Kroger Names Senior Merchandising VP

Michael J. Donnelly has been named senior vice president of merchandising at the Kroger Co.

Donnelly has been president of the company’s Los Angeles-based Ralphs Grocery Co. division since August 2007. In his new position, Donnelly will lead all merchandising and procurement for Kroger.

“We are very pleased to have Mike join our team as our senior vice president of merchandising. He is well respected within our company and the industry for his merchandising excellence,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger president and COO. “Mike’s extensive industry experience will help Kroger continue to build and strengthen our partnerships with suppliers and vendors that are so important to Kroger’s success.”

Donnelly held a number of leadership positions in the company before becoming president of Ralphs, one of Kroger’s largest retail operating divisions. He began his career in the grocery business with Fry’s of California in 1978. In 1989, he moved to Arizona as a district manager for Fry’s and later became VP of merchandising. Donnelly led the Fry’s division as president from 2000 until 2002, when he was appointed group VP for drug/GM at Kroger’s general office in Cincinnati. He returned to Fry’s in 2003 and remained there as president of the Arizona-based division until he was appointed president of Ralphs in 2007.

Donnelly, who will relocate to Cincinnati, will also join the board of DunnhumbyUSA, a Kroger joint venture that analyzes market data to personalize customer experience of retailers and brands. He will remain a member of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council.

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,449 supermarkets and multidepartment stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.