Last updated on March 25th, 2021 at 07:19 pm
Topco Associates’ Chris Hooks, SVP of center store, fresh and supply chain, has been promoted to EVP, expanding his responsibilities to include Topco’s marketing and national brands teams in addition to center store, fresh programs and supply chain.
“Over the past three years, Chris has driven Topco’s strategic business objectives with his expertise, which extends across product development, category management, replenishment and analytics, and with his extensive experience in grocery, retail, and with fresh and branded meat,” said Randy Skoda, Topco’s president and CEO. “In addition, Chris has taken on the leadership role of partnering with members as a co-chair of Topco’s operations team, advancing the strategic priorities of the membership.
“I am confident that under Chris’s leadership these additional responsibilities will continue to build stronger communication, collaboration and alignment across our business, advancing our mission to bring additional value to Topco’s membership,” added Skoda.
Hooks joined Topco in 2014, bringing more than 20 years of food industry experience with him, including time as VP of Blue Ocean Innovative Solutions’ food division. There, Hooks advised retailers and suppliers on product development, category management and replenishment, and analytics. In addition, he was involved in a number of private label grocery, frozen and dairy projects.
His professional experience also includes management roles with increasing responsibility at Supervalu, Busch’s, Premium Gold Angus Beef and more than 10 years at H-E-B. Hooks holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and finance from Oklahoma State University.
Elk Grove Village, Illinois-based Topco provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers and foodservice companies.
