GRAPEVINE: News About People

Food & Drink Weekly, May 29, 2000

Institute of Food Technologists announced Stephanie Smith as its director of science and government relations. Smith's most recent experience is with the National Confectioners Association and FDA. During her tenure with FDA she coordinated the interagency Egg Safety Action Plan. Smith also worked on the staff of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), where she developed legislation on the Improved Food Safety Improvement Act. Prior to her experiences with Wendy's International she was with Nestle USA, Inc.

Papa John's International, Inc. appointed Michael Cortino as senior vice president, corporate operations. Before joining Papa John's late last year, Cortino was at Church's Chicken and Taco Bell.

Starbucks Coffee Co. promoted Shelley Lanza to executive vice president and general counsel, and Lee Gelb, to senior vice president, human resources. Lanza joined Starbucks in 1995, Gelb in 1997.

Nash Finch Co. (NFC) appointed Bruce Cross to senior vice president, business transformation. Cross joined NFC as senior vice president and chief information officer in 1998.

Stop & Shop Supermarket's chief William Grize is promoted to president and CEO for Ahold USA, headquarters for Royal Ahold's U.S. operations. He will continue to report to Bob Tobin who has been promoted to chairman of Ahold USA. Both promotions are effective September. Ahold USA currently owns five large, successful supermarket operating companies along the eastern seaboard, as well as U.S. Food Service, the second largest food service distributor in the United States. Separately, Marc Smith was tapped as president and CEO for Stop & Shop succeeding Grize.

Other promotions include: Steve Odland, chief operating officer of Ahold USA, effective June; Frank Curd, president & CEO of Tops Markets, effective June, succeeding Odland. Marsh Collins will continue as president and CEO of Ahold USA Support Services. Ahold also announced that its Edwards store chain in New York and New Jersey, currently a division of Giant Food Stores headquartered in Carlisle, Pa., will be converted to Stop & Shop.

Lloyd Hill, chairman of the board and CEO of Applebee's International, Inc., was elected to the board of the National Restaurant Association.

Campbell Soup Co. named Edward Walsh, a former company official who oversaw job cuts in the past, to resume his old duties on an interim basis, according to The Wall Street Journal. Walsh returns to the struggling soup company at the behest of Chief Executive David Johnson, who also was brought out of retirement in March to succeed Dale Morrison. Morrison resigned after a string of disappointing quarterly earnings. Walsh succeeds Lawrence Costello who left to fill a similar post at American Standard Cos.

Ken Lizar, a former senior executive and 20-year wine industry veteran at E & J Gallo, accepted the position of chief operating officer at WineryExchange, an

online global business-to-business marketplace for wine growers, wineries, suppliers and retailers.

The National Restaurant Association elected Denise Marie Fugo as chairman of its board. Fugo, president of Cleveland-based Sammy's, is the first woman to hold the position in more than 40 years. Other offices elected include Vice Chairman Theodore Fowler (president and CEO, Golden Corral Corp., Raleigh, N.C.) and Xavier Teixido (owner, Harry's Savoy Grill, Wilmington, Del.).