Fairway Appoints 2 to Run New Production Center

Fairway Group Holdings Corp., the parent company of Fairway Market, has appointed two executives to operate the New York-based company’s new production facility, which will serve as a state-of-the-art central commissary, bakery and produce distribution site with the ability to support about 30 stores. The company currently has 13 grocery stores in addition to a wine and spirits shop.

To that end, Dan Myers has joined Fairway as SVP, production and distribution center, in which he will oversee all aspects of operations at the approximately 240,000-square-foot facility; and Dennis Tortora, hired as controller, production and distribution center, will handle financial and operating controls and systems. The company expects the production center to be up and running by late 2013.

Bringing to his new position years of operations, food manufacturing and distribution management experience, Myers was previously EVP of operations for Stamford, Conn.-based DeMet’s Candy Co. Before DeMet’s, he held a variety of roles, including plant manager and VP of manufacturing.

Tortora’s most recent position was CFO and treasurer of Bohemia, N.Y.-based Balance Bar. Throughout his career, he has taken on a range of financial, operational and administration roles.

Noting that the new hires would help the company to “continue our focus on building a team to support our new central production center and our future store growth opportunities,” Fairway executive chairman Charles Santoro added, “We … believe [Myer’s and Tortora’s] extensive food manufacturing, operational and financial experience will help us as we further execute on our mission to provide the best fresh, natural, organic and conventional foods to our customers at great values.”