Wendy future of retail top

Kroger names new president for Ralphs

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Ralphs storefront_Kroger Co

CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. has promoted Valerie Jabbar to division president of the Ralphs food and drug chain.

Plans call for Jabbar to assume the post effective July 23, which is when current Ralphs president Donna Giordano will retire from the company after 44 years of service. Jabbar currently serves as vice president of merchandising for Ralphs.

“Valerie is an exceptional leader who is passionate about developing associates and serving our customers and communities,” Kroger chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said in a statement. “She brings to her new role broad retail experience and a deep commitment to putting our customers first. We look forward to her continued leadership at Ralphs.”

Jabbar began her career with Kroger in 1987 as a clerk in the company’s Fry’s division. She held numerous leadership roles at Fry’s, including assistant store director, category manager, and drug and general merchandise coordinator.  From 2002 to 2010, she served in a variety of drug and general merchandising leadership roles at Kroger’s general office in Cincinnati and in the Fry’s division. She was named Fry’s district manager in 2010, and was promoted to serve as vice president of merchandising to the Mid-Atlantic division in 2012.

Jabbar was promoted to her current role in the Ralphs division in 2013.

Giordano joined the Kroger’s King Soopers banner as a courtesy clerk in 1972, while still in college. She was named store manager at King Soopers in 1982, and later held various director-level positions in key areas, including advertising, bakery, general merchandise, grocery, and pharmacy.  In 1999, Ms. Giordano was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing of King Soopers.  She was promoted to president of QFC in 2002 before being named president of Ralphs in 2011.

“Donna’s distinguished leadership has helped Ralphs continue to grow, serve more customers in the highly-competitive Southern California market, and help Kroger across our business,” McMullen stated. “She is respected throughout the industry and among our associates for her strategic leadership and engagement in the communities we serve. The entire Kroger family thanks Donna for her many contributions and wishes her and her family all the best in retirement.”


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