Wakefern Food Corp. Names Chief Sales Officer

Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners, has appointed Darren Caudill as its new chief sales officer.

Caudill brings more than four decades of experience working in both grocery wholesale and retail. As Wakefern’s new chief sales officer, he will head up center store, own brands, fresh and prepared foods departments along with digital and innovation, marketing, merchandising and sales and analytics divisions.

“We’re excited to welcome Darren to Wakefern. His proven track record of success in sales and marketing, combined with his extensive experience in grocery retail and wholesale, will allow us to continually innovate and elevate the in-store and online customer experiences we deliver,” said Wakefern President Mike Stigers.

Caudill comes to Wakefern after spending the last decade at Cub Foods, Supervalu and UNFI, where he was a key leader and, most recently, senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and sales. His experience gives him broad oversight of sales, strategic planning, pricing and marketing strategy and procurement in both the fresh and center store areas.

He began his career at The Kroger Company where his experience would lead him from a store manager’s position through roles as a category manager, merchandiser in the grocery and meat divisions, pricing strategy and loyalty marketing.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Caudill has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Minnesota Grocers, Kemba Columbus Credit Union and as a member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the Institute for Research in Marketing at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.