Last updated on March 21st, 2014 at 04:37 pm
Supervalu’s independent business will consolidate from three regions to two regions, forming new East and West teams. The new East and West independent business regions will be located in Mechanicsville, Va., and Hopkins, Minn., respectively. Kevin Kemp will serve as president of the East region and Bill Chew will serve as president of the West region.
Previously, Supervalu’s regions were classified as Northern, Eastern and Midwest, the company’s Luke Friedrich told The Shelby Report via email Thursday. He did not specify where those regional divisions were based.
With this new independent business organization, Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Supervalu says it will streamline the organization and reduce operating costs while continuing to drive sales growth with its current and prospective customers. Supervalu says the changes also take into consideration the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering excellent value, service and customer programs and offerings that meet the rapidly changing needs of its independent grocery store customers nationwide.
Initially, Supervalu anticipates reducing its employee workforce by approximately 200 positions throughout its independent business regional teams. Impacted employees will have an opportunity to apply for open positions within the new organization. The company says it expects to fill approximately 120 new independent business jobs, so only about 80 positions will be lost as a result of the move. Employees who do not have employment with Supervalu going forward as a result of this workforce reduction will receive an offer of assistance.
