Ahold Delhaize Sustainability Chief to Depart
Marc Croonen, chief sustainability, transformation and communications officer at Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize, will leave the company as of Nov. 1.
Succeeding Croonen in the role is VP Sustainable Retailing Megan Hellstedt, who will report directly to Ahold Delhaize CEO Frans Muller.
Muller noted that Croonen “helped shape and drive our aspiration to be a leading sustainable retailer, installing clear and tangible targets to measure our progress. We have significantly improved in the core areas in which we know we can make the biggest impact in our brands and communities: increasing vitality through healthier food, reducing food waste and running an inclusive business. Marc’s leadership also played a key role in building our corporate brand and reputation, making our workplaces even safer, and in ensuring a smooth transformation after the merger. He leaves the company ready for its next phase. We wish him all the best in the future.”
Recent sustainability efforts at the company’s U.S. businesses include Retail Business Services' commitment to providing cleaner-label private-brand products in more eco-friendly packaging; Hannaford Supermarkets’ interactive website touting its ethically and sustainably sourced products, energy-efficient equipment, promotion of reusable shopping bags, and increased focus on recycling; the introduction of Giant Food LLC’s inaugural zero-waste store; and Food Lion’s being named one of EPA’s 2018 Energy Star Partners of the Year.
Sustainable retailing will continue to be a key part of the retail conglomerate’s strategy: Ahold Delhaize plans to provide an update on the company’s sustainable retailing strategy for 2025 at its Nov. 13 Capital Markets Day in New York City.
Ahold Delhaize USA operates more than 1,950 stores under the Food Lion, Giant, Martin's, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop banners, as well as its Peapod grocery ecommerce service. The company is No. 4 on Progressive Grocer's 2018 Super 50 list of the top grocers in the United States.