NGA Names Two New Board Members

The National Grocers Association (NGA) has appointed Julie Bitter, VP custom development for Unilever, and John Derderian, president of Allegiance Retail Services, to its board of directors.

“I am pleased to welcome Julie and John to NGA's Board of Directors," said Peter Larkin, NGA president/CEO. "Both bring broad industry experience and insight that will be of great value to the Board as we work to develop future strategies to advance our organization and the independent supermarket industry.”

At Unilever, Bitter oversees sales to supermarkets in the southeastern United States and portions of the Northeast as well as leading a team to create and deliver collaborative joint business that leverage category management, shopper insights and supply chain. Prior to joining Unilever in 2013, she spents 22 years with Kraft Foods. 

As president of Allegiance Retail Services, Derderian oversees the company’s cooperative of nearly 100 stores headquartered in central New Jersey. Prior to that, he served in several senior management positions with Pathmark Stores Inc.

The National Grocers Association represents the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry.