Spartan Stores Makes Organizational Changes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Spartan Stores Inc. on Monday announced organizational changes under the direction of its new president and CEO Craig C. Sturken.
Dennis Eidson, former divisional president and CEO of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company's Midwest region, and assistant general manager for Nash Finch's Michigan operations, has been named to the newly created position of executive VP of marketing and merchandising. The change is expected to improve the company's category management function by better coordinating the retail and distribution marketing and merchandising efforts, according to the company. The retail and distribution marketing and merchandising operations will continue to function independently, but will now report to a single executive officer.
The VP of marketing and VP of retail merchandising positions that previously reported directly to the president and CEO will now report to Eidson. The VP of wholesale merchandising position that previously reported to the EVP of supply chain and convenience store distribution will also report to Eidson.
The divisional VP of Pharm operations and the director of corporate communications will now report directly to Sturken. Under the present organizational structure, retail operations will also report directly to Sturken.
"The merchandising function is a crucial element necessary to help improve the operational and financial performance of our retail stores," Sturken said. "Recognizing that marketing, merchandising and category management execution is essential for success in both our retail and distribution operations, we are making the organizational changes that will help raise the performance of these disciplines to higher levels. The new organizational structure will create stronger managerial ownership and results accountability. Moreover, the new structure will provide better operation and communication channels to our customers and associates. It will further sharpen our focus by bringing us even closer to these important groups, allowing us to improve our product and service offerings and customer satisfaction levels.
Spartan Stores, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., owns and operates 94 supermarkets and 21 deep-discount drug stores in Michigan and Ohio, including Ashcraft's Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, Food Town, Glen's Markets, Great Day Food Centers, Madison Family Market, Prevo's Family Markets and The Pharm. The company also distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to more than 330 independent grocery stores and serves as a wholesale distributor to 6,600 convenience stores.
Dennis Eidson, former divisional president and CEO of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company's Midwest region, and assistant general manager for Nash Finch's Michigan operations, has been named to the newly created position of executive VP of marketing and merchandising. The change is expected to improve the company's category management function by better coordinating the retail and distribution marketing and merchandising efforts, according to the company. The retail and distribution marketing and merchandising operations will continue to function independently, but will now report to a single executive officer.
The VP of marketing and VP of retail merchandising positions that previously reported directly to the president and CEO will now report to Eidson. The VP of wholesale merchandising position that previously reported to the EVP of supply chain and convenience store distribution will also report to Eidson.
The divisional VP of Pharm operations and the director of corporate communications will now report directly to Sturken. Under the present organizational structure, retail operations will also report directly to Sturken.
"The merchandising function is a crucial element necessary to help improve the operational and financial performance of our retail stores," Sturken said. "Recognizing that marketing, merchandising and category management execution is essential for success in both our retail and distribution operations, we are making the organizational changes that will help raise the performance of these disciplines to higher levels. The new organizational structure will create stronger managerial ownership and results accountability. Moreover, the new structure will provide better operation and communication channels to our customers and associates. It will further sharpen our focus by bringing us even closer to these important groups, allowing us to improve our product and service offerings and customer satisfaction levels.
Spartan Stores, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., owns and operates 94 supermarkets and 21 deep-discount drug stores in Michigan and Ohio, including Ashcraft's Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, Food Town, Glen's Markets, Great Day Food Centers, Madison Family Market, Prevo's Family Markets and The Pharm. The company also distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to more than 330 independent grocery stores and serves as a wholesale distributor to 6,600 convenience stores.