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Can Dennis Eidson take Spartan Stores to next level?

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:October 16, 2008

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., is the nation’s tenth largest grocery distributor with warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to nearly 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 84 retail supermarkets in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen’s Markets, D&W Fresh Markets and Felpausch Food Centers.

US retailer Spartan Stores has appointed Dennis Eidson as president and chief executive officer. As part of a plan first announced on 7 August, Eidson succeeds former CEO Craig Sturken, who will remain as executive chairman of the board. Eidson will continue to focus on developing and executing the company’s business strategies and identifying acquisition opportunities.

As executive chairman, Sturken will continue to manage board functions, as well as coordinate with the CEO to develop and execute the company’s business strategy, the company said.s Executive Chairman, Mr. Sturken will continue to manage board functions and facilitate interaction between the board and executive management. In addition, Mr. Sturken will coordinate with the CEO to develop and execute the Company’s business strategy, cultivate a performance-driven corporate culture, mentor executive leadership, and assist in maintaining critical business relationships.

“I am extremely pleased to announce this important step in our Company’s succession plan,” stated Spartan’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Craig C. Sturken. “Dennis is the right individual to lead our organization forward. He has been instrumental in developing, guiding and executing the business strategies that produced record fiscal 2008 profits and 10 consecutive quarters of double-digit operating earnings growth. He was also the chief architect behind our very successful marketing, merchandising and category management strategies that strengthened our market position and sustained our business performance.”

“I am truly honored to be leading such an outstanding and cohesive organization, which has a proven record of successfully executing its strategic business plan and achieving profitable growth,” said Mr. Eidson. “We have an exceptionally talented and hard working group of executives and associates who are firmly committed to the Company’s long-term success. These attributes are fundamental to our long-term success and give us the capabilities and performance driven culture that will help us maintain a profitable growth path.

“Our long-standing objective has been to achieve profitable growth through a balanced combination of organic growth supplemented by prudent acquisitions,” continued Mr. Eidson. “Our recently announced acquisition of VG’s Food and Pharmacy is our third significant retail acquisition of an independent operator in less than three years. We have successfully integrated the first two retail acquisitions, improving the sales and efficiency of these operations, and becoming increasingly adept at the integration process and optimizing value from the acquired operations. In addition, we remain the exit strategy of choice for many of our distribution customers’ retail operations. In the near-term, we will concentrate efforts on integrating our latest acquisition and driving organic growth through our capital investment program.

“I look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with all of our constituents, including our associates, Spartan’s board of directors, shareholders, distribution customers, suppliers, and the communities that we serve,” concluded Mr Eidson.

“I am pleased to announce this important step in our company’s succession plan,” said Sturken. “Dennis is the right individual to lead our organisation forward. He has been instrumental in developing, guiding and executing the business strategies that produced record fiscal 2008 profits and ten consecutive quarters of double-digit operating earnings growth.”

Dennis Eidson

Dennis Eidson joined Spartan Stores in March 2003 as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising and appointed President and Chief Operating Officer and elected to Spartan Stores Board of Directors in 2007. Dennis oversees all marketing, merchandising and store operations. Dennis is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Food Management program and has spent his entire career working in the Michigan and Ohio regions grocery industry.

Prior to joining Spartan, Dennis was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company’s (A&P) Midwest region, and Assistant General Manager for Nash Finch, Inc’s Michigan operations. Dennis was instrumental in implementing successful and disciplined category management principals for A&Ps Farmer Jack retail grocery operations.

Craig Sturken

Craig Sturken joined Spartan Stores in March 2003 and is Chief Executive Officer and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors August 2003. Craig brings more than 40 years of grocery retail and distribution industry experience to Spartan Stores including 10 years as chief executive officer of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company’s Atlantic and Midwest regions.

Craig has a wealth of experience in the supermarket industry, with valuable knowledge and skills in both wholesale and retail operations. He spent more than eight years as chief executive officer of A&P’s Midwest region, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, successfully managing the Farmer Jack, Food Emporium, and Kohl’s supermarket banners.

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