Rutter’s named Michael Jackson (left) and Joe Eccker (right) category managers on Thursday.
- Rutter’s is No. 79 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
Jackson will oversee multiple areas, including packaged beverages and grocery.
He has more than 25 years of experience across convenience and grocery retail. Most recently, he spent 12 years at High’s, a 52-store convenience chain based in Baltimore, where he served as senior category manager responsible for packaged beverages and all center store categories. Prior to that, he spent 11 years with Royal Farms, Baltimore, in various roles across advertising, marketing and merchandising, foodservice and pricing.
“Rutter’s has long been a top-tier operator in its markets and continues to push forward through innovation,” Jackson said. “I’m excited to join the team and use my experience to help drive growth while continuing to learn and evolve within the convenience store industry.”
- Rutter’s President and CEO Scott Hartman was named CSP’s 2025 Retail Leader of the Year.
Eccker will lead Rutter’s alcohol category, which includes beer, wine, canned cocktails and spiked slushies. Eccker has a background in brand building, assortment strategy and consumer insights, with most of his career rooted in the beverage alcohol industry.
He previously worked at distilled spirits and beer manufacturer Diageo North America, New York, where he gained experience managing brands, launching new products and partnering cross-functionally to translate strategy into in-store execution. His background also includes roles across other consumer-packaged goods businesses, with a focus on using data and insights alongside real-world retail performance to drive results.
“Rutter’s immediately stood out to me as a brand that knows who it is but isn’t afraid to evolve,” Eccker said. “The chance to help shape the alcohol assortment at a fast-growing, family-owned company felt like a great fit and the start of an exciting new chapter.”
Rutter's has three bar- and lounge-concept convenience stores in Milton, Johnstown and Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania. The stores features Rutter’s 1747 Bar & Lounge, beer and wine to go, video gaming terminals, fuel and foodservice. Designed as sports bars, the spaces include TV displays and multiple screens throughout. The Milton location won Best Foodvenience Store in the World award in 2025 from media company Global Convenience in November.
York, Pennsylvania-based Rutter’s operates 93 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.
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