PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin Inc. has promoted Jim Fiene to chief operating officer, effective today. The Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based retailer also promoted Jim Schutz to vice president of people assets, also effective today.
Fiene joined Open Pantry in 2003 with the goal of growing profitability of the privately held convenience store chain. Drawing on his more than 25 years of industry experience, Fiene has escalated Open Pantry to one of the most recognizable and regarded brands in southern Wisconsin and our industry, the company said.
In his [image-nocss] time at Open Pantry, Fiene has transformed the 26-store chain from a c-store to a upscale convenience market by recognizing the growing consumer desire for quality food and offerings conveniently. Open Pantry focuses on the female consumer. The stores offer a living room-style seating areas with over-stuffed leather chairs, fireplaces, well-lit locations, restaurant-style restrooms and free Wi-Fi access terminals—concepts developed by Fiene.
He also has been instrumental in creating a high-performance, results-oriented atmosphere, a tactical approach in which he strives to empower each Open Pantry employee through the exercises of team building, shared responsibility and self-managed teams.
Fiene arrived to his role at Open Pantry through a seasoned career in the c-store industry. Beginning at SuperAmerica in 1981 as a store associate, he learned first hand what it took to provide exceptional customer service while running a store with economic savvy. After four years at SuperAmerica, he joined Thornton Oil Co., Louisville, Ky., as a regional manager. There he provided leadership for more than 17 years, working his way through the company, finally serving as vice president of retail sales. During his tenure at Thorntons, he was part of the team that doubled the size of the organization from 80 to more than 160 stores and $1 billion in sales through a strategy of organic and acquisition growth.
Fiene "is a natural strategic thinker. He continually re-assesses Open Pantry's market strengths and then plays on those strengths to capture market share and grow our business. We feel that Jim will greatly contribute to our strategic focus in this new capacity more formally," said board member Tom Meyers, an attorney at Reinhardt Law, Milwaukee.
"Jim Fiene has dramatically contributed to up-imaging our company during the last four years and restoring our brand value," said Robert A. Buhler, president and CEO of Open Pantry. "His efforts have allowed Open Pantry to be viewed as an industry leader that has set the highest of inside store standards for ambiance, merchandising, and high-end customer retailing. We are delighted to provide the COO title to Jim, and look forward to his elevated leadership."
Buhler added, "Jim Schutz came to Open Pantry five years ago when we acquired eight BP sites in the Milwaukee marketplace. Schutz is driven, sets extraordinarily high standards, and gets results. His work ethic and loyalty is respected not only by Open Pantry's management and board, but also all of the people he leads. As such, we are pleased to have Jim additionally focus on the development of our people."
Open Pantry operates 26 very "high-imaged" convenience stores in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It also services 20 dealers, and carries the CITGO, BP, Mobil and Shell brands. Corporate-level merchandise sales are $30 million, with more than 41 million gallons of gasoline. Open Pantry's total revenue in 2007 exceeded $160 million.Meanwhile, Joseph Chiovera, long the head of foodservice at ExxonMobil, said he is leaving the company effective today to take the position of senior director of fresh foods for 7-Eleven Inc., Dallas.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the success I have had in my current position," he wrote in an e-mail yesterday. "I appreciate the commitment and professionalism exhibited over the past 7-plus years, and I look forward to catching up and getting at it once in my new role the first of March."
Attempts to contact Chiovera for further comment were unsuccessful at presstime.Executive moves also were announced at Tesoro and Kroger. See related stories in this issue of CSP Daily News.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.