HIGHLAND, IN – Strack & Van Til has reorganized its executive management team as part of a plan to better position the chain for the future. Company President and CEO Ken Diehl made the announcement.
“I’m very excited and pleased to announce the hiring of several new members to our executive management team as well as the restructuring of responsibilities across the board,” said Diehl. “These changes will strengthen Strack & Van Til’s ability to excel in the highly competitive markets we serve. This team provides exceptional skills in the cornerstones of our stores, particularly store operations, financial management, and customer service.”
According to a press release, the new team, which is now fully in place, includes the following members:
- Chris Bengtson, Chief Operation Officer – Bengtson, a 25-year industry veteran, comes from Albertsons' Southwest Division where he held P/L responsibilities for 105 stores. He will be responsible for store operations, sales growth, store conditions, and identifying and developing talent in Strack & Van Til’s store management teams.
- Stan Swinton, Chief Merchandising Officer – Swinton most recently served as VP of Center Store for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company where he led center store marketing and merchandising for 301 stores. Stan will be responsible for company-wide sales growth initiatives, innovation, profit margins, and sales and merchandising planning in this new role.
- Jeff Strack, Chief Marketing Officer, Public Relations & Customer Relations Officer – Jeff Strack was part of the leadership team that grew the company from 10 to 38 stores. He will be responsible for all marketing and advertising programs, social & digital media initiatives, customer & public relations, and consumer affairs issues.
- Phil Latchford, Chief Financial Officer – Phil is currently Strack & Van Til’s Controller. He will be replacing the retiring Keith Bruxvoort. As a CPA, Latchford will manage shareholder value, budgeting, forecasting, internal and external audit, and cash management.
- David Negron, Vice President of Fresh and Perishables – David has more than 31 years in retail food operations and served most recently at Jewel Food Stores. His position will oversee key components of store merchandising initiatives.
- Andy Raab, Vice President of Real Estate – Raab, a Senior Business Leader for the last 16 years at Ultra Foods, will take on responsibility of Strack & Van Til’s real estate portfolio which includes acquisitions, new store & remodel construction initiatives, and store facility maintenance.
- Rex Mudge, Vice President of Human Resources – With over 25 years in Human Resources in the retail food industry, Rex will be responsible for training and development, workplace diversity, recruitment and compensation, and organizational development.
- Derek Kinney, Vice President of Labor Relations and Customer Service – Derek comes to Strack & Van Til with over 31 years in the industry. He most recently served as VP of Human Resources and Labor Relations for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. He will oversee key aspects of labor relations and customer service initiatives.
- Tom Cohen, Vice President of IT – Tom has over 20 years in IT including serving as CIO with Toms.com. He will be responsible for managing strategies in technology, systems integration, process innovation, and emerging technologies.
While announcing these changes, Diehl spoke about the contributions made by retiring Vice President of Finance Keith Bruxvoort who has been with the company since 1989. He said, “We wish Keith and his wife Bev nothing but the best as they move on to a more enjoyable pace after his many years of service to our stores.”
In terms of restructuring, he added, “What pleases me most about this new team is that so many of them started their careers in stores working as baggers and clerks, learning the business from the ground up. They have already established successful careers in our industry and many are leaving great companies to move to the Midwest, clearly embracing the vision we have for Strack & Van Til and Ultra Foods. Our customers, employees, suppliers and vendors will all benefit from the more than 200 years of accumulated experience that this team will now bring to every aspect of our operation.”
Strack & Van Til operates 20 stores under the corporate banner, 16 Ultra Foods stores and 2 Town & County Markets located throughout the Chicagoland area and northwest Indiana.
