Giant Food taps Diane Hicks as senior VP of operations

A 30-year retail veteran is returning to her roots at Giant Food next month.

The Landover, Md.-based supermarket chain has named Diane Hicks as senior vice president of operations, effective Sept. 12. She previously spent 12 years at Giant Food in various leadership capacities in merchandising and operations.

Most recently, Hicks (pictured left) served as vice president of operations for Stop & Shop in New York and Connecticut. Giant Food and Stop & Shop are members of the Ahold Delhaize USA family of supermarket chains along the East Coast.

“The entire Giant Food family is thrilled to welcome Diane back to our team,” Giant Food President Ira Kress said in a statement. “She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in omnichannel store operations, and we look forward to the leadership and growth she will bring to the Giant Food brand in this role.”

Besides overseeing omnichannel store operations in Giant Food’s greater Washington, D.C., market area, Hicks will head up store support, asset protection, pharmacy and store development.

“I am energized to be returning to my roots at Giant Food to support the continued growth of this beloved local brand,” Hicks commented. “I am confident I can build on the positive momentum and introduce new strategies to support omnichannel operations and development to make this the best place to work and shop. I’ve felt at home in the Ahold Delhaize family and look forward to all that is to come in my new role."

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As a vice president at Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop, Hicks oversaw strategic leadership, operations excellence, fostering positive culture, talent management, and overall profit-and-loss responsibility for stores. She has held a range of positions through the years, including assistant store manager, store manager, sales manager, human resources manager, district director, director of produce/floral sales and merchandising, director of center store sales and merchandising, and vice president of sales and merchandising.

Overall, Giant Food operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, including 153 pharmacies, 92 full-service PNC Banks and 27 Starbucks locations. The chain also has 160 Giant Pickup locations and offers Giant Delivers home delivery in all of its markets.