Company Press Release
CINCINNATI, April 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced Marlene Stewart has been promoted to president of the company’s Dillons division. She replaces Joe Grieshaber, who was recently named president of Kroger’s Columbus division.
Ms. Stewart, 59, currently serves as vice president of merchandising at QFC, based in Seattle, WA.
“Marlene combines a passion for people and proven merchandising and operations leadership,” said Mike Ellis, Kroger’s president and chief operating officer. “We look forward to Marlene bringing her knowledge of our customers and business, and commitment to our associates, to the Dillons team.”
Ms. Stewart started her career with Kroger in 1977 as a bagger in the company’s Cincinnati division, where she worked full-time while attending the University of Cincinnati. She went on to serve in many leadership roles in Cincinnati, including store and district management, training and merchandising. In 2005, Ms. Stewart was named director of operations for Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division before being named vice president of operations in 2007. She was named to her current role in 2011.
Ms. Stewart has been involved in a variety of community organizations throughout her career, serving on the boards of local food banks, the Girl Scouts and the United Way.
Kroger, one of the world’s largest retailers, employs nearly 400,000 associates who serve customers in 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The company also operates 782 convenience stores, 326 fine jewelry stores, 1,330 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and community organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber’s Million Dollar Club.
