CINCINNATI -- The Kroger Co. has announced that Jay Cummins has been named president of the Smith's Food & Drug Stores division and Joe Fey has been named president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division.
Cummins, 62, has been serving as president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division. He succeeds Mark Tuffin, who was named senior vice president of retail divisions in December.
Kroger promoted Tuffin to succeed Michael Ellis, who became Kroger's president and COO on Jan. 1, 2014.
Ellis served as senior vice president of retail divisions since 2012, leading five retail supermarket divisions, plus Kroger's jewelry and convenience store businesses.
"In his more than 40 years with the company, Jay has been an enthusiastic and passionate leader in each role he has held," said Ellis. "Jay's experience and commitment to our Customer 1st Strategy will ensure Smith's continues to go above and beyond for our customers."
Cummins brings more than 40 years of retail experience to Smith's. He began his Kroger career as a clerk in 1972 in Huntington Beach, Calif. In the following years, he served in positions of increasing responsibility in store and district management and in grocery merchandising for the company's Food 4 Less division. In 2002, Mr. Cummins was named vice president and general manager of the Food 4 Less Midwest division, where he led the expansion of the Food 4 Less price-impact warehouse store format in the Chicago area. In 2004, he was named president of the Los Angeles-based Food 4 Less division, and to his current position in 2007.
Smith's operates 131 stores in Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Fey, 59, has been serving as president of the company's QFC division. He succeeds Cummins as president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division.
"Joe always leads by example and is deeply committed to our customers, our associates and our company," said Ellis. "His merchandising expertise and experience in leading the QFC Division will be great assets in our Mid-Atlantic division. We are looking forward to his positive energy and guidance."
Fey brings nearly 40 years of retail experience to Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division. He began his career as a meat clerk with Kroger in 1972. He was promoted to a variety of leadership positions including store management, deli/bakery merchandising and meat/seafood merchandising in both the company's Central division and corporate office in Cincinnati. In 1999, Fey was named vice president of merchandising for the Dillons division. He was named vice president of merchandising for the Michigan Division in 2008, where he served before being named president of QFC in 2011.
Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division operates 121 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and the eastern portions of Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. It is based in Roanoke, Va.
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 790 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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