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Buehler’s Fresh Foods CEO, CFO join board of directors

Mike Davidson, Peter O’Donnell called key contributors to grocer’s success since ESOP transition

Russell Redman

June 30, 2022

2 Min Read
Buehlers store sign-Mainstreet Grill.jpg
Davidson has served as Buehler's president and CEO since Jan. 2 and O’Donnell as CFO and treasurer since joining the company in October 2017.Buehler's Fresh Foods

Buehler’s Fresh Foods has named President and CEO Mike Davidson and Chief Financial Officer Peter O’Donnell to its board of directors.

Wooster, Ohio-based Buehler’s announced the board appointments this week. Davidson has served as president and CEO since Jan. 2, when he took the chief executive reins from Dan Shanahan, who became chairman. O’Donnell has been the Ohio grocer’s CFO and treasurer since joining the company in October 2017.

Mike Davidson-CEO-Buehlers_caption copy.jpgBuehler’s operates 14 supermarkets in northeastern Ohio, including locations in Wooster (two), Medina (two), Galion, Wadsworth, Akron (Portage Lakes), Orrville, New Philadelphia, Massillon, Dover, Coshocton, Canton and Ashland. In 2017, the chain transitioned to an employee-owned company, in which Buehler family-owned E&H Family Group sold the chain to its workers via an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), with the new company led by CEO Shanahan, who had been president and chief operating officer since joining the grocer in 2011.

“We are very excited to have Mike and Peter join the board. Their appointments were unanimous both with our board and ESOP trustee,” Shanahan said in a statement. “Mike and Peter have been instrumental in the success Buehler’s has had since the company went through a management buyout and formed an ESOP in 2017. We look forward to their involvement on the board.”

Related:Buehler’s adds new liquor agency

Davidson joined Buehler’s in May 2016 as vice president of operations and was promoted to executive VP of operations in November 2017. Then in July 2020, he was elevated to executive VP of sales and marketing before being named as Shanahan’s successor in November 2021.

Peter O'Donnell-Buehlers CFO_caption.jpgA retail grocery industry veteran, Davidson came to Buehler’s after nearly six-and-a-half years at Price Chopper/Market 32. Prior to that, he served as VP of operations at the now-defunct Marsh Supermarkets and spent eight years at Tops Friendly Markets, including as VP of operations and merchandising and as regional VP of operations.

“I am honored to become a member of the Buehler’s Fresh Foods board and look forward to working with the board members to further the success of our organization,” Davidson commented.

O’Donnell came to Buehler’s in 2017 after over three-and-a-half years at grocery distributor/retailer SpartanNash, serving as VP of finance and merger integration and before that as chief accounting officer and controller. Earlier, he spent more than six-and-a-half years at Nash Finch, most recently as chief accounting officer/controller, in the lead-up to the company’s merger with Spartan Stores in late 2013, forming SpartanNash. Previously, he held a range of roles at Shopko Stores, Borders Group, Ernst & Young and May Department Stores.

Related:Buehler’s taps SpartanNash’s Amy McClellan for board

“I look forward to working with the other members of the Board towards the advancement of our company,” O’Donnell stated.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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