The Fresh Market Adds 2 to Board of Directors

The Fresh Market Inc. has elected Michael D. Casey, CEO and a director of Carter's Inc., and Robert K. Shearer, formerly CEO of V.F. Corp. and currently a director of Church & Dwight Co. Inc., as independent directors, as of May 1. This brings the number of directors on the specialty grocer's board to nine, eight of them independent.

Describing Casey and Shearer as "two experienced leaders of high-profile consumer growth and branded companies," Chairman Ray Berry noted, "We believe they will bring valuable perspectives to the board, and we look forward to leveraging their knowledge and insight as The Fresh Market moves towards the next level of growth and profitability."

Casey has been CEO and a director of Atlanta-based Carter's, the largest branded U.S. marketer of apparel for babies and young children, since 2008, becoming chairman of its board a year later. Since joining Carter's in 1993, he has held a variety of senior executive positions, including CFO, SVP of finance and VP of finance.

Shearer was SVP and CFO at Greensboro, N.C.-based V.F. Corp., a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded lifestyle apparel, under brands like The North Face, Vans, Timberland and Wrangler, from 2005 until his recent retirement. Before that, he held a number of financial roles at the company.

Also based in Greensboro, The Fresh Market operates 168 specialty grocery stores in 27 states.