Dive Brief:

• The Raley’s Companies has named Steve Mayer as the new president of Bashas’ Operating Companies, according to a Wednesday announcement.
• In his new position, Mayer, who was formerly Bashas’ chief operating officer, will lead the grocer’s organization in its home state of Arizona as well as New Mexico, including all store and distribution center operations as well as merchandising and sales. 
• The announcement was made Wednesday morning at the opening ceremony of the Bashas’ new headquarters in Chandler, Arizona.

Dive Insight:

In addition to overseeing the Bashas’ Operating Company — which includes Bashas’, Bashas’ Dine, Food City and AJ’s stores — Mayer will serve on the Enterprise Leadership Team and report to The Raley’s Companies’ president and CEO, Keith Knopf, the announcement stated. 

The new Bashas’ president will also work alongside the regional grocer’s executive team, composed of Johnny Basha, Michael Basha, Ralph Woodward, Ashley Shick and Sabrina Dominquez, along with The Raley’s Companies shared services leaders, the press release said. 

Mayer has been part of Bashas’ leadership since 2020, starting as senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and procurement, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to joining Bashas’, Mayer held leadership roles at numerous other companies within the industry, such as vice president of deli and bakery for Meijer and group vice president of Schnuck Markets.

Mayer’s promotion was publicly announced at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Bashas’ new corporate headquarters — which it referred to in the announcement as a “support center” for the role it plays in supporting company stores — located at 2650 W. Geronimo Place.

The center, announced in December, will serve as “a hub for merchandising and operations” as well as provide Bashas’ division support and administrative team with updated amenities, according to the press release. It is the grocer’s first corporate headquarters move in 90 years.

The Raley’s Companies, which completed its acquisition of Bashas’ in December 2021, operates 237 stores across seven states and four tribal nations.