Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, is reshuffling its food executives as the company tries to improve the quality of its groceries.
Jack Sinclair, who has been executive vice president of the US grocery division since 2007, will retire on 20 March, according to a note that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company sent to US employees. Senior Vice President Tony Airoso, who runs the dairy and fresh-food strategy, will become a California-based senior vice president of global food sourcing.
The changes follow a December announcement that the company was creating new senior leadership posts to focus on produce and meat. In October, the company pledged to make fresh groceries a “big focus” for Wal-Mart. The company said it was working to boost both the quality and consistency of its produce.
In other moves announced Friday, Carmen Bauza, a senior vice president of health and wellness, will oversee areas such as household chemicals, paper goods and baby products. Debra Layton, now senior vice president of layouts and space productivity, will lead the company’s Better Buying initiative, which focuses on improving purchasing procedures.
Bloomberg News, edited by ESM
