Food City has promoted three employees. Haskel Bledsoe is director of security/loss prevention; Don Mascola is VP of information technology/in-store services; and Raymond Stockard is district manager.
Bledsoe previously served as district manager for the company, responsible for the operational oversight of 17 Food City locations within the Tri-City market.
“Haskel has served as store manager and district manager for a number of years. His comprehensive knowledge of store operations and vast experience have proven vital to our company. He is a true asset and we couldn’t be more pleased to announce this much deserved promotion,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and CEO.
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Bledsoe began his career with Giant Food Markets in Kingsport, Tenn., when he was 16 years old. He quickly was promoted to other positions, including grocery manager, assistant store manager, store manager and finally district manager.
Bledsoe joined the Food City team in December 2002 as project manager. He was later promoted to store manager and then district manager. His new responsibilities include the management of all security and loss prevention functions, including but not limited to loss prevention training, physical security, investigations, development, purchase and implementation of all security and loss prevention equipment. He also is responsible for all security and loss prevention functions for the company’s distribution center and corporate support center.
“I’m honored to have been selected from among such a talented pool of applicants. It’s a privilege to work for such a great company that supports and encourages its associates to excel both personally and professionally,” says Bledsoe.
Bledsoe has served on the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Keep Kingsport Beautiful Counsel. He is a graduate of Rye Cove High School in Duffield, Va., and attended Mountain Empire Community College. He and his wife Lorie currently reside in Abingdon, Va., and have two daughters.
Mascola has served as VP of in-store services since 2008 and worked as the department’s director prior to that. He holds 22 years of service with the company’s in-store service team.
“Don’s vast knowledge of operations and years of experience have proven vital to the advancement and growth of our in-store services department. I’m confident that our decision to streamline our information technology and in-store service teams will produce some very positive results for both departments, allowing us to better serve our stores and ultimately our customers,” says Smith.
With more than 30 years of industry experience and having worked for two of the largest wholesale chains in the country, Mascola began his career while in college, working at Fleming’s warehouse. He quickly was promoted to other positions within the organization, including pricing, programming and data processing manager. He later moved over to the retail side of the business, installing front-end and retail systems for a number of independent retailers, Fleming and Malone & Hyde.
Mascola joined the Food City team in July 1992, accepting the position of director of in-store services and was later promoted to VP of in-store services. His current responsibilities include oversight of all front-end operations, management and development of retail, corporate and supply chain systems and technology, information security, networking and telecommunications, help desk, and state-of-the-art data center operations and technology for the 106-store retail supermarket chain, including self-checkout system installation, front-end hardware and software and transaction processing.
“I have been privileged to witness the company’s growth from 51 stores to its present 106 locations. It has been an honor to be a part of this tremendous organization and have the opportunity to work with such a talented group of associates and leaders,” says Mascola.
Mascola has served on the advisory board for Retalix, Food City’s front-end software supplier, as well as NCR’s Fastlane Advisory Board. He attended East Tennessee State University, majoring in marketing and computer science. He currently resides in Gray, Tenn., and has two grown children, daughter Crystal and son Bryan.
Stockard previously served as store manager of the Euclid Avenue Food City in Bristol, Va.
“Throughout the years, Raymond has gained a great deal of experience in the grocery industry and become very knowledgeable of Food City’s overall operations. I am confident that his skills and talents will prove vital to this key position,” says Smith.
With nearly 22 years of industry experience, Stockard began his career at the Eastman Road Food City in Kingsport, Tenn., under the supervision of mentor Ed Moore. He has served in various positions over the years, including front end supervisor/area trainer, assistant store manager and store manager of the Pennington Gap, Va., Church Hill, Tenn., and Bristol, Va., locations. His new responsibilities include the operational oversight of 17 Food City supermarkets spanning from Lynchburg to Bristol, Va., and from Richlands to Independence, Va.
“I am excited to welcome Raymond to our district management team. He brings a wealth of business and management experience that will enable us to continue to grow and provide our customers with the exceptional service and top quality products they have come to expect from Food City,” says John Cecil, EVP of operations for the Tri-Cities division.
“I am honored to have been chosen to fill this position from among so many exceptionally qualified candidates. I am certainly looking forward to working alongside the entire division team as I become better acclimated with my new job duties,” says Stockard.
Stockard and his wife Shannon currently reside in Hiltons, Va., with their two children, son Spencer and daughter Meg.
Headquartered in Abingdon, Va., K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 106 retail food outlets throughout the tri-state regions of southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee.
