Supervalu Inc. announced that Janel Haugarth, executive vice president and president of independent business and supply chain services, will retire Dec. 26. Mike Stigers, current president of Cub Foods, has been appointed executive vice president, independent business and supply chain to succeed Haugarth.Janel Haugarth

Haugarth has spent nearly 40 years with the company and served in a variety of leadership positions and roles of increasing responsibility, including having been an executive vice president with the company since 2006.

Under Haugarth’s leadership and direction, Supervalu consolidated and realigned its wholesale operations, introduced a National Sales Expo attracting more than 4,000 attendees the past two years, launched new professional services programs to support the expanding needs of independent retailers, and led the procurement and growth of new business for the company’s independent business segment.Mike Stigers

“Janel has been a tremendous advocate for this company throughout her Supervalu career,” Sam Duncan, Supervalu chief executive officer and president, said in a press release. “It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked with Janel for the past two-and-one-half years. Her knowledge of the industry and her passion for helping our independent retailers succeed is second to none. I’m grateful for her many years of leadership to this company and wish her all the best in her retirement.”

“I feel very fortunate to have spent my career working for Supervalu and so grateful to have worked with such amazing employees, suppliers and customers for nearly 40 years,” Haugarth said in the release. “It will be hard to leave this great company and all these great people, but I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life and am confident that Supervalu is well-positioned going forward.”

Stigers, who started his grocery career in 1974, has more than 40 years of experience in the grocery industry. He joined Supervalu in 2011, and has served in roles as president of Shaw’s, one of Supervalu’s formerly owned retail banners, and as president of Northern region, formerly one of the three sales regions within Supervalu’s independent business segment. Stigers will assume his new responsibilities Dec. 27, and will report to Bruce Besanko, Supervalu’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“Mike is a terrific and well-respected leader with deep knowledge of the grocery industry and strong relationships across our entire retail and wholesale business,” Duncan said in the release. “Under Mike’s direction, I am confident our wholesale operations and our independent business customers will be in great hands.”