Kroger Names Day, Wolfram as Division Presidents

The Kroger Co. has promoted company veterans Zane Day and Katie Wolfram to division president roles.

Day, who currently serves as VP of operations for the company's Smith's division, has been named president of Kroger's Nashville division. He will assume his new position on Feb. 27, succeeding Rick Going, who will retire from the company after 35 years. 

Day began his career with Smith's in 1974, and has since served in leadership roles including store manager and director of merchandising, director of procurement at Fred Meyer's Tolleson distribution center, and director of deli for the Fry's division, before moving to a similar role with Smith's in 2003, where he was later promoted to district manager and VP of merchandising.

Wolfram takes the helm as president of Kroger's Indianapolis-based Central division, which operates stores in Indiana, Illinois and Eastern Missouri. She succeeds Jeff Burt, who was recently named president of Fred Meyer.

Wolfram, who was named one of Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery in 2008, began her career with Kroger in 1979 as an assistant store manager in the Cincinnati/Dayton division. She later served as manager of merchandising systems development and manager of consumer research at Kroger's general office.

After serving in leadership positions in Kroger Manufacturing, Wolfram was promoted to VP of sales & operations for that department in 2003. In 2005, she joined King Soopers as VP of merchandising before being named VP of merchandising in the Central division, in 2014. 

In welcoming the executives to their new roles, Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen noted Wolfram's "breadth of experience and deep understanding of [the] company," and further commended Day as a "strong leader who is focused on enabling our associates and serving our customers and communities."

Added McMullen of Going's retirement, "Throughout his notable career, Rick led by empowering his team while always expecting excellence. Rick's leadership in starting two new store operating divisions has built the model for our company."

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,774 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, Mariano's, Pick 'n Save, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.