Bigg's Prez Wevers Retires
Milford, Ohio -- Pierre Wevers, 53, president and c.e.o. of bigg's here, has retired from the Supervalu subsidiary he was instrumental in building. Gordy Farrington, former president of sister Supervalu division Cub Foods, has been named acting chief executive.
According to published reports, Wevers, who’s been at the helm of bigg's for 20 years, will remain on a consulting basis through the end of the year. Bigg's opened its doors in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1984 as the first store in the country to specialize in both grocery and general merchandise. In 1994, bigg's became a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu with seven locations. Today bigg's has 13 locations in the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Clarksville, Indiana markets.
Minneapolis-based Supervalu recruited Wevers in early 1986 to run its first location in Eastgate, Ohio. At the time, the store was considered a pioneer and an oddity, modeled after the French "supermarché" that combines food with clothes, televisions and auto supplies.
Bigg's newest store in Hyde Park, Ohio, is a smaller, more upscale format featuring expanded organics and wine selections. The format is expected to be rolled out to other stores.
Bigg's employs about 2,000 people and controlled 7.7 percent of the Cincinnati market in the first half of 2005, according to Trade Dimensions.
According to published reports, Wevers, who’s been at the helm of bigg's for 20 years, will remain on a consulting basis through the end of the year. Bigg's opened its doors in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1984 as the first store in the country to specialize in both grocery and general merchandise. In 1994, bigg's became a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu with seven locations. Today bigg's has 13 locations in the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Clarksville, Indiana markets.
Minneapolis-based Supervalu recruited Wevers in early 1986 to run its first location in Eastgate, Ohio. At the time, the store was considered a pioneer and an oddity, modeled after the French "supermarché" that combines food with clothes, televisions and auto supplies.
Bigg's newest store in Hyde Park, Ohio, is a smaller, more upscale format featuring expanded organics and wine selections. The format is expected to be rolled out to other stores.
Bigg's employs about 2,000 people and controlled 7.7 percent of the Cincinnati market in the first half of 2005, according to Trade Dimensions.