Bi-Lo Adds 2 to Management Team

Bob Highsmith, Mike McShane

Bi-Lo, LLC has hired Frank “Bob” Highsmith and Mike McShane for two management positions within the Mauldin, S.C.-based chain.

“With a combined total of more than 70 years in the business, these two gentlemen’s depth of knowledge will be essential assets in continuing to build a better, stronger Bi-Lo that helps its customers save without sacrifice,” said John Gianakas, VP of center store and category management.

Highsmith, a native Floridian, comes to Bi-Lo with more than 30 years of experience in the supermarket industry. He will act as Bi-Lo’s category manager of beer and wine, developing category strategies and driving sales and profits.

Prior to joining Bi-Lo, Highsmith worked in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami over a 30-year period with Food Fair/Pantry Pride, Kash n’ Karry, and Sweetbay Supermarket. He also held various positions for companies in Virginia, Georgia, Alabama and Texas.

McShane joins Bi-Lo after spending the past five years with Southern Family Markets in Birmingham, Ala., where he was a pricing manager, category manager, director of pricing and director of center store merchandising, pricing and merchandising systems.

He brings extensive experience to his new position, that of category manager for specialty foods and rewards, developing category strategies and driving sales and profits.

After beginning his career in the grocery industry at Lucky Supermarkets as a bagger, McShane later advanced to store manager. He also worked as a category manager for Albertsons, American Stores and C&S Wholesale Grocers, and as a senior procurement manager at Winn-Dixie.

Bi-Lo operates 207 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, employing approximately 15,100 people.