Former Division President of Albertsons Companies to Join SpartanNash
in February
SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) announced today that Lori Raya will become
the new Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer (CMMO) for the
company, effective February 18, 2019. Ms. Raya joins SpartanNash
following a thirty-one-year career with Safeway/Albertsons, most
recently serving as Division President of Albertsons from 2015-2018
following her role as Division President of VONS. In her most recent
role, Ms. Raya led the post-merger transition with Safeway and
integration of multiple banner teams within her division for the second
largest grocery store chain in the United States, with more than 2,200
stores and 250,000 employees.
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Lori Raya (Photo: Business Wire)
As SpartanNash’s CMMO, Ms. Raya will be responsible for the development
and execution of the enterprise-wide merchandising and marketing
strategy, ensuring alignment with the enterprise’s overall business
strategy, and providing strategic direction to develop, analyze, and
implement product assortment, brand positioning, sales planning,
pricing, promotion, sourcing, and distribution for independent customers
and corporate owned stores. This oversight includes directing in-depth
research and analysis of consumer trends and sales performance and
driving innovation to enhance the customer experience in store and
online. Ms. Raya will also be responsible for increasing sales and
market share, improving productivity and profitability and cultivating
an engaged, customer-centric work force. She will report to
SpartanNash’s President and Chief Executive Officer, David M. Staples.
“Lori’s success as a strategic thinker, collaborative influencer, change
manager, community contributor and visionary leader has enabled her to
lead marketing and merchandising teams to deliver innovative,
customer-focused changes while driving sales and supporting associate
development,” noted Mr. Staples. “Her career path is also inspiring to
all those who love this industry and want to help take the company to
the next level. We look forward to having her onboard.”
Ms. Raya’s accomplished career extends over 30 years with Safeway,
moving through the ranks from a store associate to store manager,
district manager, Vice President of Retail Operations, Group Vice
President of Strategic Initiatives, and multiple food category senior
management positions before serving as the first female divisional
president in VON’s 107-year history from 2012-2015.
Raya will be assuming the CMMO position from Larry Pierce who will be
retiring. Mr. Pierce will transition his duties over to Ms. Raya and
focus on special projects thereafter until his planned retirement in
September 2019. Mr. Pierce joined the company in 2008 and has served as
Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing, since 2014.
“Larry’s leadership, knowledge of the wholesale and grocery industry,
and commitment to innovation have been key to our success,” said Mr.
Staples, “and we appreciate his assistance throughout this transitional
period.”
About SpartanNash
SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a Fortune 400 company whose core
businesses include distributing grocery products to a diverse group of
independent and chain retailers, its corporate-owned retail stores and
U.S. military commissaries and exchanges; as well as premier fresh
produce distribution and fresh food processing. SpartanNash serves
customer locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,
Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Djibouti and Egypt. SpartanNash
currently operates 160 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of
Family Fare Supermarkets, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s
Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market. Through its MDV
military division, SpartanNash is a leading distributor of grocery
products to U.S. military commissaries.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190206005777/en/
Meredith Gremel
Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications
SpartanNash
616-878-2830