Dive Brief:

• Coborn’s, Inc. announced three executive promotions in a Monday LinkedIn post, appointing a new senior vice president of growth initiatives; vice president of market strategy development; and senior director of pharmacy, fuel and franchise growth operations. 
• All three changes will take effect in February.
• These promotions, which the company noted will help fuel its continued growth plans, come less than a year after Coborn’s acquired Minneapolis-based grocer Sullivan’s Foods.  

Dive Insight:

The St. Cloud, Minnesota-based grocery chain’s three internal promotions focus on growth and management beyond core grocery categories. 

Emily Coborn Wright will take over as Coborn’s senior vice president of growth initiatives, focusing on growth in liquor, pharmacy, e-commerce and franchise operations, per the LinkedIn post. 

Last January, Wright was promoted to senior vice president of retail support services, where she headed up the company’s pharmacy and e-commerce operations as well as oversaw construction and maintenance, and loss control and compliance, Store Brands reported. Prior to that, Wright served as Coborn’s vice president of retail support services.  

Nathan Tykwinski, who has been with the grocer since 1991, will move into the role of vice president of market strategy development. Tykwinski will lead the company’s market strategy and identify opportunities for new stores, acquisitions and remodels to drive organizational growth, according to the post. Tywinski will also oversee facilities/construction and continuous improvement for Coborn’s. 

Tykwinski was also promoted last January along with Wright, moving from vice president of retail services to vice president of operations where he oversaw liquor, convenience and franchise operations. 

Coborn’s has also promoted Chad Nellis to senior director of pharmacy, fuel and franchise growth operations, expanding his role from the director of pharmacy role he has held since April 2021, according his LinkedIn profile. In his new role, Nellis will lead pharmacy operations as well as franchise operations to spot new growth opportunities. 

Coborn’s also noted in its Monday LinkedIn post that Vice President of Legal Services Christie Schulte will now oversee the company’s asset protection team along with risk, safety, compliance and food safety. 

The Minnesota grocer noted these executive changes are timed with plans to continue growing as well as focus on the company’s financial health and overall success.  

Back in April, Coborn’s added 11 new grocery stores to its footprint with the acquisition of Sullivan’s Foods. The deal marked Coborn’s entrance into its sixth state and added three Ace Hardware Stores, a warehouse and a convenience store with a fuel center that Sullivan’s operated.