Stater Bros. Holdings Inc., the parent company of Stater Bros. Markets in San Bernardino, California, has elected Janel Haugarth and Sean Varner to its board of directors.
Haugarth is currently the president of Highpoint Retail LLC. She has more than 40 years of experience in the food wholesale and retail grocery industry, including the areas of procurement, pricing, logistics, transportation, finance, technology services and sales. Her most recent supermarket industry role included responsibility for the supply chain network including the transportation fleet and 18 distribution centers serving more than 800 independent and franchised grocery retail store owners.
Varner is the managing partner of Varner & Brandt LLP, a business law firm in Southern California’s Inland Empire region. He has more than 25 years of legal and business expertise focusing on corporate and business law, real estate transactions, real estate development and land use, finance and technology. His appointment continues a decades-long professional partnership between Stater Bros. Markets and Varner & Brandt LLP.
Due to the recent passing of Bruce D. Varner, founder of Varner & Brandt LLP and former Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. board director, corporate secretary and general counsel, Sean Varner was also recently appointed to serve as corporate secretary and general counsel.
The corporation also has appointed Pete Van Helden to vice chairman of its board of directors. Van Helden joined Stater Bros. Markets as president and chief operating officer in 2013. In 2016, he was appointed to the position of CEO by Stater Bros.’ late executive chairman, Jack H. Brown. Van Helden currently serves and will continue to serve as CEO of Stater Bros. Markets.
“On behalf of the entire board of directors, it’s my pleasure to welcome our newest board members,” said Phillip J. Smith, chairman of the board of directors for Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. “Pete will continue providing the board with insight into Stater Bros. Markets’ operations and future growth, while Janel and Sean will provide guidance and expertise for our future strategic goals.”
