Broker/Wholesaler Corner

5/3/2015

Central Grocers adopting recall management technology

Central Grocers, a Joliet, Ill.-based retailer-owned cooperative serving more than 400 stores in Illinois and Indiana, said it is adopting best-in-class recall process management technology from Recall InfoLink, Boise, Idaho. Central Grocers joins other members of Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA), including Associated Grocers of Florida, Affiliated Foods of Amarillo, Associated Grocers – Baton Rouge, Olean Wholesale Grocers, Associated Grocers of the South and Unified Grocers, in successfully implementing Recall InfoLink solutions.

“Recall InfoLink’s flexibility serves our wide range of customers, protects shoppers who have signed up for loyalty programs with our retailers, and integrates with our reclamation process flawlessly,” said Ken Nemeth, CEO, Central Grocers.

Recall InfoLink provides a patented web-based product recall management platform that protects brand image, reduces liability and brings value to all businesses involved in processing recalls, Central Grocers stated. It improves efficiency by providing standardized messages, automated communications, inventory tracking and reports for compliance efforts.

Associated Grocers names Emile Breaux CEO

Associated Grocers Inc., Baton Rouge, La., said it named Emile Breaux president and CEO. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the retailer-owned wholesaler.

Having worked for Associated Grocers since 1994 across a variety of departments — including information services, procurement, sales, marketing and more — Breaux succeeds J.H. “Jay” Campbell Jr., who has been with the company for more than 40 years, Associated Grocers said. Campbell will remain with the company as its executive chairman.

According to Associated Grocers, only three people have served as president and CEO of the company during the last 55 years of its nearly 65-year existence: Sam Politz, who held the position for 16 years; Hillar Moore Jr., who served in the role for 19 years; and Campbell, who held the role for more than 20 years.