Dive Brief:
- Kroger has named Rudy DiPietro to serve as president of the supermarket company’s Dallas Division, effective March 29, according to a Tuesday announcement.
- DiPietro, a longtime Ahold Delhaize USA executive, will replace Keith Shoemaker, who is retiring from Kroger after nearly 48 years with the grocer.
- Kroger is bringing on a new leader for its Dallas operations as the retailer regroups following its unsuccessful attempt to combine with Albertsons and remakes its senior executive team.
Dive Insight:
DiPietro brings more than two decades of experience working in a variety of positions at Ahold Delhaize to his new role heading Kroger’s supermarket operations in a key market, according to the press release.
He served most recently as vice president of omnichannel planning and execution for Ahold Delhaize USA, where he oversaw omnichannel implementation for the Dutch grocer’s five U.S. banners. DiPietro previously led omnichannel operations for Stop & Shop, and before taking on that role, he was senior vice president of sales and operations for the Northeast grocery chain.
Earlier in his career, DiPietro served as vice president of merchandising for Food Lion. According to his LinkedIn profile, he began his career as a retail management trainee for Hannaford in 2003 and rose to become vice president of retail operations for the New England grocery chain in 2011.
DiPietro “brings a wealth of experience in the grocery industry, with a proven track record of driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. His leadership will play a critical role in elevating our business and our growth strategy in Dallas,” Valerie Jabbar, senior vice president of retail divisions at Kroger, said in a statement.
Shoemaker is retiring from Kroger after holding a variety of positions with the company during a span that began in 1977. He became vice president of merchandising for the grocer’s Dallas Division in 2017 and was named president of the unit in 2021.
Kroger faces intense competition in the Dallas region, including from H-E-B, which is in the process of expanding its presence in the market to more than 20 locations.
Kroger is searching for a new CEO following the sudden resignation earlier this month of Rodney McMullen.
