At Loblaw, a big management shuffle

Loblaw has made major organizational changes to its merchandising and operations teams.

Effective this week, the merchandising and operations teams will be split around Loblaw's two core businesses: hard discount/superstores and conventional. The move is a key element of Loblaw's multi-year strategic plan, the retailer's VP of public relations Julija Hunter, told Canadian Grocer today.

"This change will allow us to better focus on format-specific customer needs and preferences; be more agile in responding to changes in the competitive environment; and drive increased managerial accountability by combining merchandising and operational business results," she said.

The biggest impact will be felt in merchandising and buying since responsibility for categories will now be split into dedicated teams: one team responsible for categories in hard discount and superstores; the other for categories in conventional banners.

As part of the move, Loblaw has made several changes at the management level, including:

• Grant Froese is now overseeing the hard discount/superstore business, reporting to Leighton; Andrew Iacobucci is leading the grocery business unit in hard discount/superstore; and Mike Venton is leading the fresh business unit. Heading all banner operations in the division is Gary Senecal. Iacobucci, Venton and Senecal will report to Froese.

• Calvin Mcdonald will oversee the conventional side of Loblaw's business and will report to Leighton. In other conventional business shifts, Sylvain Prud'homme is heading up the grocery business unit as well as all of the corporate conventional banners in Ontario, plus the corporate and franchise banners in Quebec. Leading Atlantic operations and the franchise banners in Ontario is Phil McNeil. And the fresh business unit is in the hands of Sal Baio. All three will report to Mcdonald.