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New CIO takes reins at SpartanNash

Arif Dar succeeds retiring David deS. Couch

Russell Redman

January 2, 2019

2 Min Read
SpartanNash
SpartanNash

Arif Dar has joined food distributor and retailer SpartanNash Co. as senior vice president and chief information officer.

SpartanNash said Dar takes over the CIO post effective today from David deS. Couch, who is slated to retire Feb. 2.

Arif Dar

Photo: SpartanNash

Dar_Arif_SpartanNash_new_CIO_0.pngDar comes to the company from household cleaning and consumer products manufacturer SC Johnson & Son Inc., where he had served as vice president and CIO since September 2013.

At Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash, Dar will be responsible for enterprisewide IT, ensuring its alignment with business strategy and directing the design, development, operation and support of IT systems and programs. The company said his oversight includes enterprise architecture management, application management, security and risk management, and infrastructure and operations support management. Reporting to President and CEO David Staples, Dar also is charged with leading the IT team and leveraging technologies to drive a competitive advantage.

Before joining SC Johnson, Dar was chief technology officer at Toronto-based Maple Leaf Foods and vice president and CTO at Berlin-based Bombardier Transportation. Prior to that, he served in various positions at General Motors, Tyco International and General Electric.

“We look forward to having Arif join the company, as his record of large-scale IT strategic planning and execution combined with his vision, collaborative leadership, supply chain experience and knowledge of the food distribution industry lay the foundation for success at SpartanNash,” Staples said in a statement. “During his tenure at SC Johnson, Arif’s cross-functional relationships throughout the business, empowering management style and ability to drive operating efficiencies with diverse technologies drove an improved customer experience, cost savings and sales growth.”

Couch has been CIO at SpartanNash since 2013 and was named senior vice president this past March. Previously, he had served as vice president of IT since 1996 and, for five years before that, as director of IT. He joined Spartan Stores in 1987 from Hewlett-Packard Corp.  

“Dave’s leadership has been key to our success,” Staples commented. “We thank Dave for his contributions to the company and wish him and his family all the best.”

SpartanNash distributes food and other grocery products to independent and chain retailers, corporate-owned supermarkets, and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges. The company also has fresh produce distribution and fresh food processing operations.

Currently, SpartanNash operates 160 supermarkets, mainly under the Family Fare Supermarkets, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market banners. The 21-store Martin’s chain, with stores in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan, was acquired in late November, and the transaction closed Dec. 31. The South Bend, Ind.-based retailer totaled over $450 million in sales for its fiscal year ended July 29. Its operations also include 17 in-store pharmacies, eight fuel centers, a Martin’s Express convenience store, a health system pharmacy and a hospital café.

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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