alcoholic beverages, as well as center store field merchandising and pricing.

He has four decades in the grocery industry, most recently serving as senior director of center store merchandising and sales at Weis Markets.

“We are truly excited about the knowledge and leadership both Ron and Brian bring,” Rouse said. “I am delighted to have them aboard to help us grow and succeed in the future. Right now, we are very focused on how we can use data and feedback to benefit and reward our customers, as well as help our teams make the most-informed decisions for our business. Ron and Brian both bring invaluable expertise in these areas.”

Schriever, Louisiana-based Rouses, which opened its first store in 1960, now operates 63 supermarkets in three Gulf Coast states. It employs more than 7,000 people.