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Plated CEO Josh Hix steps down

Albertsons Cos. names executive to oversee meal kit business

Russell Redman

January 25, 2019

3 Min Read
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Josh Hix, co-founder and chief executive officer of meal kit provider Plated, has left the company.

Parent Albertsons Cos. said Hix stepped down earlier this week, serving in his last day as Plated CEO on Jan. 22. The Boise, Idaho-based grocery retailer didn’t give a reason for his departure.

Josh_Hix_Plated_0.png“Albertsons Cos. confirms that Plated Co-founder and CEO Josh Hix [left] has decided to leave the company,” Albertsons said in a statement. “We sincerely thank Josh for his dedication to Plated from its inception, and we look forward to sustaining and growing Plated in the future with their talented New York City-based team. The meal kit industry is a dynamic and evolving space, and we look forward to continuing to expand Plated throughout our company's 20-plus banners across the country.”

Plated won’t be appointing a new CEO, an Albertsons spokeswoman said. Nick Taranto, who co-founded Plated in 2012 with Hix, left the company in October.

Pat Brown, group vice president of strategic business initiatives at Albertsons Cos., has been named to oversee the Plated business in addition to his current responsibilities. Plans call for Brown to work closely with the senior leadership team at Plated, which will continue to operate under its brand within the Albertsons Cos. organization, the spokeswoman said.

Related:Albertsons, Plated launch national retail rollout

Albertsons acquired Plated in September 2017 for a reported $300 million. Then-Albertsons CEO Bob Miller said the deal would provide customers a “personalized shopping alternative” along with convenient, affordable meal solutions. For Plated, the agreement provided a way for the company to expand beyond its online subscription-based model by bringing its meal kits to Albertsons Cos. approximately 2,300 supermarkets in 35 states and the District of Columbia, which draw roughly 35 million customers weekly.

Albertsons announced the national rollout of Plated meal kits to its stores last April, at which time the retailer had the kits in 20 Safeway stores in northern California and 20 Jewel-Osco stores in the Chicago area. The company said Plated kits would be available in select Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market and Haggen stores by the year’s end.

Currently, Plated meal kits are sold at more than 300 Albertsons Cos. stores, and the company operates five Plated fulfillment centers. The response from customers has been strong, according to the spokeswoman.

Plated_meal_kits_Jewel-Osco_0.pngPlated meal kits offered at Jewel-Osco stores.

“Plated had an exciting year rolling into hundreds of Albertsons Cos. stores in 2018 and continues to iterate and learn as it evolves its offering through a variety of channels,” she stated. “Plated will continue to do what it does best: focus on helping customers create amazing meal experiences, from planning and shopping to cooking to eating. We’re looking forward to expanding Plated’s footprint and growing the brand throughout the Albertsons Cos. business.”

Related:Meal kit players adapt to changing market

In an interview with Supermarket News after Albertsons announced the Plated acquisition, Hix said retailers and e-tailers are trying to bridge the brick-and-mortar and online arenas.

“What we’ve heard from retailers over the years is that many of them share the same sort of vision around omnichannel,” he told SN. “And you’re seeing even enormous technology companies like Amazon that need a retail channel like Whole Foods. And with Walmart and Jet, you had an enormous retailer than needed an online channel. This is the same sort of thing. They [Albertsons] recognized they needed technology in the online channel, and we certainly recognized we needed a retail partnership and more access. So it’s a good marriage.”

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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