A&P TAPS NEW PRESIDENT IN MIDWEST
st week named Michael Carter president of the company's Midwest Region, which includes 110 Farmer Jack supermarkets in Michigan and Ohio and 33 Kohl's stores in Wisconsin. He replaces Dennis Eidson, who left the company to pursue other opportunities.
Carter, who reports to Elizabeth Culligan, president and chief operating officer, most recently was president of A&P's Mid-Atlantic Group, after joining the company last year as divisional vice president. Before joining A&P, Carter was regional vice president for the Cub Foods division of Supervalu and before that spent 20 years with H.E. Butt Grocery Co.
RALPHS PROMOTES VRIENS TO VP
LOS ANGELES -- Ralphs Grocery Co. here last week said Mike Vriens has been promoted to vice president of the company's industrial engineering department. Vriens succeeds Gill Cunningham, who recently left the company.
In his new position, Vriens will report directly to Dave Hansen, executive vice president, store operations.
Vriens will be responsible for overseeing and controlling labor costs for the entire Ralphs chain, including over 450 stores as well as manufacturing and warehousing operations.
Prior to his promotion, Vriens served as district manager for Ralphs' Long Beach division, which includes 20 stores.
NEW SR. VP RETAIL GROUP, AT FLEMING
DALLAS -- Fleming here last week said Keith Durham has joined the company as senior vice president, Fleming retail group. Durham will report directly to J.R. Campbell, executive vice president, merchandising, and president, retail.
Durham's position is a new one and his responsibilities will be to support the operations team and retail associates of Fleming's Food4Less and Rainbow Foods banners.
Before joining Fleming, Durham served as vice president of operations for Costco Wholesale, Issaquah, Wash.
NASH FINCH NAMES MARKETING VP
MINNEAPOLIS -- Nash Finch here yesterday said it named Paul D. Gossett vice president, sales and marketing, for the company's retail stores. The 25-year industry veteran most recently served as vice president of marketing and vice president of merchandising in separate operating divisions of Albertson's, Boise, Idaho. Nash Finch operates 112 stores in the Upper Midwest under the Buy n Save, Econofoods and other banners, in addition to its distribution operations.
NFPA TAPS FMI VET FOR SECURITY POST
WASHINGTON -- The National Food Processors Association here last week said Charles I. Miller will serve as its consultant on security and food security issues, effective immediately. Miller will work directly with Rhona Applebaum, the organization's executive vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, as well as with its Security Committee on a variety of security-related projects.
Miller was with Food Marketing Institute from 1987 until 2002, serving most recently as vice president of FMI's loss-prevention services department. During his time with FMI, Miller coordinated initiatives pertaining to loss prevention in supermarkets and warehouses, including customer and employee safety, fire prevention, disaster and damage control, product tampering, security, crisis management, insurance and substance abuse.
