Dive Brief:

• SpartanNash has named Bennett Morgan as senior vice president and chief merchandising officer, the grocery retailer and wholesaler said in a press release Tuesday. He was formerly a category leader for Amazon's Fresh stores and oversaw produce, protein and center store products.
• Also Tuesday, The Raley's Companies said it promoted Jen Warner to president of the Raley's operating division, a role in which she will oversee the privately held retailer's Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill Foods and Raley’s ONE Market banners in California and Nevada.
• In addition, Midwestern grocer Coborn's said last week it has appointed Chief Operating Officer Dave Meyer as president.

Dive Insight:

Regional grocers are refreshing their top ranks as they look to build momentum at the beginning of the year.

At SpartanNash, Morgan brings significant grocery experience to his new position. At Amazon, he was instrumental in launching the e-commerce giant's brick-and-mortar food retailing operations and opened stores in locations across the United States, the announcement noted.

Before joining Amazon, where he spent a little less than two years according to his profile on LinkedIn, Morgan served in management positions for Walmart in Asia. In his last position for the retailer, he was vice president of merchandising for Walmart China and Japan, a job that made him responsible for cost negotiations and data-led activities in assortment, pricing and promotions.

Earlier, Morgan led store operations, supply chain manufacturing and merchandising for Texas supermarket chain H-E-B.

SpartanNash's recruitment of Morgan continues a string of executive suite changes at the company since Tony Sarsam took over as president and CEO in September 2020. Earlier this month, the grocer said it promoted Amy McClellan to senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Last year, SpartanNash brought on a new chief supply chain officer, chief financial officer and chief legal officer.

Raley's, meanwhile, has tapped its former chief administrative officer to run its new operating division, which oversees 123 stores and was established upon the completion of Raley's acquisition of Bashas'. Warner, who joined Raley's in 2020, has held leadership roles at various retail and supply chain companies, including Columbia Sportswear, Con-way, Inc, and XPO Logistics. 

Warner will remain president of last mile delivery services company Apium Logistics, according to Tuesday's announcement. 

At Coborn's, Meyer becomes just the second person outside of the Coborn family to hold the title of president in the company's 101-year history.  He will retain the COO's position and will be in charge of store operations, fresh and center store merchandising, marketing and human resources for the chain, which operates supermarkets under banners including Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Tadych’s Marketplace and Hornbacher’s. Chris Coborn, who previously held the president title, will continue to lead the company as chairman and CEO.

Coborn's, which recently entered Michigan with the acquisition of several Tadych's locations, also announced several other recent leadership promotions, including a new senior director of fresh merchandising, vice president of retail services and vice president of operations for its eastern division.