The Giant Company (TGC) announced on January 6 that it has hired Parag Shah as VP-omnichannel merchandising center store. Additionally, the Carlisle, PA-based Ahold Delhaize USA brand has shifted two other company executives – Rebecca Lupfer and Sepideh Burkett – to new roles in the company.
Shah joins TGC from Wakefern where he spent more than 20 years primarily in merchandising roles. He most recently served as VP-grocery, specialty and DSD for the Keasbey, NJ-based co-op. In his new role with at Giant, Shah will be responsible for managing and developing merchandising strategy for the merchant’s grocery, dairy, frozen, GM and HBC departments.
Other changes at the large regional chain involve Lupfer and Burkett. Rebecca Lupfer now becomes a divisional VP of the Mid-Atlantic where she will supervise the Giant and Martin’s brands in Central Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. For the past three years she has served as VP-center store. Lupfer has been with TGC/Ahold since 2005.
Former Mid-Atlantic divisional VP Burkett will shift to the new position of VP-distribution operations for TGC. She will play a vital role in helping the retailer complete its self-distribution transition in partnership with TGC’s sister company Ahold Delhaize Supply Chain. Specifically, Sepideh will lead the perishable distribution and assume responsibility for the transition to new tools to deliver the largest change in the supply chain in TGC’s 99-year history.
Parag and Sepideh will report directly to John Ruane, senior VP-omnichannel merchandising. Lupfer will report to Glennis Harris, senior VP-customer experience. Their positions go into effect the first week of February 2022.