Paul Del Duca joins Walmart as SVP, fresh

Grocery veteran Paul Del Duca is heading Walmart Canada as senior vice-president of fresh.

Del Duca, with more than 35 years of food retail experience, was most recently senior VP and general manager at Sobeys. He's also worked with Metro and A& P and held top roles in operations, warehousing and distribution, merchandising and procurement.

He starts at Walmart May 12.

Del Duca's move to Walmart coincides with the retirement of Les Mann, Walmart's senior vice-president of food and consumables. Mann is leaving his post at the end of May.

Mann is a veteran of the grocery industry, with over 12 years at Walmart. During his time at Walmart, Mann helped to introduce Walmart's full-grocery Supercentre format to Canada.

In 2012 Mann was awarded the Food Industry's Association of Canada's Golden Pencil Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the grocery industry.