Langley, BC, 2014-10-1— /EPR Retail News/ — Overwaitea Food Group President Darrell Jones is pleased to announce the following organizational changes to his senior leadership team. With recent and anticipated continued growth, the Company has looked to optimize its structure to operate a growing organization and better align business processes in support of its overall strategic plan.
Jamie Nelson has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Retail Operations.
In his new capacity, Jamie will hold responsibility for all operational deliverables for the Overwaitea Food Group, with operating General Managers and Regional Directors reporting to him as they do today. In addition, Jamie will take on overall management responsibility for Retail Support Services, OFG’s best practices group and Information Technology, led by Gayle Corah, OFG’s newly appointment Vice President of Information Technology.
With over 34 years of experience, Jamie is widely respected both within the Company and in the industry for his collaborative and results-driven approach. With his unique combination of experience as a successful operator and a strategic merchandiser, Jamie carries with him a wide range of experience as a Store Manager, Regional Director and Senior Business Leader in both the merchandising and operations sides of the business and has been recognized as both a Store Leader of the Year and Business Leader of the Year.
Together, Jamie’s team will work to deliver OFG’s Always Customer First mission, and with it the best possible experience for our customers, every day.
Blendle (Scotty) Scott has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Merchandising and Business Development.
With over 40 years’ experience in a variety of Senior Leadership roles, Scotty is well known throughout the industry for his ability to drive business results through innovation and strategic partnerships.
In this expanded capacity, Scotty will, in addition to his present responsibilities, assume overall management responsibility for development and implementation of all aspects of OFG’s go-to-market customer business strategy, including final accountability for store design and layout, as well as overall management responsibility for Supply Chain and Ecommerce, which will continue to be led by OFG’s newly appointed Vice President, Supply Chain and Ecommerce, Wayne Currie.
In addition, Mike Olson, will assume the role of Vice President, Fresh Merchandising, as part of this group. Mike’s unique background in Fresh merchandising, combined with his passion for innovation and strong understanding of how new programs best translate into a retail operating environment, make him a natural fit for this role. With this, Mike will be responsible for leading all aspects of OFG’s Fresh Merchandising areas, including new program development, innovation and OFG’s developing Restaurant business, along with the Ethnic Development portfolio and OFG’s specialty banner Urban Fare.
With this change, Ken Clark, formerly OFG’s General Manager of Fresh, will be taking on a new challenge for OFG as General Manager of Corporate Brands, reporting to Blendle alongside Brenda Kirk, General Manager, Centre of Store; and Ralph Lai, General Manager, Drug Store.
Brian Heppell, formerly OFG’s General Manager of Corporate Brands, will be taking on new responsibilities as OFG’s General Manager of Ecommerce, reporting to Wayne Currie.
Dan Howe, OFG’s Vice President of Marketing, Communications and More Rewards, will, reporting to Darrell Jones, continue to work in close partnership with the merchandising group on all Shopper Marketing initiatives.
About the Overwaitea Food Group
The Overwaitea Food Group (OFG) is the largest Western-based Canadian food store chain, serving more than 80 communities in BC and Alberta. The company has been in operation for nearly a century, with its first store originally located in New Westminster, BC. OFG currently operates than 145 stores under the Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare, PriceSmart Foods and Bulkley Valley Wholesale banners.
With the support of more than 15,000 team members, OFG proudly provides customers with great local value in unique and innovative ways; delivering world-class products, services, and an exceptional in-store experience, customized to suit the needs of each community they serve.
For more information contact:
Media Relations
mediarelations@owfg.com
604 888-2079, extension 2200