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The Fresh Market names Dan Portnoy as chief merchant

Food/beverage industry veteran returns to retail grocery

Russell Redman

October 10, 2019

1 Min Read
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Former Winn-Dixie and Kings Food Markets executive Dan Portnoy has joined The Fresh Market as chief merchandising officer.

The Greensboro, N.C.-based natural and organic grocer said Thursday that Portnoy becomes part of its senior leadership team, reporting directly to President and CEO Larry Appel. In leading the merchandising organization, Portnoy will oversee the retailer’s merchandising directors as well as Lance Twitty, group vice president of merchandise operations.

Dan_Portnoy_The_Fresh_Market.jpg

Most recently a consultant in the food and beverage sector, Portnoy (left) brings more than 35 years of experience in food retail merchandising and marketing, The Fresh Market noted.

He served as chief merchandising and marketing officer at Winn-Dixie Stores from 2007 to 2011 and as president and CEO of Kings Food Markets/Balducci's Markets from 1998 to 2006.

Before that, Portnoy was senior vice president of global sales, marketing and new business development at beverage company Cott Corp. from 1995 to 1998 and group vice president at brand development firm Daymon Worldwide from 1990 to 1995.

“I believe Dan to be one of the brightest and most creative merchants in the industry,” Appel said in a statement. “He possesses both a strong understanding of our specialty brand and the business acumen to deliver results. With Dan at the helm of our merchandising team, I am confident that we will achieve our vision of being the premier fresh-focused specialty food retailer.”

Related:The Fresh Market merchandises store brand with discerning eye

Overall, The Fresh Market operates 160 fresh-focused supermarkets in 22 states.

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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