Spartan Ups Eidson to Prez; Restructures Exec Team
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Dennis Eidson, most recently e.v.p./marketing and merchandising for Spartan Stores Inc. here, has been named president, c.o.o., and made a member of the company’s board through 2010. Eidson's appointment expands Spartan's board to nine members, seven of which are independent.
In his new post, Eidson will lead Spartan’s overall strategy implementation and execution and will direct all operating aspects of both the retail and distribution business segments. He will continue to report directly to Craig Sturken, who continues his responsibilities as chairman/c.e.o.
Under the new organizational structure, Derek Jones, e.v.p./supply chain, will report to Eidson while Tom Berg, v.p./business development, will report directly to Jones. Both positions previously reported directly to Sturken. Eidson’s current direct reports include Ted Adornato, e.v.p./retail operations, Alan Hartline, s.v.p./merchandising, Ken Thewes, v.p./marketing and Tom Montgomery, manager, retail services.
“Our steady business expansion and continuing organizational growth during the past four years necessitated the change in our organizational structure and expansion of our board,” said Sturken, noting Eidson’s “exceptional leadership skills, collaborative management style and profound understanding of the grocery industry.”
Eidson, Sturken continued, “has been instrumental in developing and implementing many of the critical marketing, merchandising and category management practices that initially stabilized our business and have since led to a consistent record of revenue and earnings growth. In addition, these practices have enabled us to gain market share during a challenging economic climate and period of unprecedented competition in the grocery industry. Dennis has also played a key role in helping to turn Spartan Stores’ corporate culture into a highly motivated and performance driven organization.”
A 36-year industry veteran, Eidson joined Spartan Stores in March 2003 as e.v.p./marketing and merchandising and in February 2007, was appointed to the newly created position of e.v.p./c.o.o. Prior to joining Spartan Stores, Eidson was divisional president/c.e.o. of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.’s Midwest region, and assistant GM for Nash Finch, Inc.’s Michigan Operations.
“The position of President and new reporting structure will allow us to better accommodate our continued growth,” said Sturken, adding that the changes “will allow me to focus more effort on the most important long-term strategic growth aspects of our business plan and less on the daily operational execution.”
With warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Mich., Spartan Stores serves nearly 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, as well as owning and operating 88 retail supermarkets and 14 deep-discount food and drug stores in Michigan and Ohio, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Felpausch Food Centers and The Pharm.
In his new post, Eidson will lead Spartan’s overall strategy implementation and execution and will direct all operating aspects of both the retail and distribution business segments. He will continue to report directly to Craig Sturken, who continues his responsibilities as chairman/c.e.o.
Under the new organizational structure, Derek Jones, e.v.p./supply chain, will report to Eidson while Tom Berg, v.p./business development, will report directly to Jones. Both positions previously reported directly to Sturken. Eidson’s current direct reports include Ted Adornato, e.v.p./retail operations, Alan Hartline, s.v.p./merchandising, Ken Thewes, v.p./marketing and Tom Montgomery, manager, retail services.
“Our steady business expansion and continuing organizational growth during the past four years necessitated the change in our organizational structure and expansion of our board,” said Sturken, noting Eidson’s “exceptional leadership skills, collaborative management style and profound understanding of the grocery industry.”
Eidson, Sturken continued, “has been instrumental in developing and implementing many of the critical marketing, merchandising and category management practices that initially stabilized our business and have since led to a consistent record of revenue and earnings growth. In addition, these practices have enabled us to gain market share during a challenging economic climate and period of unprecedented competition in the grocery industry. Dennis has also played a key role in helping to turn Spartan Stores’ corporate culture into a highly motivated and performance driven organization.”
A 36-year industry veteran, Eidson joined Spartan Stores in March 2003 as e.v.p./marketing and merchandising and in February 2007, was appointed to the newly created position of e.v.p./c.o.o. Prior to joining Spartan Stores, Eidson was divisional president/c.e.o. of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.’s Midwest region, and assistant GM for Nash Finch, Inc.’s Michigan Operations.
“The position of President and new reporting structure will allow us to better accommodate our continued growth,” said Sturken, adding that the changes “will allow me to focus more effort on the most important long-term strategic growth aspects of our business plan and less on the daily operational execution.”
With warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Mich., Spartan Stores serves nearly 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, as well as owning and operating 88 retail supermarkets and 14 deep-discount food and drug stores in Michigan and Ohio, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Felpausch Food Centers and The Pharm.