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Wakefern hires former Giant exec to lead marketing

Eric Keptner also to oversee merchandising, e-commerce

Russell Redman

July 13, 2018

1 Min Read
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Former Giant Food Stores marketing chief Erik Keptner has joined Wakefern Food Corp. as senior vice president of marketing.

The Keasbey, N.J.-based grocery cooperative, led by the ShopRite supermarket banner, said Keptner will oversee its e-commerce and analytics, advertising, corporate merchandising, private label and own brands, and social media and digital advertising divisions. 

Keptner, who started in his new post at Wakefern this week, is charged with developing marketing and merchandising strategies for the company’s retail brands, which also include The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite and Dearborn Market. The supermarket industry veteran reports to Wakefern Executive Vice President Chris Lane.

“Erik came up in the grocery business at a pivotal time for the industry and throughout his career has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to implementing consumer-centric marketing and merchandising strategies,” Lane said in a statement. “He’s a proven leader, and we are very excited to welcome him to the Wakefern team.”

Most recently, Keptner was senior vice president of sales, merchandising and marketing at Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores, a division of Ahold Delhaize. Before that, he served executive vice president of marketing for Ahold USA. His nearly dozen years at Giant also included roles as senior vice president of marketing and consumer insight and as senior vice president of marketing and communication.

The nation’s largest retailer-owned co-op, Wakefern has 50 members who independently own and operate 350 supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Virginia.

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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