Schnucks taps new executives to lead marketing, merchandising

Dive Brief:

Schnucks has announced a new executive hire and an executive-level promotion, according to company announcements. Bill Bradley has been hired to the role of chief marketing and communications officer, and Ryan Cuba has been promoted to chief merchant.
Bradley comes to Schnucks from Anheuser-Busch where he worked for nearly 30 years, most recently as vice president of community affairs. Beginning Aug. 3, he will lead Schnucks’ recently merged marketing, communication and customer insights team.
Cuba will move into a new leadership role for Schnucks’ merchandising department after serving as the company’s chief business development and transformation officer. Cuba has been with the retailer for 14 years.

Dive Insight:

Schnucks is looking to stay relevant with shoppers in an e-commerce era while trying to maintain its local and regional feel.

Cuba began with Schnucks working in store operations, and has played an integral role in transforming Schnucks’ business over the past few years as he led the company’s business development department.

Under his tenure, Schnucks expanded its e-commerce department and finalized the sale of 99 of the grocer’s pharmacies to CVS, which was announced in March. He also helped complete the acquisition of 19 Shop ‘n Save stores, and oversaw the launch of Schnucks’ new EatWell format, which focuses on healthy, local foods. Last month the grocer opened its first EatWell store in a former Lucky’s Market location in Columbia, Missouri.

Schnucks' appointment of Bradley to lead marketing and communications, meanwhile, shows the grocer is focused on connecting with shoppers that have rushed to the company during the pandemic. In a statement, Schnucks president and CEO David Peacock said the company will lean on Bradley’s expertise in brand messaging and community focus as the company invests in those core areas.

During his time at Anheuser-Busch, Bradley held roles in brand and special event marketing, corporate social responsibility and community relations.

In addition to the sale of its pharmacy business and the launch of EatWell, Schnucks recently closed one low-performing store in Iowa. The grocer also kicked off a program in June to expand partnerships with local farmers and buy more than $5 million this year in produce and goods from farmers within five hours of the communities it serves.