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King Kullen promotes three longtime executives

Chief merchant Joseph Brown named executive vice president

Russell Redman

September 24, 2020

2 Min Read
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King Kullen operates 34 supermarkets in New York's Long Island, including five Wild by Nature stores.King Kullen

Following a board of directors meeting, King Kullen Grocery Co. announced the promotions of veteran executives Joseph Brown, Bernard P. Kennedy and Michael Simco.

The Long Island, N.Y., grocer said Thursday that Brown has been appointed executive vice president, taking on more responsibility in corporate leadership, strategic planning and operational performance. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and chief merchandising officer. 

With King Kullen for 47 years, Brown will continue to serve as president of Wild by Nature, an independent subsidiary that operates five natural and organic grocery stores on Long Island, the company said.

Joseph Brown-Bernard Kennedy-Michael Simco-King Kulllen.jpg

Left to right: King Kullen's Joseph Brown, executive VP; Bernard P. Kennedy, senior VP of corporate and legal affairs; and Michael Simco, VP of administration and benefits. (Photos courtesy of King Kullen)

Kennedy, a third-generation member of King Kullen’s founding family, has been elected as senior vice president of corporate and legal affairs. A member of New York law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, he has served as secretary and general counsel for King Kullen over the past 20 years. In his new role at the grocery chain, he will help guide corporate strategy and development as well as oversee corporate real estate and legal issues, the company said. He is a son of Bernard D. Kennedy, former co-chairman and president of King Kullen, who died in 2018.

Simco, who has served as director of corporate payroll and benefits for over 12 years, has been elevated to vice president of administration and benefits. He started his career at King Kullen 35 years ago. In his new post, he will assume broader responsibilities in insurance and benefits management, the retailer said.

Related:Stop & Shop, King Kullen kill acquisition deal

Overall, Bethpage, N.Y.-based King Kullen operates 34 stores in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties, including 29 King Kullen supermarkets and the five Wild by Nature stores.

In June, King Kullen and Ahold Delhaize USA terminated a deal for the latter’s Stop & Stop to acquire the Long Island grocer. Both companies cited “significant, unforeseen changes in the marketplace,” including the coronavirus pandemic. “We are enthusiastic about the future and well-positioned to serve Nassau and Suffolk counties for many years to come. In short, we are here for the long term,” King Kullen Co-President Brian Cullen stated at the time. The acquisition was announced in early January 2019, after the agreement was signed in the previous month. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

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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