UPDATE: June 2, 2021: SpartanNash announced on Tuesday it has named Douglas Hacker as chairman of its board of directors. Hacker, a former director with Nash Finch who has served as the lead independent director of SpartanNash's board since 2018, was appointed to the position at the company's annual shareholder meeting on May 26.
“This is an exciting, transformational phase for SpartanNash as the Company has recently welcomed several new leaders and launched key initiatives for growth and operational excellence,” Hacker said in a statement.
The appointment continues SpartanNash's reshuffling of top roles since President and CEO Tony Sarsam took over last September. So far this year, the retailer-wholesaler has appointed three new executive officers, six vice presidents and 11 directors.
Dive Brief:
- SpartanNash Chairman and former CEO Dennis Eidson will retire from the wholesaler and supermarket operator when his term runs out in May, the company announced on Monday.
- Eidson, who has served in the role since 2016, is expected to be succeeded by Douglas Hacker, a former airline executive who is currently lead independent director of SpartanNash.
- Eidson’s planned retirement continues a string of recent top-level changes at SpartanNash, which has recently seen the appointments of a new CEO and chief financial officer.
Dive Insight:
SpartanNash’s announcement that Eidson will be leaving comes as the grocer continues realigning its executive ranks following a financially rough stretch that led to the resignation of its former president and CEO, Dave Staples, in August 2019.
Eidson assumed the position of interim president and CEO upon Staples’ departure and held that position until last September, when Tony Sarsam, former CEO of Borden Dairy, was appointed as the company’s president and CEO. Eidson also served as CEO from 2008 to 2017, and previously held the roles of president, chief operating officer, and executive vice president of marketing and merchandising.
SpartanNash has seen its annual revenue increase from $2.1 billion to $9 billion since 2003, when Eidson arrived at the company to serve as chief merchandising officer, the grocer noted.
In another executive shake-up, SpartanNash earlier this month named Jason Monaco, who had worked with Sarsam at Borden Dairy, as CFO.
SpartanNash announced Tuesday on LinkedIn that it has named Amy McClellan, a 20-year supermarket industry veteran, as vice president of fresh merchandising. McClellan, a former Martin’s Super Markets executive, joined SpartanNash when it acquired Martin's in early 2019.
Following the company's annual meeting on May 26, Hacker, who has served on the grocer's board since 2013, is slated to take over from Eidson as chairman. He previously served as a director of Nash Finch Co., which merged with Spartan Stores in November 2013 to create SpartanNash. Currently an independent business executive, Hacker served in top roles for United Airlines and UAL Corp., the holding company for the airline.
The ongoing management shifts at SpartanNash are taking place against a backdrop of strong financial performance by the company, which operates supermarkets under banners including Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery and Dan’s Supermarket as well as commissaries on U.S. military bases. The company recorded a same-store sales increase of 8.7% and net sales growth of 12.5%, to $2.25 billion, in the fourth quarter. In addition, it has been able to reduce its debt using profits generated in 2020 and is now ready to invest in the business, Sarsam said during the company's earnings call for the period, which ended Jan. 2.
