It is always with a heavy heart when we learn of the passing of a fellow industry member. Recently, it was announced that Kroger’s Dallas division President, Adam Wampler, has passed away this past Wednesday. The retail luminary had dedicated the past 30 years in the grocery industry, serving Kroger’s Fred Meyer division in the Pacific Northwest as well as Safeway and Albertsons.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Wampler joined Kroger in 2019 and became president of the 109-store division a few months later just as COVID-19 turned grocery stores into shoppers’ lifelines while most other businesses were closed. While Wampler led the North Texas operations for a short time, it was an intense enough period that employees grew to know him well.
“When Adam joined our Kroger Dallas division in 2020, he brought such a wealth of knowledge, positive energy, and selflessness that helped guide our division through one of our most challenging periods in our nation’s history,” said April Martin, Kroger’s Dallas division Manager of Corporate Affairs.
During Wampler’s tenure, the Kroger division also ratified a new agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1000 that increased wages and benefits for 11,000 hourly workers.
“His incredible talent and compassion for our associates, customers, and communities [have] left an unforgettable impact on us all,” Martin said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Adam’s wife, children, family, and friends.”
As part of Wampler’s extensive grocery career, he played a key leadership role in the 2015 Safeway merger with Albertsons, which in Texas combined Tom Thumb and Randalls with Albertsons under the same corporation.
The family didn’t disclose the cause of death and asked through Martin to “respect their privacy at this time as they grieve.”
Our hearts and thoughts are with Adam Wampler’s family and friends at this time, and we pay our deepest respects.
