UPDATE: Bruce Peterson resigns from Wal-Mart but will likely stay in produce
UPDATE: Bruce Peterson resigns from Wal-Mart but will likely stay in produce
Bruce Peterson, 53, has confirmed that he has resigned his position at Wal- Mart and will "pursue other aspects of my career most likely related to the produce industry."
Mr. Peterson, who has been with Wal-Mart for 15 years, told The Produce News Friday, Feb. 2, that he has been considering his future in recent years but the decision to leave Wal-Mart was rather sudden. "But it was my choice," he added.
He does expect to resurface in the produce industry though not with another retailer. "I have a two-year non-compete, so I won't join another retailer even if I wanted to," he said. Mr. Peterson said he is leaving Wal-Mart on very good terms and that the company has been "very good to me," adding, It's been quite a ride." He joined the organization when it had six Supercenters and no produce distribution center. "We now have 2258 Supercenters and 38 DC's," he said, also rattling off the number of other affiliated stores under the Wal-Mart umbrella.
Mr. Peterson was heading the produce department for a small Nebraska supermarket chain when he was interviewed and hired by Sam Walton in 1991. Previously he had worked in Grand Rapids, MI, at Meijer Inc., which was a combination retail store, much like Wal-Mart.
The Wal-Mart executive led the produce department through tremendous growth and eventually was promoted to a higher position in charge of all perishable merchandising. His boss, Doug Degn, executive vice president of food, consumables and hardlines, recently announced his retirement, and Mr. Peterson told The Produce News that a successor for neither of the two men has been named. Mr. Peterson will remain in his current position through the end of February "to help with the transition."
Mr. Peterson was very active in industry organizations and a frequent speaker at conventions and produce industry events. He was always on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. He has been at the forefront of many produce industry trends, including Wal-Mart's adoption of returnable plastic containers and radio frequency identification technology.
He currently represents Wal-Mart on the Food Marketing Institute board and on other produce industry committees. He said he will be resigning from those posts.
Mr. Peterson, who has been with Wal-Mart for 15 years, told The Produce News Friday, Feb. 2, that he has been considering his future in recent years but the decision to leave Wal-Mart was rather sudden. "But it was my choice," he added.
He does expect to resurface in the produce industry though not with another retailer. "I have a two-year non-compete, so I won't join another retailer even if I wanted to," he said. Mr. Peterson said he is leaving Wal-Mart on very good terms and that the company has been "very good to me," adding, It's been quite a ride." He joined the organization when it had six Supercenters and no produce distribution center. "We now have 2258 Supercenters and 38 DC's," he said, also rattling off the number of other affiliated stores under the Wal-Mart umbrella.
Mr. Peterson was heading the produce department for a small Nebraska supermarket chain when he was interviewed and hired by Sam Walton in 1991. Previously he had worked in Grand Rapids, MI, at Meijer Inc., which was a combination retail store, much like Wal-Mart.
The Wal-Mart executive led the produce department through tremendous growth and eventually was promoted to a higher position in charge of all perishable merchandising. His boss, Doug Degn, executive vice president of food, consumables and hardlines, recently announced his retirement, and Mr. Peterson told The Produce News that a successor for neither of the two men has been named. Mr. Peterson will remain in his current position through the end of February "to help with the transition."
Mr. Peterson was very active in industry organizations and a frequent speaker at conventions and produce industry events. He was always on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. He has been at the forefront of many produce industry trends, including Wal-Mart's adoption of returnable plastic containers and radio frequency identification technology.
He currently represents Wal-Mart on the Food Marketing Institute board and on other produce industry committees. He said he will be resigning from those posts.
