Dive Brief:

• SpartanNash has named Djouma Barry as senior vice president and chief retail officer, the grocery retailer and wholesaler announced Monday.
• Barry was most recently vice president of retail operations at Kroger and has held executive posts at other retailers, including Target.
• Barry’s appointment is the latest in a series of recent senior leadership changes at SpartanNash, which has been contending with sales declines for several quarters in a row.

Dive Insight:

SpartanNash has been bulking up on executive talent with high-level experience at other retailers as it grapples with macroeconomic challenges that have pressured its financial results.

The company, which reported a 3.5% decline in net sales in its latest quarter, brought on former Kellogg Company executive Erin Storm as its new chief marketing officer in August. In June, SpartanNash named Graham McIvor, who previously served as vice president of merchandising for grocery, snacks, beverages and pet at discounter Big Lots, as vice president of merchandising and pharmacy.

Barry is arriving at SpartanNash after working at Kroger for a little under two years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to his time at Kroger, he spent more than 13 years in a variety of positions at Target, starting as a store team leader and moving through the ranks to become vice president of process operations where he oversaw operations for 1,900 stores. Barry also worked as a vice president for apparel retailers Old Navy and Lululemon.

Barry is replacing Thomas Swanson, who is leaving his role as executive vice president of corporate retail for SpartanNash to move into a “consulting arrangement” with the company at the end of this year, SpartanNash said. The company did not provide a reason for the change. Swanson assumed his position as head of corporate retail for SpartanNash in March 2020.

SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam pointed to the fact that Barry started his career with Target in a retail location as a key asset. “The way Djouma has advanced from the store floor to the executive table makes him a highly inspirational leader for our 12,000+ retail Associates,” Sarsam said in a statement, adding that Barry will be involved in “enhancing the store guest experience across our growing retail footprint.”

SpartanNash said on Oct. 29 that it has agreed to purchase Markham Enterprises, a three-store convenience store chain based in Michigan. Earlier last month, SpartanNash announced that it is absorbing supermarket chain Fresh Encounter, which operates 49 stores in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. In April, SpartanNash acquired Metcalfe’s Market, a three-store chain in Wisconsin.