Dive Brief:
- The Fresh Market has named Brian Johnson as president and CEO, effective Feb. 3.
- Johnson, currently the specialty grocer’s chief operating officer, will replace Jason Potter, who is departing to become CEO and president of Grocery Outlet.
- Johnson has helped lead The Fresh Market’s growth into new regions, including the East Coast and Midwest, the announcement noted.
Dive Insight:
Johnson’s appointment to helm The Fresh Market comes on the tail of Potter’s impending departure, which discounter Grocery Outlet announced Wednesday morning.
Prior to joining The Fresh Market in 2020, Johnson was a division vice president at Brookshire Grocery Company in Texas.
“As a company we have a lot of momentum going into 2025, and I look forward to working alongside the team at The Fresh Market as we continue to grow, innovate, and create meaningful customer experiences,” Johnson said in a statement.
The Fresh Market underwent a growth spurt in the final months of 2024, opening seven storefronts between September and December. Despite this, The Fresh Market is still behind on its 2023 goal to scale its store fleet by 14% in two years, debuting only eight of the slated 22 stores so far.
Last month, the grocer introduced a new tech suite in partnership with VusionGroup, equipping all of its locations with digital signage and inventory management tools.
The Fresh Market operates 166 stores across 22 states.
