St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s Inc. President and COO Dave Meyer will retire, effective Dec. 31, the company has announced.
David Best has been named Meyer’s successor, effective Aug. 21. He has joined the company as COO and as a member of the Coborn’s Inc. Board of Directors. Upon Meyer’s retirement at the end of the year, Best also will assume the role of president.
“Dave has been an instrumental force and leader that has brought Coborn’s Inc. to the next level,” said Chris Coborn, chairman and CEO.
“He has always delivered a strong and strategic vision to our organization and has played a vital role in implementing high-level operational standards, people development and our brand promise vision, as well as being a tremendous steward of our company culture. It’s these qualities that have made Dave an invaluable leader for Coborn’s.”
Meyer joined Coborn’s in 1985 as an evening shift manager in Mason City, Iowa. He held a variety of positions throughout his career, serving as a store manager, deli buyer and supervisor, district manager, VP of operations, SVP of operations with oversight for store ops, merchandising, marketing and human resources, EVP and then to president and chief operating officer, which he has held since January 2021.
He will continue to support the company as a member of Coborn’s board of directors following his retirement.
Best joins Coborn’s from General Mills, where he served as the head of omnichannel for North America. There, he led an extensive transformation of the e-commerce business with more than $1 billion in growth, market share growth and improved profitability. Prior to General Mills, Best spent 19 years at Target, holding positions in merchandising, supply chain and business development.
“The unparalleled experience that David brings to Coborn’s will have a notable impact on our organization,” Coborn said.
“I look forward to working with him and the things we’ll accomplish to enhance our guests’ shopping experience, company growth and in serving the communities where we operate.”
Coborn’s Inc. is a 102-year-old employee-owned grocery retailer with about 10,000 employees and 77 grocery stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods and Sullivan’s Foods banners.
Coborn’s Inc. also operates fuel, liquor and pharmacy locations. To support its more than 135 various retail business units, the retailer operates its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center.
In 2021, Coborn’s Inc. was named The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year.
