Delhaize America announced the set up of its new category management organization February 4, naming the officers and directors who will guide the new streamlined system. In line with the new team, the retailer said it will maintain two locations for managing its business – Salisbury, NC (former procurement headquarters for Food Lion, Bloom, Bottom Dollar, Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s) and Scarborough, ME (former procurement headquarters for Hannaford).
The locations chosen were based on proximity to crucial functions such as replenishment, logistics and value-based procurement and the logical groupings of categories to most effectively utilize the existing teams and other resources.
Produce and meat/seafood will be managed from Salisbury. Deli and bakery will be handled from the Scarborough facility. Center store will be divided between the two locations due to its greater scope and volume.
In a letter to the company’s associates announcing the changes, Delhaize America CEO Ron Hodge said: “These decisions will result in change for many of our associates at all levels. Our commitment is to provide the training, development and tools we need to be successful, ensuring a smooth transition to a more powerful way of running our business. Simply put, we will make the best use of our talent and expertise company-wide.”
With the structure of the new category management organization in place, Delhaize also named the officers who will lead the effort going forward. Four officers will have direct responsibility in newly created positions overseeing banner merchandising. Tod Pepin will lead Hannaford and Bloom as senior VP of banner merchandising; Tom Robinson will hold the same post for Food Lion; Geoff Waldau will be the SVP for Sweetbay; and Hans Lefebvre will serve as vice president of banner merchandising for Bottom Dollar.
Four other officers are moving into new positions at the Food Lion banner, while another is in a new role at Harveys and Reid’s. John Barnette becomes vice president of center store for Food Lion. Paul LaCroix will be vice president of pricing and promotions for Food Lion. John Mercer is vice president of produce for Food Lion. Kyle Price is market vice president-launch markets for Food Lion. Barry Robinson becomes vice president of Harveys and Reid’s.
Seven category management leaders will report to Derrick Penick, the recently named senior vice president of category management for Delhaize America, to help guide the new organization. Pete Bonneau is vice president of center store in Salisbury. Â Kristen Hanson is vice president of center store in Scarborough. Â Lewis Campbell is vice president of pricing, services and shelf management. Jim Corby is vice president of produce. Mark Messier is vice president of meat and seafood. Â Peter Vail is vice president of deli and bakery. Tim Jacques is vice president of private brand.
In addition to Penick, five officers will report to Mark Doiron, chief supply chain officer, in positions that support and drive category management. Two are taking on new or expanded responsibilities: David Hilse is vice president of supply chain infrastructure and design. Chris Lewis will remain vice president of services and solutions for Delhaize America and now also oversees value based procurement and strategic sourcing.
The three other officers reporting to Doiron will continue in their current roles: Gerry Greenleaf, vice president of distribution and transportation; Millard Nance, vice president of pharmacy operations; and David Vander Schueren, an SVP for Delhaize America, who is heading the category management initiative.
Additionally, several new directors were named.
The new supply chain directors based in Salisbury are: Jim McWade, value-based procurement ; Jason Ramsey, pricing; Allen Chickering, shelf management; Scott Libbey, center store; Dave Yandow, center store; Ann Raives, center store; Adrian Baker, center store.
The new supply chain directors based in Scarborough are: John Patriquin, strategic sourcing ; Tim Concannon, pricing; Nancy Dumais, branding in private brand; Marc Lessard, product development in private brand; Peter Forester, deli; Marwan Fakhouri, center store; Fred Snowman, center store.
The new Food Lion directors, based in Salisbury, are: Kevin Oliver, banner merchandising-meat and seafood; Bobby Wilson shrink.
The new Hannaford/Bloom directors are: Tesha Sigmon and Mike Lamontagne, both directors of Bloom, which will be based in Salisbury. And, in Scarborough handling business for Hannaford/Bloom will be: Will Wedge, banner merchandising-fresh; Tony Robidas, banner merchandising-center store; and Dave Ray, price-promo portfolio.
The new Sweetbay directors, based in Tampa, are: Steve Williams, banner merchandising-produce; Eddie Garcia, banner merchandising-deli/bakery and meat/seafood; and Randy Duschaine, banner merchandising-center store.
New Harveys Reid’s directors, based in Nashville, are: Michael Purvis, produce; Dave McMillan, meat and seafood; Michael Duncan, deli/bakery; Joe Campolo, center store; and Roy Wilson, pharmacy.
The company said that, with the leaders of the new team in place, other key roles continue to be filled.
Said Hodge in the associates’ letter: “With these outstanding leaders in place, we are now determining other key roles. We expect to announce those decisions later this month.
“Though this transition is not easy, I’m confident we are on the right path. Together, we will create a strong, innovative partnership between category management and our banners to best serve our customers, associates and business partners.”
