Aldi Promotes Hart to Global Office, McGrath to US CEO
Aldi U.S. has promoted Jason Hart, Aldi U.S. Chief Executive Officer to join the Executive Board of Aldi South as Group Chief Operating Officer. Hart will help oversee the company’s global operations in Salzburg, Austria, effective Sept. 1. Atty McGrath, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the U.S. Chief Executive role.
During his decade-long leadership as CEO, Hart has led the rapid expansion and development of the brand, overseeing the store count nearly double from 1,300 in 32 states to 2,500 across 39 states. Aldi has become the fastest-growing grocer in America, renowned for its employee-first mentality, industry leading sustainability commitments and pledge to serving customers with the lowest prices of any national grocery store.
“I am honored to take on this new role with Aldi supporting our global business,” said Hart. “The growth and positive development of the Aldi brand we’ve achieved together in the U.S. is a tribute to our incredible teams across the business. I look forward to working with Aldi teams around the globe to drive our growth and success.”
McGrath brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this critical role, serving most recently as Chief Operating Officer. McGrath has spent her entire 20-year career with Aldi, holding a variety of positions ranging from district manager, director of operations, division vice president and most recently chief operating officer.
“On behalf of the entire Aldi U.S. team, I extend heartfelt thanks to Jason for his unwavering dedication and remarkable leadership,” said McGrath. “I am excited to build upon our momentum, expand our footprint and continue adapting to serve our customers.”
As part of its aggressive growth strategy, Aldi U.S. plans to open 800 new stores over the next five years, with a target of more than 225 locations opening this year alone, a record for the retailer. Already this year, It has opened 55 stores with 75 more locations set to open this summer in key growth markets such as Arizona, California, Florida and South Carolina as well as established markets like the Midwest and Northeast.
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Darden Restaurants CEO Rings NYSE Opening Bell
Photo: NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Darden Restaurants, Inc. on May 30 to the podium. To honor the occasion, Rick Cardenas, President & Chief Executive Officer, joined by Lynn Martin, President, NYSE Group, rings the Opening Bell.
Darden Restaurants plans to release its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter financial results before the market opens on June 20, 2025, with a conference call to follow at 8:30 am ET. Cardenas and other senior management will discuss fourth quarter results and conduct a question and answer session.
This spring, Darden Restaurants and Uber Technologies, Inc. announced that Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the next Darden brand to pilot on-demand delivery.
Cheddar’s is currently conducting the pilot in 10 restaurants, enabling guests to order delivery directly through the Cheddar’s website and app, while Uber Direct will handle deliveries through Uber’s national delivery network. Following the completion of a successful pilot, Cheddar’s plans to deploy it more broadly across their system.
“We have developed a strong partnership with the Uber Direct team,” said Chris Chang, Chief Information Officer at Darden. “We learned a lot from the initial pilot at Olive Garden, and that, combined with the success of the full rollout, gave us confidence to quickly move to piloting delivery at Cheddar’s.”
“The needs of restaurants are evolving more quickly than ever, and we’re focused on providing world-class solutions to meet those needs,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Vice President of Delivery, Head of Americas at Uber Eats. “We’ve heard excellent feedback from Olive Garden operators on the benefits and ease of integrating Uber Direct into their operations, and are confident our teams can deliver the same benefits for Cheddar’s operators, their team members, and guests.”
Darden is a restaurant company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, and Bahama Breeze. For more information, visit www.darden.com.
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Performance Food Group Marks 10 Years on NYSE
Photo: NYSE
New York Stock Exchange welcomed Performance Food Group on May 27 to the podium to celebrate its 10th anniversary of listing. To honor the occasion, George Holm, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, joined by Chris Taylor, Chief Development Officer, NYSE, rings The Closing Bell.
Performance Food Group Company recently announced the grand opening of its brand-new Grand Western Upper Midwest facility in West Salem, Wis. Formerly known as the La Crosse Meat Plant, this state-of-the-art facility represents a major milestone in advancing the region’s foodservice capabilities. Spanning 60,000 square feet—three times the size of its previous location—the new facility is designed for maximum efficiency and innovation.
“This new facility is a game-changer for our operations and customers,” said Tyler Zimmerman, General Manager of Grand Western Upper Midwest. “The increased capacity and advanced automation allow us to deliver the high-quality products our customers expect—more efficiently than ever before.”
Photo: NYSE
The expansion enables the facility to triple production. It also features a fully equipped kitchen and training center with space for up to 20 participants, supporting ongoing education and hands-on product training for both employees and customers. Grand Western Upper Midwest continues to source premium meats from trusted ranches and farms, offering a robust portfolio that includes PFG-brands such as Braveheart, Ranahan Ranch, Contigo, Allegiance, and Piancone brands across beef, pork, veal, and lamb categories.
With service to eight operating companies via next-day delivery—and extended distribution on weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly schedules—the facility also strengthens PFG’s PFA consolidation program, supporting 42 operating companies nationwide.
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