FMI Names VP, Fresh Foods

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has appointed Richard "Rick" Stein its VP of fresh foods. In this newly created role, Stein will develop a portfolio of services and activities to help members create and execute their fresh food strategies, spanning the perishables, service deli, bakery and prepared food departments. FMI views the position as key to the implementation of its retailer and supplier "Total Store Collaboration" strategic initiative.

"Rick's breadth of experience will lend itself to addressing some of our members' most critical and challenging issues, particularly in fresh foods categories -- from marketing and merchandising, to supply chain and store operations, with a holistic, 360-degree perspective that will help us -- to help them, achieve their marketplace objectives," said Mark Baum, SVP and chief collaboration officer at Arlington, Va.-based FMI. "Rick will also help FMI to build out our Total Store Collaboration platform and capabilities."

Before joining FMI, Stein was VP of retail merchandising and marketing execution for Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway, where he led marketing activities for the grocer's eastern division, consisting of 180 stores and 20,000 employees. He began his career at the retail store level, and in his more than three decades at Safeway, he rose through the ranks in both divisional and corporate roles running the gamut of retail/store operations, category management, sales and marketing/merchandising. 

Among other industry recognitions, Stein received the Donald J Smith Award for Outstanding Performance, Safeway's highest community service honor.