Stater Bros., Kroger, Albertsons Reshuffle Grocery C-Suites

Grocery companies made at least eight senior-level executive moves in September, with Kroger reviving its chief store operations officer role for the first time since 2021, Albertsons naming a president for a newly created region, and Stater Bros. installing both a new CEO and a new CFO.

Sprouts Farmers Market also announced a CEO transition, and Kroger Health's president said she will retire after more than three decades with the company. Here is how the changes break down.

Stater Bros. promotes from within

The Southern California regional chain elevated Greg McNiff to CEO and president. McNiff replaced Pete Van Helden, who moved to executive chairman of the board after serving as CEO since 2016.

Stater Bros. also promoted Mike Reed to executive vice president and CFO, Kelvin Austin to vice president of store operations, and Mani Subramanian to vice president of information technology applications.

Albertsons fills a new regional post

Albertsons named Ken Rinaldi regional operating president of its newly formed East Region, which includes the Jewel-Osco and Shaw's banners. Rinaldi most recently served as president of the Shaw's and Star Market banners.

The appointment stems from Albertsons' decision earlier this year to adopt a new operating model that consolidated its 11 former divisions into four regions.

Kroger keeps hiring former Walmart executives

Kroger named Mark Ibbotson executive vice president and chief store operations officer, filling a role that had been vacant since 2021. Ibbotson "brings decades of experience leading large-scale retail operations through periods of significant transformation," according to the company.

Ibbotson formerly served as senior vice president of innovation at Walmart. Kroger CEO Greg Foran, who took the top job earlier this year, is also a former Walmart executive. Nate Faust, another Walmart alum, became Kroger's executive vice president and chief e-commerce officer on Sept. 1.

Sprouts lines up its next CEO

Sprouts Farmers Market said Nick Konat, its president and chief operating officer, will become CEO and join the board of directors on Jan. 4, 2027. Konat, a former Target grocery executive, will succeed Jack Sinclair, who has led Sprouts as CEO since 2019.

Kroger Health president retires

Colleen Lindholz is retiring as president of Kroger Health after more than 30 years with the grocer. She became president of the division in 2017 after serving as president and CEO of the Little Clinic, Kroger's chain of in-store healthcare facilities. Lindholz joined Kroger in 1995 as a pharmacist in its Cincinnati-Dayton unit.

Winn-Dixie names store operations chief

The Florida grocery chain named Shawn Sloan chief of store operations. Sloan, a 40-plus-year company veteran who started as a bagger, most recently served as vice president of fresh merchandising.

UNFI consolidates fresh under one leader

United Natural Foods selected Jerry Goldsmith to oversee its conventional fresh business. Goldsmith, UNFI's senior vice president of fresh conventional, takes on expanded responsibilities that include unifying the distributor's meat, produce, bakery and deli groups. He succeeds Jody Barrick, who retired as senior vice president of fresh meat, seafood, bakery and deli.

Harps CEO sets retirement date

Kim Eskew will retire as CEO and chairman of the regional grocery chain on Jan. 15, 2027, after nearly five decades with the company. President J. Max Van Hoose will succeed him.

With the Sprouts and Harps transitions both effective in January 2027, and Albertsons still executing its division-to-region consolidation, grocery leadership churn shows no sign of slowing heading into next year.