Topco Adds to Board of Directors

Topco Associates LLC has appointed Emile Breaux, president and CEO of Baton Rouge, La.-based Associated Grocers Inc., and Dave Staples, president and CEO of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash Co., to its board of directors.

“We are fortunate to have these two strong leaders on Topco’s board,” noted Randy Skoda, president and CEO of the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company. “I am confident that their strategic insight, industry knowledge and deep commitment will help Topco advance its mission and core values on behalf of the membership.”

Breaux succeeds J.H. Campbell Jr., Associated Grocers’ executive chairman, who retired from Topco’s board earlier this year, and Dave Staples replaces former SpartanNash CEO Dennis Eidson, who retired from SpartanNash and Topco’s board in May.

Along with Breaux, Staples and Skoda, the 2017 Topco board consists of Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO, Brookshire Holdings Inc.; Chris Coborn, chairman, president and CEO, Coborn’s Inc.; Charlie D’Amour, president and COO, Big Y Foods Inc.; Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president, Hy-Vee Inc.; Scott Grimmett, president and CEO, Golub Corp./Price Chopper; Laura Karet, president and CEO, Giant Eagle Inc.; Steve Smith, president and CEO, K-VA-T Food Stores Inc.; and Pete Van Helden, president and CEO, Stater Bros. Markets.

Topco provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers and foodservice suppliers.