Save-A-Lot Restructures Procurement Team; Longtime EVP Harris Departs
In tandem with Supervalu’s aspirations to double the size of its St. Louis-based discount chain, Save-A-Lot, to 2,400 stores over the next five years, the discount chain’s procurement mechanism is being restructured as part of the marketing/merchandising group, while longtime SVP of procurement Steve Harris has retired from the company.
Bill Gillispie, SVP, marketing and merchandising, will oversee Save-A-Lot’s reorganized procurement team, which will aim to strengthen communication between its members to better meet the needs of consumers. David McDaniel and Mike Kemp, both VPs of procurement; Andrea Wagner, VP of consumer segments and brand strategy; and Larry Tyler, VP, sales planning, analytics and in-store execution, will now report to Gillispie.
Harris, meanwhile, left Save-A-Lot after a 31-year career at the chain. Harris played a major role in developing the efficiencies and simplicity of Save-A-Lot’s unique business model, and is known for his pragmatic approach and deep knowledge of the discount format. Bill Shaner, Save-A-Lot’s president and CEO, said, “His retirement gives us the opportunity to look at our current structure and determine how we can leverage other strong leaders to meet our company goals.”
The changes took effect Nov. 19, 2009, but the company’s executive team “will continue working to plan and execute the appropriate knowledge sharing and priority handoffs,” according to Save-A-Lot, which operates 1,200 stores in 39 states from Maine to California.
Bill Gillispie, SVP, marketing and merchandising, will oversee Save-A-Lot’s reorganized procurement team, which will aim to strengthen communication between its members to better meet the needs of consumers. David McDaniel and Mike Kemp, both VPs of procurement; Andrea Wagner, VP of consumer segments and brand strategy; and Larry Tyler, VP, sales planning, analytics and in-store execution, will now report to Gillispie.
Harris, meanwhile, left Save-A-Lot after a 31-year career at the chain. Harris played a major role in developing the efficiencies and simplicity of Save-A-Lot’s unique business model, and is known for his pragmatic approach and deep knowledge of the discount format. Bill Shaner, Save-A-Lot’s president and CEO, said, “His retirement gives us the opportunity to look at our current structure and determine how we can leverage other strong leaders to meet our company goals.”
The changes took effect Nov. 19, 2009, but the company’s executive team “will continue working to plan and execute the appropriate knowledge sharing and priority handoffs,” according to Save-A-Lot, which operates 1,200 stores in 39 states from Maine to California.