Save Mart Appoints Steve Junqueiro Prez; Unified Names Christine Neal S.V.P./Treasurer

Save Mart Supermarkets has appointed Steve Junqueiro president, reporting to chairman and c.e.o. Bob Piccinini. Junqueiro will retain the title of c.o.o.

"Over the course of the last year, Steve Junqueiro has demonstrated great leadership as we relaunched the Lucky banner and began developing a new Save Mart Supermarkets family," said Piccinini. "He has helped me and the executive team to build on the company’s strengths and has focused with passion on leadership development, operational efficiency, and companywide communication."

Junqueiro was appointed e.v.p. March 2007, and was named c.o.o. May 2008. He continues to lead the company’s administrative, operations, merchandising, marketing, strategic planning, and distribution efforts. A 35-year employee, he has worked his way up the organization from his start as a produce clerk. He has also been actively committed to many charitable causes and regularly supports a variety of industry events and issues.

In another high-profile grocery industry executive move, Unified Grocers has appointed Christine Neal to the position of s.v.p. of finance and treasurer of the company. She will continue to report to Richard Martin, e.v.p. of finance and administration and c.f.o.

"Christine has been a pivotal part in Unified's overall strategic planning, business development and growth," said Al Plamann, president and c.e.o. of Unified. "Over the past several years, she has played a leading role in the negotiation and management of the company's lines of credit, the results of which ensured Unified's capacity to finance our Stockton, Calif. distribution center expansion and the acquisition of Associated Grocers, Inc. [in Seattle]. Recently Christine negotiated additional bank participation in Unified's credit lines, which gives the company financial strength for new opportunities."

Neal has served as treasurer since joining Unified in 2003. She is responsible for strategic planning activities and also manages the company's capital structure, which includes lending arrangements and shareholders' equity, as well as overseeing the cash management, tax, and payroll departments. In addition to her current responsibilities, Neal is establishing a centralized risk oversight function on a companywide basis.

Prior to joining Unified, Neal acquired a wide range of financial experience within the food industry, including as a financial consultant to Unified Grocers. She was also c.f.o. for the California Restaurant Association and controller for Gelson's Markets, a premier upscale retail grocery chain in Southern California.
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