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Fresh Thyme CEO Chris Sherrell departs

Meijer exec Gerald Melville joins fresh grocer as president

Russell Redman

November 1, 2019

2 Min Read
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market store banner_closeup.jpg
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market

Chris Sherrell has left Fresh Thyme Farmers Market after serving as president and CEO since founding the specialty grocery chain more than seven years ago.

Taking over Sherrell’s role is Gerald Melville, who joins Fresh Thyme as president from Meijer Inc., where he served as regional vice president. Both moves, announced yesterday, are effective immediately. Meijer provides financial backing to the Downers Grove, Ill.-based chain.

Chris Sherrell_Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.jpg“I am extremely proud of the company I was able to build as well as our mission of bringing fresh and healthy food at an amazing value to dozens of communities,” Sherrell (left) said in a statement. “As happens with many entrepreneurs, as Fresh Thyme has matured, I am ready for my next challenge.”

A 39-year retail veteran, Melville comes to Fresh Thyme after nearly 10 years at supercenter operator Meijer. He joined Meijer in 2009 as regional VP and oversaw operations for almost 50 supercenters in Illinois and Wisconsin. Before that, he held a range of senior leadership roles at Albertsons and Supervalu, with responsibility for such areas as store operations, customer service, labor, food safety and asset protection.

Gerald Melville_Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.jpg“I’m very pleased about this exciting opportunity,” Melville (left) commented on his new role. “Fresh Thyme is a dynamic brand, with an ideal offering for today’s health-conscious customer. I’m looking forward to joining the team and working together to continue the company’s growth and success.”

Related:Fresh Thyme names COO, CMO

Sherrell launched Fresh Thyme in September 2012 and grew the chain to 77 stores in 11 states, mainly in the upper Midwest. The specialty grocer focuses on providing fresh, natural and organic products in a farmer’s market-style shopping experience. It also caters to customers following vegan, paleo, keto, vegetarian or wheat- and gluten-free diets.

With more than 20 years in the fresh and natural food retail arena, Sherrell started his grocery career at Wild Oats Markets. In 2002, he joined Phoenix-based Sunflower Farmers Markets and rose through the ranks to become president and chief operating officer in 2008 and then CEO in 2011. Under his leadership, Sunflower expanded from one store to 44 locations in eight Southwestern states before being acquired Sprouts Farmers Market in 2012.

Sherrell’s exit comes after Fresh Thyme recently announced plans to close three stores later this month, including in Omaha and Grand Island, Neb., and Ames, Iowa.

In July, Fresh Thyme said it promoted Dean Little to COO and named Tod Pepin as chief merchandising officer. Pepin previously was senior VP of food merchandising at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer.

Related:Fresh Thyme fine-tunes operations in 2018

Read more about:

Sprouts Farmers Market

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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