Allegiance Retail Services, LLC, the supermarket services co-operative based in Iselin, NJ, has officially named Joe Fantozzi as its president and COO. Since September, Fantozzi has held the title of interim president and COO after former president and chief operating officer John Derderian stepped down to assume a reduced role.
Louis Scaduto Jr., chairman and CEO of Allegiance, stated, “As communicated in August, I empaneled a sub-committee of the board of directors to conduct a search for a permanent replacement. After engaging a professional recruiting firm, and conducting multiple interviews and assessments, the sub-committee was unanimous in their recommendation that Mr. Fantozzi be appointed as the president and chief operating officer of Allegiance Retail Services, LLC and Foodtown, Inc., effective immediately. The boards of Allegiance and Foodtown have formally accepted and acted upon the recommendation of the sub-committee. Mr. Fantozzi will also be appointed to the board of managers of Allegiance and the board of directors of Foodtown in his capacity as president. His many accomplishments at the cooperative to date, and his keen understanding of what is required to create a platform of success for the independent supermarket operator was of primary consideration.”
Fantozzi, a native of New Jersey, has spent his career in the grocery business. He began as an entry level employee for wholesale grocer White Rose in 1979. Rising through the ranks at the Carteret, NJ distributor, he was named president and COO in 2008. Shortly after White Rose folded, Fantozzi joined Allegiance as VP-customer development in 2016 before being promoted to CFO in 2020.