Fred Meyer Replaces Retiring President

Jeff Burt, president of Kroger's Central division, will assume leadership of the retailer's Fred Meyer chain when its current president Lynn Gust retires on Jan. 31.Gust has served in his current position since 2012, having been promoted after a year working as Kroger's vice president of operations. His 45-year career at the company began when he joined Fred Meyer as a parcel clerk and has spanned numerous leadership roles including five years as executive vp of corporate merchandising and advertising. He is credited with helping the mass merchant grow to a record $10 billion in annual sales while simultaneously making store improvements that earned the chain designations as one of the Portland Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" and The Oregonian's "Healthiest Places to Work.""Throughout his distinguished career, [Gust] has always led by empowering, encouraging and supporting others," Kroger chief executive officer Rodney McMullen said in a media release. "[Gust] is widely respected throughout our company and industry for his passion for people, the food business, and the communities we serve."Burt has led Kroger's operations in Indiana and Illinois since 2013, having previously spent three years as Kroger's group vice president of perishables merchandising and procurement. He joined the retailer in 1986 as a management trainee, has also held positions overseeing the produce and deli/bakery departments, and worked at the retailer's offices in Cincinnati, Florida, Indianapolis and Seattle."[Burt] is a strong, dynamic leader who brings out the best in our associates," McMullen said in the same release. "His enthusiasm for serving our customers combined with both broad and deep experience in our business – including in the Pacific Northwest – will serve our Fred Meyer team well. We are grateful he agreed to take on this important role."Kroger has not yet announced a new Central division president.

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