Salt Lake City, UT – Associated Food Stores’ President and Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Parkinson has announced his retirement effective November 10, 2011.
Parkinson has served in the position since 1994. Parkinson began working at Associated Food Stores ten years earlier beginning as director of store development and retail finance, then vice president and executive vice president.
During Parkinson’s tenure Associated Food Stores has seen sales increases in excess of $1.4 billion and the building of one of the West’s largest, most efficient warehouse facilities in its one-million-square-foot Farr West distribution center. In addition, Parkinson has been the catalyst behind the tremendous growth of Associated Food Stores including many new independent stores and the purchase of 56 corporately owned stores.
Neal Berube, who is currently serving as executive vice president and president of Fresh Market, will fill the position of president and CEO following Parkinson’s departure.
"I am confident that the timing is right for me and for the organization, said Parkinson. I am 62 years old and look forward to spending additional time with my wife and family. I have a great love for the retail members of Associated Food Stores and have relished the opportunity to contribute to their success. These men and women epitomize the American dream and it has truly been an honor to serve them.
Parkinson leaves a lasting legacy, not only on Associated Food Stores, but the entire grocery industry. He has recently served as a board member of the Food Marketing Institute and as the chairman of Western Family Foods. He is a past chairman of the board for the Retailer Owned Food Distributors Association, and past chairman of the Utah Food Industry Association. In 1996, Parkinson received the Grocer of the Year award from Food People magazine and in 2011 was named a Utah Business CEO of the Year.
Prior to joining Associated Food Stores, Parkinson was vice president and commercial loan officer at First Security Bank and executive vice president and treasurer at R.L. Warner Enterprises, both Utah corporations. Parkinson graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
For additional information, photos or interviews, please contact Rand Mickelson at 801-978-8452 or at rtmickelson@afstores.com.
Associated Food Stores is an independent retailer-owned warehouse based in Salt Lake City, Utah, which provides complete warehouse facilities and services to nearly 500 grocers throughout the Intermountain West. Associated can be found on the internet at www.afstores.com.
Source: Associated Food Stores