Sponsored By

Wakefern names brand strategy and advertising leaders

Laura Kind promoted to VP, brand strategy and Ranjana Choudry joins company as VP of advertising and social media

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

May 7, 2020

1 Min Read
ShopRite_store_sign_closeup-1.jpg
Wakefern retailer banners include ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market and Gourmet Garage.Wakefern Food Corp.

Grocery retail cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. has promoted Laura Kind to vice president of brand strategy and welcomed Ranjana Choudhry as vice president of advertising and social media.

Wakefern is the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative, with member companies that own and operate 354 supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market and Gourmet Garage banners.

Laura Kind.jpg

Kind (left) joined Wakefern in December 2018 as director of own brands marketing and packaging and was pivotal in driving the design, positioning and launch of Wakefern’s newest own brand offerings, Bowl & Basket and Paperbird.

In her new role, Kind will oversee strategic brand management for all of Wakefern’s retail brands, and work to uniquely differentiate those banners in the marketplace, shape the brand identities and ensure connectivity in all customer-facing initiatives.

Prior to joining Wakefern, Kind was director of brand at Jet.com, a Walmart e-commerce company, where she built the company’s private label brand, winning several awards for its packaging and design. She has also held marketing leadership roles at Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Ranjana Choudhry.png

Choudhry (right) joined Wakefern in March and brings more than 25 years of experience as a global marketing and communications leader to her new role at Wakefern. She will lead the advertising and social media divisions to develop marketing and digital content strategies that harness the brands’ promotions, and also introduce new campaigns across advertising and digital channels.

Related:Wakefern creates chief customer officer, chief merchant roles

Choudhry began her career with Grey Advertising, a global marketing communications agency. She relocated to New York while working for WPP, a multinational advertising agency where she led more than 400 team members in 220 countries for Colgate-Palmolive’s brands.

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like