There are always growth opportunities aplenty for grocery retailers. Recently, Wakefern Food Corp began positioning itself for additional expansion by packing its C-suite team with new executive additions. Bryant Harris will be taking on the position of Chief Merchandising Officer, while Steve Henig was recently promoted to the role of Chief Customer Officer.
Harris brings nearly 20 years of experience in retail to his new role at Wakefern. Previously, he worked as Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer for Save A Lot, in charge of assortment strategy, procurement, pricing, visual merchandising, and store design. Harris also previously held various positions at Walmart and its subsidiary, Sam’s Club, including the lead of Sam’s Club’s fresh foods division, a role that represented $13 billion in annual sales.
In his new position as Chief Merchandising Officer, Harris will oversee the product procurement strategy, in-store merchandising, pricing, and promotion. He will be working closely with Henig to design and implement strategies to increase sales growth for the cooperative.
According to a press release, Henig has spent nearly three decades at Wakefern progressing through various procurement roles as well as leadership positions in corporate merchandising and marketing. He most recently served as Vice President of Digital Commerce and Analytics where he was responsible for e-commerce initiatives, app development, and analytics needs. He oversaw the launch of the company’s first automated micro-fulfillment center and leads the popular ShopRite from Home service.
In his new role, Henig will work with Wakefern members, leaders, and associates to create a single, consistent brand voice for its customers and provide a deep understanding of the market, customers, and competitors. He will oversee the departments of branding, e-commerce, marketing, and advertising.
A graduate of The College of New Jersey, Henig now teaches strategy and marketing at the school. He also received his Master of Business Administration from Monmouth University in New Jersey. Harris received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Missouri and served four years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Captain.
Congratulations to both Bryant Harris and Steve Henig on their new positions!
