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SpartanNash chief merchant Lori Raya joins Kroger as Mid-Atlantic president

Paula Ginnett elevated to corporate group VP of retail operations at Kroger

Russell Redman

July 22, 2021

3 Min Read
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Raya comes to Kroger from grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash, where she served as chief merchandising and marketing officer since February 2019. Ginnett has been Kroger Mid-Atlantic division president since November 2019.The Kroger Co.

The Kroger Co. has hired Lori Raya as president of its Mid-Atlantic division, taking over from Paula Ginnett, who has been promoted to group vice president of retail operations at Kroger’s Cincinnati headquarters.

Raya comes to Kroger from grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash, where she served as chief merchandising and marketing officer since February 2019. Ginnett has been Kroger Mid-Atlantic division president since November 2019, when she succeeded the retiring Jerry Clontz.

Based in Richmond, Va., the Kroger Mid-Atlantic division operates 100-plus stores across five states and has more than 18,000 employees. 

Lori Raya-Kroger-headshot.jpg“I’m thrilled to be the new president of Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division, and I can’t wait to work with the talented and passionate team of associates that proudly serves our customers,” Raya (left) said in a statement. “One of the things that drew me to Kroger was its focus on supporting communities, and I am looking forward to getting involved and making a difference in Richmond and the other communities Kroger serves throughout our Mid-Atlantic division.”

Raya brings more than three decades of grocery industry experience to Kroger. Before joining Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash as chief merchant and marketer, she spent 31 years at Safeway/Albertsons, most recently as Albertsons division president at Albertsons Cos. She was division president of Albertsons from 2015 to 2018 after holding the post of Vons division president from 2012 to 2015 — the first woman to serve as a division president in the grocery chain’s 107-year history. At Safeway, she started as a store associate and rose through the ranks to store manager, district manager, vice president of retail operations, group vice president of strategic initiatives, and various food category senior management positions.

Related:Kroger appoints new investor relations chief

As Albertsons division president, Raya led the post-merger transition with Safeway and the integration of multiple banner teams. The merger, completed in January 2015, formed the nation’s second-largest supermarket retailer, with more than 2,200 stores and 250,000 employees.

“Lori is a respected leader within the grocery retail industry, and her perspective will be a valued addition to the Mid-Atlantic division. She is a people-first leader who will build on the success of Paula and the division team to continue deliver a full, fresh and friendly experience to every customer,” stated Valerie Jabbar, who was named senior vice president of retail divisions at Kroger last week and is slated to start in the role on Aug. 7.

Related:Kroger promotes Valerie Jabbar to senior VP of retail divisions

Paula Ginnett-Kroger-headshot.jpgGinnett (left) joined Kroger as vice president in August after 25-plus years at Walmart. Most recently at Walmart, she served for five years as vice president as regional general manager, based in Phoenix. In that role, she led 188 stores and 45,000 employees. Before that, she was vice president of store planning, overseeing real estate execution for new store openings, remodels and special projects for Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club. She has also held various leadership positions in merchandising and operations.

“We are so grateful for the leadership that Paula has shown over the past two years,” Jabbar commented, “and we are pleased to know that we’ll continue to benefit from her experience as she transitions to a new role with the company.” 

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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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