CHANDLER, AZ - Retail veteran Barry Craft has joined the Bashas’ Family of Stores executive team. With nearly 40 years in the grocery industry in his back pocket, Craft is taking on the role of Vice President of Marketing, Merchandising, and Procurement for Bashas’ more than 100 grocery stores throughout Arizona. Phil Hawkes, who previously held the role, is stepping down to retire.
Since graduating high school, Craft worked in the retail industry, winning a Retail Career Scholarship from Winn Dixie. For the next 10 years he worked for Bruno’s Inc., before joining SGSM Acquisition Group as Director of Retail Operations. In his role at SGSM, Craft oversaw the Schwegmann Supermarket chain based in New Orleans, and later maintained the chain’s operational value through divestiture.
Craft spent the next 16 years at H-E-B in Texas as Unit Director/Team Leader, Senior Business Development Manager, and Director of Merchandising, before he decided to take a year out of the grocery industry at a juvenile products manufacturer. But the allure of the grocery industry was too strong, because Craft soon returned to retail on the Center Store Category Management team for Fiesta Supermarkets. His most recent role was as Fiesta’s Director of Pricing/Business Integration, according to the press release.
“Barry brings almost 40 years of experience in the supermarket industry, with a notable track record of generating sales and margin growth,” said Edward 'Trey' Basha, President. “He has built and maintained excellent relationships within the organizations he has worked for, as well as with the vendor community, and this business philosophy makes him an ideal fit for our Bashas’ leadership team.”
Congratulations to the Bashas’ team; it sounds like they caught a winner!
