Safeway perishables head to leave company

PLEASANTON, Calif. Safeway has announced that Des Hague, president of perishables, has decided to leave Safeway to pursue other business opportunities. He will be succeeded by Kelly Griffith, most recently president of the company’s Portland division.

“We are grateful for Des’ contributions and wish him well in his future business endeavors,” said Steve Burd, Safeway chairman, president and ceo.

Griffith joined Safeway 28 years ago in the Seattle division. After working his way through a range of retail store management assignments, he was promoted to Safeway’s corporate retail operations team in 1999 and was elected a vp the following year. He was promoted to vp of retail operations in the Seattle division in 2001, then he returned to the corporate office as senior vp of produce and floral, in 2004. He has been Portland division president since 2005.