Kroger's Dillon Stores Names New President
CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. has announced that John Bays has been promoted to president of Dillon Stores, which operates 110 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He succeeds Bob Colvey, who has announced his retirement after 40 years with the company.
Bays, 51, previously served as VP of merchandising in Kroger's Delta division in Memphis, Tenn. He had held that position since 2001. Prior to that, he was VP of operations for three years.
Bays joined Kroger in 1967 as a store clerk and went on to hold a series of management positions in the Mid-Atlantic division, including zone manager, director of operations, and director of meat merchandising. He was promoted to Memphis in 1997.
Colvey had been president of Dillon Stores since 1993. Prior to that, he was VP of marketing for the division. He joined Kroger in 1963 as a carry-out at the company's former Market Basket division in Los Angeles. His later assignments included store management, facility engineering, grocery merchandising and district management.
"We are very grateful to Bob for his many contributions over the past 40 years," said David B. Dillon, Kroger's president and COO. "Under his leadership, Dillons has expanded its store base and sharpened its focus on serving customers. We are confident that John's experience in merchandising and operations will serve him well as Dillons builds on its reputation as one of the premier food retailers in the Midwest."
Bays, 51, previously served as VP of merchandising in Kroger's Delta division in Memphis, Tenn. He had held that position since 2001. Prior to that, he was VP of operations for three years.
Bays joined Kroger in 1967 as a store clerk and went on to hold a series of management positions in the Mid-Atlantic division, including zone manager, director of operations, and director of meat merchandising. He was promoted to Memphis in 1997.
Colvey had been president of Dillon Stores since 1993. Prior to that, he was VP of marketing for the division. He joined Kroger in 1963 as a carry-out at the company's former Market Basket division in Los Angeles. His later assignments included store management, facility engineering, grocery merchandising and district management.
"We are very grateful to Bob for his many contributions over the past 40 years," said David B. Dillon, Kroger's president and COO. "Under his leadership, Dillons has expanded its store base and sharpened its focus on serving customers. We are confident that John's experience in merchandising and operations will serve him well as Dillons builds on its reputation as one of the premier food retailers in the Midwest."