ATLANTA — Richard Poye, formerly vice president of retail sales and merchandise at Mapco Express, has joined RaceTrac’s senior leadership team as vice president of merchandising.
Poye brings a wealth of knowledge and diverse industry experience to continue RaceTrac’s growth and innovation in the marketplace, the convenience-store retailer said.
“As RaceTrac continues to expand with new locations, investment in our leadership will be paramount for our continued success,” said Chief Marketing Officer Melanie Isbill. “Richard is an accomplished professional in his field, and we welcome his contributions to our continued mission to make people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable.”
Poye brings to RaceTrac an extensive background in food and retail from brands such as HEB Grocery, Circle K and Mapco Express. He will lead the development of RaceTrac’s signature product assortment, which includes limited-time offerings such as the recent Waffle Breakfast Sandwich, to drive sales, improve inside margins, ease operational efficiency and maximize profitability.
In addition to his food and retail background, Poye also brings marketing and innovation experience with Unilever, as well as experience as a chef. During his career, he has worked in 23 U.S. states and more than 10 countries, leveraging industry insight and broad depth of experience across the value chain, the company said.
“RaceTrac is an incredible company with smart unparalleled teams that are innovating to elevate its product offer to meet the ever-changing needs of our guests,” said Poye. “I am thrilled to join the company as it accelerates its growth, and I am looking forward to collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver future success.”
- RaceTrac is No. 15 on CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of company-owned retail outlets.
Based in Atlanta, family-owned RaceTrac has been serving customers since 1934 and operates more than 550 convenience stores in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee. Its stores feature a wide selection of food and beverages, including Swirl World frozen desserts, freshly ground, freshly brewed coffee and competitively priced fuel.
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