Gourmet News

Southern Glazer’s Promotes Executives; Arizona Exec Retires

Published October 23, 2023

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has made enhancements to National Accounts, Customer and Trade Development, National Retail Sales, Center of Excellence and eCommerce functional units. These teams continue to evolve under the National Accounts umbrella, enabling Southern Glazer’s to remain the strategic thought partner to grow these categories and gain market share.

In addition, Tom Boyle, executive vice president and general manager of Arizona, will retire effective at the end of 2023.

“Southern Glazer’s National Accounts team’s vision is to be an indispensable and trusted partner to the company’s valued customers and deliver excellence to associated buyers, suppliers, and market teams,” said Chris Williams, executive vice president, National Accounts. “This enhanced structure enables us to provide an even more collaborative and comprehensive level of service to our partners.”

Customer and Trade Development

Ryan Sass has been promoted to vice president, Customer and Trade Development, for National Retail Sales and On Premise. In his new role, Sass will drive supplier relations and closely manage the Company’s NRS business with the support of Customer Development category experts. Sass will report to Chris Williams.

eCommerce

Robyne Eldridge has been appointed vice president, Omni Channel Development.She will continue to lead B2C deliverables for digitalfirst, eCommerce Business Priorities development and supplier integration. Reporting to Eldridge will beSam Raia, senior director, Omni Channel Development;DarShanna Smith senior director, Amazon; Sarah Twitchell, director, Liquor Channel;Brennan Duke, director,(Mass/Club/Drug); and Jennifer Bailein, director, Grocery. Eldridge will report to Chris Williams.

National Retail Sales (NRS)

JR Allen has been promoted to vice president, NRS Commercial Operations. In his new role, he will work directly with each region’s Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, with a focus on forecasting, inventory and execution. He will report to Scott Moore, senior vice president, National Accounts Off Premise.
Nicole Nottinghamhas been appointed to senior director, GoBrands. She will strengthen and foster national strategy and connect with NRS supplier planning process Customer Business Priorities. She will report to Scott Moore.

Center of Excellence (COE)

Adam Byrne has been appointed vice president, Customer Planning and Development COE. The COE will focus on “Elevate,” the company’s program that offers customers branded merchandising recommendations, large and small format channel development and Southern Glazer’s unique suite of Retail Joint Business Planning process and tools. Byrne recently joined the company and will report to Chris Williams.

Boyle is a longtime Southern Glazer’s employee.

“During his 40-year tenure, Tom has made a tremendous positive impact on the success of the company, as well as the professional success of our employees,” said John Wittig, chief commercial officer. “His best-in-class leadership has made him a role model in Arizona and beyond. We’ll miss him greatly and will forever appreciate his many contributions to the company.”

“Tom’s exceptional dedication to fostering a workplace culture where authenticity thrives has been a true cornerstone of Arizona’s success,” commented Patrick Daul, president, West Region. “In addition to this, his commitment to innovation transformed the market into a hub for pioneering pilot programs, from industry-leading electric vehicle testing to the introduction of a unique convenience store concept. These contributions have positioned us at the forefront of progress, leaving an indelible mark for years to come.”

In 1983, Boyle began his career in beverage alcohol as a salesperson for Southern Wine and Spirits in San Diego. After years of hard work expanding the company’s supplier portfolio, Boyle was promoted to on-premise division manager in 1989. Shortly after, Boyle led Southern Wine and Spirits in entering its fourth market in Arizona, where he served as Southern Arizona branch manager.

After helping lead significant growth for the business and working in roles of increasing responsibility, Boyle accepted the position of general sales manager of Arizona and spent the next 18 years working alongside Michael Jahn and the Arizona team to make Southern Wine and Spirits the number one distributor in Arizona. Upon Jahn’s retirement in 2019, Boyle stepped into his most recent role as executive vice president and general manager of Arizona.

“As Tom embarks on a new chapter in life, we express our deep appreciation for his service and wish him a retirement filled with much happiness and health,” said Wayne E. Chaplin, chief executive officer. “His legacy will continue to inspire us, and his presence will be missed.”

An announcement for Boyle’s replacement will be forthcoming. Boyle will remain on the team to ensure a seamless transition and support the leader who will be replacing him.

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SEG Rolls Out Limited-Edition Fall-Themed Own Brand Products

Published October 23, 2023

Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is helping customers fall in love with the flavors of the season with new limited-edition fall-themed Own Brand products developed with a focus on taste, quality and affordability. SEG’s Own Brand products have earned more than 150 awards in 2023, a testament to the grocer’s commitment to excellence in offering quality products at an affordable price.

Dewayne Rabon, chief merchandising officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, “We are excited to celebrate the fall season with the introduction of our new limited-edition seasonal Own Brands products. We’ve put a lot of thought and effort into the creation of these items to ensure they capture the essence of autumn, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to exceptional quality at an affordable price. The numerous accolades our products have earned so far this year affirm our dedication to product excellence. We are deeply grateful for the recognition and remain steadfast in our guarantee to deliver outstanding Own Brand offerings to our valued customers.”

Specially curated to embrace the cozy and warm sentiments of autumn, SEG’s limited-edition Own Brand products incorporate fall favorites into premium ice cream flavors and fresh bakery items. Customers can fall in love with the nostalgia of a pumpkin spice latte, reimagined in a frozen masterpiece with Prestige Pumpkin Spice Latte ice cream – rich pumpkin ice cream, espresso flakes and a swirl of vanilla cream create a blend of flavors that captures the comfort of fall in every bite. For those who are not fans of pumpkin, SEG offers a different play that is sure to blitz the taste buds. The grocer’s Prestige Sack ‘Em Sundae ice cream is the ultimate flavor rush, featuring a victory formation of vanilla ice cream, caramel swirls, brownie bits and rich fudge flakes – it’s a crowd-pleasing treat with cause for celebration.

With a commitment to quality and value, SEG’s award-winning line of Own Brand products offers nearly 8,000 items to help customers save an average of 20 percent compared to national brands, providing affordability without sacrificing quality. The grocer’s Own Brand products and market exclusive lines have won more than 150 awards across a variety of categories to date in 2023, including top honors from Store Brands, Progressive Grocer, World Dairy Expo, along with USA Wine, Beer and Spirits Ratings.

Grocery industry outlets Store Brands and Progressive Grocer included SEG’s Own Brands in their respective annual Editors’ Picks awards. Lauded for quality, value and innovation, Store Brands Editors’ Picks awarded a total of 17 medals to SEG Own Brand products, including two gold medals for Prestige Carrot Cupcake and Frosting Baking Mix and SE Grocers Mango Liquid Water Enhancer. Additionally, Progressive Grocer Editors’ Picks recognized SE Grocers Party Cubes, a collaboration with Relocalize, as one of the Best New Products of 2023. The super-premium cubed ice is manufactured in the world’s first autonomous micro-factory and designed to help eliminate middle-mile logistics. Earlier this year, Store Brands also presented SEG with two Game Changer awards for product innovation: SE Grocers Powdered Drink Mix and SE Grocers Drinkable Yogurt. The award program annually honors people, brands and company innovations that drive change in the private label industry.

Dairy was the main attraction at the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association. Recognized for excellence in innovation, flavor and variety, SEG Own Brand dairy products scooped up 12 awards, with three products selected as cream of the crop in their respective categories: SE Grocers Plain Soft Cream Cheese Spread, SE Grocers Low Fat Blueberry Yogurt and SE Grocers Greek Blueberry Yogurt.

A cheers-worthy achievement, SEG’s private label and market exclusive wines, beers and liquors took home a total of 119 medals at the USA Wine Ratings, USA Beer Ratings and USA Spirits Ratings, including 18 gold, 80 silver and 21 bronze medals. In addition to earning gold medals, two of the grocer’s private label products received top honors: SunBay Cellars Rosé was named USA Wine Ratings’ Rosé Wine of the Year, Best in Show by Country Category – Chile and Best Wine of the Year by Value; and Winn-Dixie Blended Scotch Whisky was named USA Spirits Ratings’ Best Spirit of the Year by Value.

In addition to providing quality and affordable Own Brand products, SEG continues to lower prices on more than 150 commonly shopped items each season to help customers stretch their grocery budget year-round. Through the grocer’s “Down Down” program in Winn-Dixie stores, customers can save more than 15 percent on average when shopping items marked by the red hand on signs and tags throughout the store. Similarly, items marked in yellow and green signage at Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket are part of the “Low Price” and “Low Low Price” programs providing customers with deep discounts on their grocery trip.

Customers can also maximize their savings by using the grocer’s rewards program with the Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie apps. The rewards program offers additional winning deals, digital coupons and points that can be redeemed for money off groceries. The program also puts savings on the fast track with personalized rewards, points multipliers and the Big App Deal, which allows customers to score a free item or bonus points.

For more information on SEG’s award-winning Own Brand products and savings opportunities, visit www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.

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Costco’s Jelinek Stepping Down, Vachris Promoted

Published October 18, 2023

Craig Jelinek has confirmed his intention to step down as chief executive officer of Costco Wholesale Corporation, effective Jan. 1. The board of directors has elected Ron Vachris, president and chief operating officer since February 2022, as president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1. Jelinek and Vachris have worked hand in hand over the last 21 months in Vachris’s role as president and for many years before that. This is the culmination of the long-standing succession plan that Jelinek has discussed with the board.

Vachris is a Costco veteran, with over 40 years of service to the company, starting as a forklift driver, and subsequently serving in every major role related to Costco’s business operations and merchandising activities.

“Costco has a very strong culture and a deep bench of management talent,” said Jelinek. “I have total confidence in Ron and feel that we are fortunate as a company to have an executive of his caliber to succeed me.”

Jelinek will remain with Costco through April, serving in an advisory role and assisting Vachris during the transition. Jelinek will also continue to serve on the board of directors and will stand for reelection at the January annual meeting.

The company announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on Costco common stock of $1.02 per share. The quarterly dividend is payable Nov. 17 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 3.

Costco operates 861 warehouses, including 591 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 107 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 33 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, five in China, four in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia.

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