CINCINNATI -- Bill Mullen, currently senior vice president of Kwik Shop in Hutchinson, Kansas, has been named vice president of merchandising for The Kroger Cos.' Convenience Stores Division, effective Aug. 1.
He succeeds Ken Nuss, who is retiring as vice president of marketing on July 31. Nuss has been with the company for more than 28 years.
In his new role, Mullen will be responsible for the management and coordination of merchandising for convenience stores, small-format stores and fuel-center kiosks.
He joined the company in 2008 as vice president of marketing for Tom Thumb c-stores, where he developed store sets, plan-o-grams, product merchandising programs and advertising. In 2013, he moved to the operations side of Tom Thumb, where he was responsible for the operations of 121 c-stores in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Later in 2013, he was promoted to his current role at Kwik Shop.
"Since joining the company, Bill has been a true asset to the c-stores team," said Jeff Parker, president of the Convenience Stores/Small-Format Division. "He is a great leader who consistently delivers positive results while also focusing on coaching and developing his team. I look forward to the leadership and expertise that Bill will bring to this new role as we continue to grow the convenience store area of the business."
Parker succeeded the retiring Van Tarver as vice president of the C-Stores Division and Supermarket Petroleum Group in January. Tarver continues to oversee the Supermarket Petroleum Group through August 1. The company has not announced a replacement for that role.
Cincinnati-based Kroger is the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, with more than 2,400 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two-dozen local banners, including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.
The company currently operates more than 1,200 supermarket fuel centers and approximately 800 convenience stores in 19 states: Pueblo, Colo.-based Loaf 'N Jug in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming; Lancaster, Pa.-based Turkey Hill Minit Markets in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania; Crestview, Fla.-based Tom Thumb Food Stores in Florida and Alabama; Hutchinson, Kansas-based Kwik Shop in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee and Mississippi; and Fremont, Calif.-based Quik Stop Markets in California and Nevada.
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