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Festival Foods hires Jeff Main to lead IT

Technology professional to join leadership team in time of growth

Russell Redman

March 1, 2021

2 Min Read
Festival_Foods_store-Holmen_WI.jpg
The hiring of Jeff Main as vice president of IT at Festival Foods marks the third executive appointment by the Wisconsin retailer over the past couple of months.Festival Foods

Jeff Main has joined Wisconsin grocer Festival Foods as vice president of information technology.

Green Bay, Wis.-based Festival Foods said Monday that Main, most recently serving as an IT and management consultant, will become a member of its senior leadership team.

Jeff Main-Festival Foods.pngMain (left) brings a background with more than 30 years of experience in leading technology for large and small corporations, including his recent role as the head of software development for Union Pacific Railroad. One of his key projects at Union Pacific included the optimization of the company’s software design, development and delivery.

Prior to joining Festival Foods, Main worked both as an independent consultant and as a full-time consultant for analytics software provider SAS. His IT industry experience also includes leadership roles at USFreightways, Air Wisconsin Airlines and Air Methods. In addition, Festival Foods noted, he brings substantial retail knowledge, having served 10 years in various roles at Rent-A-Center.

Main’s ability to design, develop and deliver of forward-looking IT solutions in line with grocery industry demands will be key as Festival Foods continues its growth, which includes two more Milwaukee-area locations due to open in the coming months, the retailer said.

Related:Festival Foods taps Ken Wicker to lead fresh departments

“Jeff is a proven leader who is well-versed in all areas of IT,” commented Kirk Stoa, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Festival Foods. “He is uniquely qualified to take on this leadership role and we’re excited to have him join our team.”

The hiring of Main marks the third executive appointment by Festival Foods over the past couple of months. In January, the company promoted Frank Abnet to senior vice president of store operations and Randy Munns to chief operating officer upon the retirement of COO Mike Mesich. And last month, former Southeastern Grocers executive Ken Wicker joined Festival Foods as senior vice president of fresh foods.

Overall, family- and employee-owned Festival Foods operates 33 full-service supermarkets in Wisconsin and employs more than 7,500 full- and part-time associates.

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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