Dollar General Realigns Merchandising Team, Names S.V.P./General Manager of Consumables
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- In a move to strengthen its merchandising efforts, discount chain Dollar General is realigning its merchandising function, placing it under two general merchandise managers who will report to Beryl J. Buley, division president of merchandising, marketing, and supply chain.
Rita Branham, a leader on the merchandising team for most of her 24-year tenure at Dollar General, has been named s.v.p./g.m.m. of consumables. A search is underway for a second s.v.p./g.m.m. who will oversee the apparel, home, and seasonal categories, Dollar General said.
"The realignment reflects our commitment to improving merchandising and reinforcing our leadership among small-box value discounters," said Buley in a statement. "Over the years, Rita has built strong relationships with vendors. Her credibility is reinforced by experience and a thorough knowledge of the Dollar General customer. I believe that our strength in consumables will be reinforced under Rita's leadership."
In her new role, Branham will define the company's strategy for consumables, which includes packaged and refrigerated food, candy and snacks, health and beauty care, pet supplies, home cleaning, and paper products.
Two divisional merchandising managers will report to Branham, including John Cosma, another Dollar General veteran, who has been promoted to v.p./d.m.m. of food and perishables. A second d.m.m., overseeing nonfood consumables, will be named at a later date.
The s.v.p./g.m.m. of home, apparel, and seasonal will tackle the nonconsumable areas of the business, including categories such as clothing, domestics, and holiday. Rick McNeely, v.p./d.m.m. of seasonal, and two additional d.m.m.'s, to be named, will report to Buley in the interim.
Dollar General also appointed Tim Money as v.p. of forecasting and inventory planning, the position vacated by Branham. Money previously served as the director of retail planning and allocation/merchandise presentation at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Prior to that, he was a director of merchandise planning and allocation for Kohl's Department Stores.
Dollar General operates 7,993 stores throughout the country.
Rita Branham, a leader on the merchandising team for most of her 24-year tenure at Dollar General, has been named s.v.p./g.m.m. of consumables. A search is underway for a second s.v.p./g.m.m. who will oversee the apparel, home, and seasonal categories, Dollar General said.
"The realignment reflects our commitment to improving merchandising and reinforcing our leadership among small-box value discounters," said Buley in a statement. "Over the years, Rita has built strong relationships with vendors. Her credibility is reinforced by experience and a thorough knowledge of the Dollar General customer. I believe that our strength in consumables will be reinforced under Rita's leadership."
In her new role, Branham will define the company's strategy for consumables, which includes packaged and refrigerated food, candy and snacks, health and beauty care, pet supplies, home cleaning, and paper products.
Two divisional merchandising managers will report to Branham, including John Cosma, another Dollar General veteran, who has been promoted to v.p./d.m.m. of food and perishables. A second d.m.m., overseeing nonfood consumables, will be named at a later date.
The s.v.p./g.m.m. of home, apparel, and seasonal will tackle the nonconsumable areas of the business, including categories such as clothing, domestics, and holiday. Rick McNeely, v.p./d.m.m. of seasonal, and two additional d.m.m.'s, to be named, will report to Buley in the interim.
Dollar General also appointed Tim Money as v.p. of forecasting and inventory planning, the position vacated by Branham. Money previously served as the director of retail planning and allocation/merchandise presentation at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Prior to that, he was a director of merchandise planning and allocation for Kohl's Department Stores.
Dollar General operates 7,993 stores throughout the country.