Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash has hired Ryan Speakes as VP of fuel center and convenience stores, effective immediately.
Speakes joins SpartanNash from 7-Eleven, where he served as market leader of operations.
“The c-store market is growing globally, and SpartanNash sees tremendous opportunity to bring new innovations to this segment of our retail business,” said Tom Swanson, SpartanNash EVP of corporate retail.
“Having served in a variety of leadership positions in the fuel center and C-store industry, Ryan brings valuable expertise that we are excited to tap into at SpartanNash.”
In his new role, Speakes will be responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction and operations plans for SpartanNash’s 37 fuel centers, most of which include a convenience store and are located with a company-owned grocery store. In addition, he will play a critical role in managing the rising cost of fuel for consumers.
Prior to SpartanNash, Speakes spent the past 16 years serving in various operations and sales roles at Speedway and 7-Eleven. At Speedway, he rose from district manager to a regional leader of operations, exceeding his sales revenue targets.
As a distributor, wholesaler and retailer with a global supply chain network, SpartanNash customers span a diverse group of national accounts, independent and chain grocers, e-commerce retailers, U.S. military commissaries and exchanges and the company’s own brick-and-mortar grocery stores, pharmacies and fuel centers. It distributes grocery and household goods, including fresh produce and its Our Family portfolio of products to locations across the country, in addition to distributing to Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Korea and Japan.
To support its distribution business, the company operates a network of distribution facilities and a nationwide transportation fleet. In addition, the company owns and operates 147 supermarkets – under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market – and shares its operational insights to drive solutions for SpartanNash food retail customers.
