Next month, Brian Haaraoja is slated to take the reins as president and CEO of Price Chopper Enterprises, succeeding Peter Ciacco.
Plans call for Haaraoja to transition fully to the role by mid-April, when Ciacco retires, Overland Park, Kan.-based Price Chopper said. Haaraoja joined the company on Feb. 25 from H.A.C. Inc., the parent company of Homeland Foods, where he most recently was vice president of marketing and merchandising.
Ciacco (left) has served as president and CEO at Price Chopper since July 2010.
“I look forward to Brian’s contributions to this organization,” Ciacco said in a statement. “The board is confident in Brian’s ability to lead Price Chopper moving forward. He is a proven leader whose experience and industry knowledge will greatly benefit to our enterprise.”
Before joining H.A.C., Haaraoja (left) spent more than 12 years at Spartan Stores (now part of SpartanNash Inc.), most recently as vice president of fresh merchandising. He also served as vice president of the Eastern division and as vice president of center store merchandising at the company. Prior to Spartan Stores, he held vice president roles at Shaw's Supermarkets in New England and Giant Food in Landover, Md. Haaraoja started his grocery career at Jewel Foods in Chicago after graduating from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in food distribution.
Price Chopper Enterprises oversees the marketing, advertising and shared business operations for 52 Price Chopper stores in the Kansas City, Mo., area. The stores are locally owned by the Cosentino, Ball, McKeever and Queen families. In addition, the company provides services for four Price Chopper stores in Des Moines operated by D.G.S., a subsidiary of Associated Wholesale Grocers.
