Bob Palmer, former chief executive officer and a board member of C&S Wholesale Grocers, died last month.
Before he joined the Keene, NH-based wholesaler in 1986, Palmer worked for Albertsons and Penn Traffic (Riverside Markets). He began his C&S career in the company’s buying department and rose quickly through the ranks becoming director of procurement in 1995. A year later, he was promoted to senior VP-non-perishable procurement. In 2015, he was named executive VP and chief procurement officer.
In 2019, he resigned from C&S only to return in 2020 as CEO, replacing Mike Duffy. Three years later, Palmer announced his retirement as chief executive and was replaced by current CEO Eric Winn. At that point, Palmer was named to the board of directors of the large wholesaler, a position he held until his death.
An email sent to C&S associates co-written executive chairman Rick Cohen and Winn stated: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Bob. He was beloved by his family, a dedicated community member and a well-respected C&S leader. For more than 30 years, Bob helped guide C&S through good times and challenging times alike, including most recently, when he came out of retirement to set us up for a successful future. He was a selfless leader that led with quiet determination. Bob was an industry veteran serving on many different boards, but he was always about relationships first, which included his C&S family. Our thoughts are with Bob’s family and friends as they grieve this incredible loss. Bob will never be forgotten.”
