Dive Brief:
- SpartanNash announced Monday it has hired Erin Storm as its new senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
- Storm will oversee various aspects of the company’s marketing function, including its private label portfolio, retail marketing programs, e-commerce and digital experience, shopper insights, and loyalty.
- The new executive onboard comes during a tough financial year for the food solutions company, which is looking to continue a “merchandising transformation,” CEO Tony Sarsam said during an earnings call earlier this month.
Dive Insight:
Storm brings nearly 20 years of food and CPG marketing experience to her new role at SpartanNash.
Prior to joining the company, Storm spent the majority of her career working for the Kellogg Company holding numerous leadership positions, including senior director of marketing and senior director of sales. Last October, she was promoted to vice president of marketing with Kellanova, Kellogg’s spin-off company, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Storm most recently held the position of vice president of commercial strategy for Kellanova, according to the announcement, which noted that she has provided leadership for leading brands and that her creative team at Kellogg’s won national awards and recognition for a 2024 Pringles Super Bowl commercial.
“[Storm] will play a pivotal role in driving brand awareness for our retail banners and OwnBrands portfolio, capturing market share, and leveraging consumer insights for product innovation,” Sarsam said in a statement.
As SpartanNash’s sales continue to decline year over year, the company is focusing on bolstering and revamping things it “can control and not standing still in this environment,” Sarsam told investors earlier this month, noting how the effects of declining wholesale business with Amazon have hurt performance in recent quarters.
SpartanNash’s private label growth, which Storm will now oversee, is included in areas the company is continuing to focus on to bring back a positive sales trend. Earlier this year, the company announced the launch of its new private brand called Finest Reserve by Our Family, offering pasta, sauces, dressing and more.
Storm marks SpartanNash’s latest executive announcement. In early June, the company named a new vice president of merchandising and pharmacy.