LAKEWOOD, Calif. — Pete Van Helden, executive vice president of Supervalu, Minneapolis, and president of its Retail West division, has been elected president of the Western Association of Food Chains. Other new officers are Mike Proulx, president and chief operating officer of Bashas', Chandler, Ariz., as vice president; Karl Schroeder, president of the Northern California division of Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., as treasurer; and Lynn Gust, executive vice president, merchandising and advertising, Fred Meyer Inc., Portland, Ore., a division of Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., as secretary. Sue Klug, president of the Southern California division of Albertsons, will continue as WAFC education chairman.
PRICE CHOPPER PROMOTES SMITH TO VP
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Price Chopper Supermarkets here yesterday said it has promoted Benny Smith to vice president of facilities, overseeing warehouse, office and store maintenance as well as directing all internal energy programs for the 119-store chain. He reports to Bill Sweet, vice president of engineering and construction. Smith most recently was director of facilities. Also, Price Chopper said it has promoted Glen Bradley to director of business intelligence, with responsibility for evaluating category-management technologies and support for some marketing and advertising functions. He reports to Peter Cobuzzi, vice president of marketing. Bradley most recently was manager of business intelligence.
TRIUS HEADS WAL-MART LATIN AMERICA
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here said last week it has named Vicente Trius executive vice president and president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Latin America, effective July 6. He was formerly EVP and president and CEO of Wal-Mart Asia. Trius's appointment follows the departure of Craig Herkert, the former CEO of Wal-Mart Americas, who recently was named to succeed Jeff Noddle as chief executive officer of Supervalu, Minneapolis. Wal-Mart said a successor to oversee the Asia operation will be named at a later date. Trius, who will be based in Miami, will oversee 319 stores in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. Prior to heading the Asia regional office for the past year, Trius led Wal-Mart Brazil for 11 years.
FAMILY DOLLAR TAPS BOYANOWSKI
MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores here said last week it has named Kevin Boyanowski senior vice president of global sourcing. He will report to Robert George, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Prior to joining Family Dollar, Boyanowski worked for IBM's Global Business Services. He also has been a consultant at KPMG and held various positions with Fisher Big Wheel Stores and Rose's Stores.
