Georgia Main Food Group shuffles executive team

Georgia Main Food Group (GMFG) has made three appointments to its executive team.

London Drugs veteran Palle Knudsen joins the grocer as vice president of retail operations, while Stefan Guminski is appointed senior director of store development, design and innovation and Kristine Smith is promoted to senior director, fresh programs.

Knudsen spent 34 years at London Drugs, where he led a team of six district managers responsible for more than 80 stores across four provinces. 

The appointments come just a few weeks after Gary Sorenson, president and COO of CMFG, announced his departure from the B.C. company. 

He joined GMFG a year ago on a temporary assignment as senior director of retail operations. 

In his new role, Knudsen will continue to be responsible for managing the operations of 21 IGA stores, eight Fresh St. Market locations and the company’s new Meiga Supermarket.

Guminski, meanwhile, joins the company’s executive team after a 30-year career in the grocery industry, including 23 years at GMFG.

Smith has a 37-year career within the grocery sector, including owning and operating GMFG grocery stores. In May 2015, she joined the company’s head office as the category manager of bakery operations before becoming category manager of deli operations in 2017.

The executive was promoted to director of fresh programs in 2022.

“On behalf of the entire Georgia Main Food Group team, we would like to extend our congratulations to all our new appointments,” said Brandt C. Louie, chair, Georgia Main Food Group, in a press release. “We believe we have put together a talented leadership team that will help drive our continued innovation in the grocery industry in British Columbia.”