Shoppers Food & Pharmacy President to Retire; Successor Named
LANHAM, Md. -- Shoppers Food & Pharmacy here said yesterday that its president Bill White, a 40 year-plus veteran of the grocery trade, will retire at the end of the fiscal year; and that Dick Bergman, currently president of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Scott's Food & Pharmacy, has been chosen to succeed him.
Both Shoppers Food & Pharmacy and Scott's Food & Pharmacy are Supervalu banners.
During White's tenure, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy grew to 61 stores, and entered the Baltimore market after a major conversion effort that rebranded Metro stores to the Shoppers banner. At the same time, the retailer's name changed from Shoppers Food Warehouse to Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, better reflecting the its fuller range of services.
In recent years, White led the development of El Primero Mercado, a Hispanic grocery store based on the "international aisle" concept developed by him and his team.
"Bill has been a passionate leader for Shoppers Food & Pharmacy," noted John Hooley, president of Supervalu's retail food companies, in a statement. "He has built a management team that is guided by the same kind of enthusiasm, innovation, and excitement that Bill brings to grocery retailing in one of the country's largest markets. He's been instrumental to Shoppers' growth and success."
Bergman began his grocery career in 1963 at Kroger, where he worked in almost every aspect of the business, from carryout and meat clerk to management and director positions in advertising, operations, and corporate functions. He later served as s.v.p. of merchandising and operations for Rice Epicurean Markets in Houston for a decade. Bergman joined Supervalu banner Farm Fresh in 1998, where he was s.v.p., merchandising and operations. In 2003 he came to Scott's, where he represented the banner in TV ads for more than a year.
In other Supervalu hiring news, Bill Gillispie has been named g.m. of Scott's. Gillispie comes from the Chicago area, where he was v.p. of merchandising for the east region of Cub Foods, another Supervalu subsidiary.
"Dick Bergman brings a terrific background to Shoppers," said Hooley. "He's been a tremendous asset to our Farm Fresh and Scott's organizations, and I am confident that he brings a great deal of enthusiasm, insight, and experience to his new role as the head of this very important retail banner."
Shopper's Food & Pharmacy operates 61 stores in Baltimore, northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Scott's has 18 stores in the Fort Wayne area.
Both Shoppers Food & Pharmacy and Scott's Food & Pharmacy are Supervalu banners.
During White's tenure, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy grew to 61 stores, and entered the Baltimore market after a major conversion effort that rebranded Metro stores to the Shoppers banner. At the same time, the retailer's name changed from Shoppers Food Warehouse to Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, better reflecting the its fuller range of services.
In recent years, White led the development of El Primero Mercado, a Hispanic grocery store based on the "international aisle" concept developed by him and his team.
"Bill has been a passionate leader for Shoppers Food & Pharmacy," noted John Hooley, president of Supervalu's retail food companies, in a statement. "He has built a management team that is guided by the same kind of enthusiasm, innovation, and excitement that Bill brings to grocery retailing in one of the country's largest markets. He's been instrumental to Shoppers' growth and success."
Bergman began his grocery career in 1963 at Kroger, where he worked in almost every aspect of the business, from carryout and meat clerk to management and director positions in advertising, operations, and corporate functions. He later served as s.v.p. of merchandising and operations for Rice Epicurean Markets in Houston for a decade. Bergman joined Supervalu banner Farm Fresh in 1998, where he was s.v.p., merchandising and operations. In 2003 he came to Scott's, where he represented the banner in TV ads for more than a year.
In other Supervalu hiring news, Bill Gillispie has been named g.m. of Scott's. Gillispie comes from the Chicago area, where he was v.p. of merchandising for the east region of Cub Foods, another Supervalu subsidiary.
"Dick Bergman brings a terrific background to Shoppers," said Hooley. "He's been a tremendous asset to our Farm Fresh and Scott's organizations, and I am confident that he brings a great deal of enthusiasm, insight, and experience to his new role as the head of this very important retail banner."
Shopper's Food & Pharmacy operates 61 stores in Baltimore, northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Scott's has 18 stores in the Fort Wayne area.