Winn-Dixie Names Group VP of Perishables
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. has appointed James “Jim” Smits its group VP of perishables. In his new role, Smits will handle all aspects of sales and merchandising for the Jacksonville, Fla.-based grocer’s perishable departments. He will report directly to chief merchandising and marketing officer Dan Portnoy, who praised Smits’ “skills and leadership abilities.”
Before joining Winn-Dixie, Smits spent over 30 years in the grocery industry, including 23 years at H.E. Butt Grocery Co., where he began his career and rose to become both VP of produce & floral marketing and procurement and VP of marketing and merchandising of the North Texas region. His most recent position was group VP of fresh food merchandising at Supervalu. Smits has also worked for Albertsons and Ahold.
Winn-Dixie operates 515 retail stores, including over 400 in-store pharmacies, in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.
Before joining Winn-Dixie, Smits spent over 30 years in the grocery industry, including 23 years at H.E. Butt Grocery Co., where he began his career and rose to become both VP of produce & floral marketing and procurement and VP of marketing and merchandising of the North Texas region. His most recent position was group VP of fresh food merchandising at Supervalu. Smits has also worked for Albertsons and Ahold.
Winn-Dixie operates 515 retail stores, including over 400 in-store pharmacies, in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.