Neal Berube jokes that his term will be short as president and CEO of Associated Food Stores grocery cooperative, which last year rang up sales approaching $2 billion.
Berube, 57, would have to work at least 17 more years — and two or three more decades — to come close to the terms his three predecessors had served for the Salt Lake-based co-op, which also runs a 1 million-square foot warehouse and 47 corporate-owned stores.
Even though Berube is a 22-year company veteran, he likes to say the lesson is that CEOs come and go but core values of hard work and integrity rooted in small town America remain.
Berube, appointed to the top post last fall, may be entitled to speak for small communities.
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