Grocery Veteran Kim Cates Joins Heritage Grocers
Hispanic and ethnic food retailer Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) has named Kim Cates its new vice president of Center Store with responsibility for center store merchandising initiatives.
News of her appointment was first reported by Progressive Grocer, a sister publication of Store Brands.
A grocery industry veteran, Cates’ career includes 23 years with H-E-B where she served in various roles including director of food service and general manager of H-E-B Central Market. She also spent several years at Daymon, where she developed private brands across multiple center store and fresh categories for H-E-B and Southeastern Grocers. Before coming to HGG, Cates was director of center store sales at Associated Wholesale Grocers.
“Kim brings extensive wholesale and grocery industry experience to her new role,” said Eric Stover, chief merchandising officer for HGG, to whom Cates will report. “She will play a vital role in advancing the company’s center store transformation by leveraging key insights to drive enhanced category planning, promotional effectiveness and customer-centric innovation.”
Based in Ontario, Calif., HGG operates in six states – California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas and Illinois – with a total of 58 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, 29 stores under the El Rancho Supermercado banner, 21 stores under the Tony’s Fresh Market banner, and seven stores under the Los Altos Ranch Market banner.
