Wakefern names director of Own Brands
Wakefern names director of Own Brands
Wakefern Food Corp. has appointed Chris Ruane its director of Own Brands, reinforcing the company’s continued investment in the growth and strategic evolution of its award-winning private label portfolio.
In his new role, Ruane will report to Darren Caudill, chief sales officer, and lead strategy for Wakefern’s Own Brands portfolio. He will focus on advancing product innovation, optimizing assortment, strengthening supplier partnerships and delivering the quality and value that drive customer loyalty across brands including Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird.
“Chris’s deep industry expertise, strong leadership and commitment to value make him the right person to lead our Own Brands team,” said Caudill. “As we continue to grow our portfolio and support our retail members, Chris will play an important role in advancing innovation and delivering high-quality products our customers trust.”
Ruane brings 20 years of wholesale and retail food industry experience to the role. Most recently, as procurement manager of dairy at Wakefern, he oversaw a department representing more than $2 billion in retail sales, led category management and advertising teams, and helped drive growth through strong manufacturer partnerships, strong cost management, and team development.
During his Wakefern career, Ruane has held various leadership roles, building broad category expertise and a strong record of results. Earlier, as procurement analyst, he managed inventory operations for more than 400 retail locations and helped ensure efficient product flow through effective vendor partnership and supply coordination.
