Natural foods grocer Lucky’s Market has appointed Tim Overlie to the newly created post of director of local.
Overlie, who has served as regional director of operations at Lucky’s for the past seven years, is now charged with boosting the presence of local products in all departments — from produce and bakery to specialty cheeses and grocery — at all 28 of the Boulder, Colo.-based chain’s stores.
“Our goal at Lucky’s is to not only sell groceries, but to help people connect with their community,” Overlie (left) said in a statement. “Stocking our stores with locally grown produce and locally produced items is the best way to connect with our communities and neighbors, support the local economy and promote sustainability.”
Lucky’s said most of its stores carry hundreds of locally sourced products, and its locations in Colorado and Florida offer nearly 1,000 local products. The retailer noted that it works with micro growers — typically located within a 25-mile radius of a store — and with regional growers and producers.
“We’ve always had category managers place emphasis on finding local foods and stocking our shelves with them, but Tim is 100% focused on increasing the presence of local products in all departments in all of our stores,” Lucky’s spokeswoman Krista Torvik said.
To that end, Overlie can draw upon more than 40 years of experience in product development, purchasing, operations, merchandising, strategic planning and financial management. Before joining Lucky’s in 2011, he served in a range of positions at Wild Oats Markets and Alfalfa’s Market. He also was chief executive officer at Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy for three years.
Lucky’s operates stores in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio and Wyoming.
