Dive Brief:
- Schnuck Markets announced Tuesday it has named Kim Gray, a former Ahold Delhaize executive, as its new chief merchant.
- Gray succeeds Ryan Cuba, who is becoming the supermarket chain’s first-ever chief growth officer.
- Both Gray and Cuba begin their new roles on Sept. 2 and will be members of the team of executives who lead the overall direction and execution of the company.
Dive Insight:
Gray brings more than 20 years of merchandising and leadership experience across fresh, center store and e-commerce category management to her new role at Schnucks.
Gray held senior merchandising roles at Ahold Delhaize USA, Hannaford Supermarkets and Food Lion, including as vice president of center store, merchandising and pricing for Hannaford and vice president of omni channel development for Ahold Delhaize USA, according to her LinkedIn profile.
At Schnucks, Gray will lead merchandising strategy, category management, procurement, assortment, pricing, promotions and supplier diversity.
“[Gray] steps into this role ready to lead thanks to her depth of category management leadership in Fresh and Center Store, her experience in E-Commerce and her keen eye for merchandising,” Ted Schnuck, Schnucks’ executive vice president of supermarkets, said in a statement.
Cuba will become the grocer’s first-ever chief growth officer after 19 years with the Midwestern chain. In the new role, Cuba will oversee the teams responsible for strategic planning, acquisitions, business development, real estate, store design, construction and maintenance.
Cuba has served as chief merchant of Schnucks since mid-2020 and previously held other leadership roles at the company, including chief business development and transformation officer, chief store merchant and vice president of store operations, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Cuba oversaw the sale of Schnucks’ pharmacy business to CVS and the integration of 19 Shop ‘n Save stores, David Bell, Schnucks’ executive vice president – chief financial and administrative officer, said in a statement.
“With his cross-functional retail experience and understanding of our business from Merchandising to Store Operations, Ryan [Cuba] is the ideal leader to step into this role as we position Schnucks for growth,” Bell said.
Schnucks runs more than 100 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin