He will have oversight for all store categories except foodservice. At BP, Bratta was responsible for food, beverages and packaged goods.
Previously, Bratta was a senior category manager for BP's Arco/ampm. And he was a market manager and division [image-nocss] merchandise manager for Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. from 1991 to 2001.
In a email, he said, "After nearly 10 years, and with mixed emotions, I have made the decision to leave BP, and take a marketing position with The Pantry, in North Carolina. I have truly enjoyed my time at BP, and have made quite a number of great friends while here. I have had great jobs, a great team of people to work with, and enjoyed the challenges we faced to grow our business together. BP is a company that I have a great deal of respect for, and the decision to leave was not an easy one to make."
He added, "At the same time, I am very happy to start a new chapter in my career...at The Pantry.... I am looking forward to the challenge, and working with the great team of people I have met there so far."
CSP Daily News asked Bratta about his move:
CSP: What prompted your move from BP to The Pantry?
Bratta: The Pantry presented me with a very nice opportunity--that was the only factor, as I am very happy with the management direction at BP. I have a great deal of respect for the people at BP, and the decision making process that led to the current direction.
CSP: What does your addition to The Pantry's marketing staff say about the company's new strategy? (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage of The Pantry's new strategy.)
Bratta: I know they passionately want to grow and win, and so do I. So that is a good start.
CSP: Robert Gulley, who was a senior category manager for center of store and alcohol at BP, also recently made the jump to The Pantry. Was he instrumental in helping you make the move?
Bratta: No, other than providing his feedback on the organization as a whole. I respect Bob's opinion, and he had nothing but good to say about The Pantry.
CSP: Has BP hired a replacement for you?
Bratta: I was scheduled to take a position in operations at BP beginning this week, and that position was filled after my internal announcement, and I am currently transitioning my role to that capable individual now.
CSP: What do you look forward to most in this position change?
Bratta: I have met with the management team at The Pantry, and came away very impressed with them. I like the direction they are taking to differentiate themselves from other c-stores, and although I will not have oversight of their efforts in foodservice, I think that kind of change is always exciting. I am looking forward to starting there next week, and meeting my new team.
CSP: What will you miss?
Bratta: I will miss the great team at ampm, all of the great friends I have that I will not see quite as often and the short-sleeve winters.
The ampm brand was founded in 1978 in Southern California by ARCO. The brand became part of BP when BP acquired ARCO in 2000. ARCO-branded ampm stores are currently found in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Arizona; BP-branded ampm stores are located in Chicago, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Atlanta. BP supplies more than 15 billion gallons of gasoline every year to U.S. consumers through 11,000 retail outlets. BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former British Petroleum, Amoco, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), ARAL and Burmah Castrol.
Headquartered in Cary, N.C., The Pantry is a leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated convenience store chains in the country. As of December 14, 2010, it operated 1,672 stores in 13 states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner. The Pantry's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, as well as fuel and other ancillary services.
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