Supervalu Makes More Executive Changes
Supervalu Inc. is further restructuring its executive leadership team to “ensure alignment around the company’s goals and to better drive and execute the company’s business turnaround,” the Minneapolis-based grocer announced Wednesday.
“We are moving quickly to reinvigorate Supervalu, and that starts with leadership,” said Wayne Sales, president, CEO and chairman, who replaced Craig Herkert earlier this summer. “The changes I have made to my executive team are designed to address two of our most immediate priorities: driving profitable sales in our retail stores and taking costs out of the business. These efforts are critical to our successful turnaround.”
To address profitable sales growth, Kevin Holt has taken on an expanded role as president of Supervalu Retail. In this position, Holt will drive the overall strategy for the company’s traditional retail and pharmacy divisions, including overseeing the marketing and merchandising functions. He will work closely with Sales and his leadership team to clearly develop the company’s strategic platform.
Holt came to Supervalu in May from Hudsonville Ice Cream and Kilwin’s Quality Confections in Michigan, where he was president. Before that, he spent three years with Sears Holding Co. and 13 years with Meijer, working in leadership positions of increasing responsibility in retail, information technology and strategic planning.
As part of this change, executive VP and chief marketing officer Michael Moore will now report to Holt, as will Tim Lowe, who has been promoted to executive VP of merchandising. With nearly 20 years of retail experience, Lowe most recently served as Supervalu’s senior VP of merchandising and was also the president of the company’s Shoppers division from 2010 to 2012.
In addition, Janel Haugarth has accepted the newly created position of executive VP of business optimization and process improvement. She will be responsible for identifying and executing strategies to make Supervalu a more streamlined, effective organization.
During her 35-year career with Supervalu, Haugarth has had leadership-level exposure to every area of the company, and has been instrumental in developing and implementing successful business strategies. With Haugarth’s full-time focus on enterprise-wide optimization, the company will consolidate logistics and procurement leadership under Fred Boehler, who will now report directly to Sales as the senior VP of supply chain.
“The team we have in place includes exceptional leaders whose combined experience will help lead us through the revitalization of our business,” Sales said. “I believe this new leadership alignment will allow us to act quickly, efficiently and effectively to drive the successful turnaround of Supervalu.”
Supervalu Inc. operates 4,400 stores composed of 1,101 traditional retail stores, including 798 in-store pharmacies; 1,336 hard discount stores, of which 939 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,950 independent stores serviced primarily by the company’s food distribution business.