Fresh Market CEO resigns
Fresh Market CEO resigns
The Fresh Market Inc., a specialty grocery retailer, has named Sean Crane, executive vice president and chief operating officer, as interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. Craig Carlock, president, CEO and a member of the board of directors, has left the company.
“The board and I would like to thank Craig for his many years of service and significant contributions to The Fresh Market," Ray Berry, founder and chairman of the board of directors, said in a press release. "Under Craig’s leadership, the company successfully transitioned from a private to a public company and experienced five consecutive years of increased sales and earnings. The company is well positioned, both culturally and financially, for future success, and has a significant opportunity, through its unique and differentiated grocery shopping experience, to gain share in existing markets and expand into new markets. I further believe meaningful opportunities exist to improve profit margins through both structural and operational initiatives.
"The board is focused on identifying the right candidate to lead The Fresh Market through its next phases of growth, while providing opportunities for our employees and delivering greater value to our stockholders,” he added.
Crane is an executive with 14 years of senior management experience with The Fresh Market.
“Sean is a strong executive and a proven leader, with significant experience and knowledge of the company and its operations," Berry said in the release. "He has been instrumental in the development and execution of The Fresh Market’s growth strategies and a key player in its success. Sean has the board’s full support to continue executing the company’s growth strategies and initiatives.”
The board of directors has retained a national executive search firm to assist in identifying and evaluating candidates for the position of president and CEO.