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SpartanNash promotes retail chief Tom Swanson to executive vice president

Grocery industry veteran credited with growing store sales, integrating Martin’s banner

Russell Redman

March 11, 2020

2 Min Read
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SpartanNash operates 155 supermarkets, mainly under the Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG's Grocery and Dan's Supermarket banners.SpartanNash

Tom Swanson has been named executive vice president and general manager of corporate retail at SpartanNash.

The appointment, announced late Tuesday, elevates Swanson from senior vice president in the role, in which he oversees SpartanNash’s retail grocery business and Quick Stop fuel and convenience centers. He reports directly to Dennis Eidson, interim president and CEO.

Currently, SpartanNash operates 155 supermarkets, mainly under the Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG's Grocery and Dan's Supermarket banners.

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Swanson (left) became the leader of SpartanNash’s retail arm in August 2018 when he was promoted to senior VP and GM of corporate retail from VP of merchandising and marketing for the retail business. He succeeded Ted Adornato, who retired.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash noted that Swanson helped drive retail same-store sales growth in the last two quarters and led the transition and integration of more than 20 Martin’s Super Markets, a South Bend, Ind.-based grocery chain acquired in late 2018.

“On behalf of the executive leadership team and our corporate board of directors, we are excited for Tom’s visionary leadership as he continues to develop and execute strategic plans that continually grow and improve SpartanNash’s corporate retail business,” Eidson said in a statement. “In his new position, he has full P&L responsibility and oversight of SpartanNash’s customer-first initiatives for our corporate retail stores.”

Related:Retail lifts SpartanNash to year-end sales gains

A more than 30-year grocery retail veteran, Swanson has been with the organization since January 2012, when he was senior VP of retail operations for Nash Finch Co., which merged with Spartan Stores Inc. in November 2013 to form SpartanNash Co. He served over six years as VP of corporate retail-west operations for SpartanNash before becoming VP of merchandising and marketing for the retail unit.

Prior to joining Nash Finch, Swanson spent more than 25 years at Chandler, Ariz.-based supermarket retailer Bashas’, most recently as vice president and GM of the company’s Food City Markets banner.

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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