Target names new head food merchant
Former Safeway and Supervalu executive Anne Dament has been named senior vice president of merchandising at Target to lead what the company is calling the strategic repositioning of its food business.
Dament most recently served as vice president of services at PetSmart, but the bulk of her career has been spent in the food industry. She spent 19 years in the grocery and consumer packaged goods industry, according to Target. She started her career in food, as a buyer at Supervalu and then at Safeway where she held various category and sales management positions. Later she led Safeway’s homecare and general merchandising business operations, where she worked closely with a variety of consumer packaged goods partners and focused on the company’s global buying strategy. In her final role at Safeway, she served as group vice president of perishable strategy. In that role, Target said she introduced newness in assortments and merchandising, including meal solutions and grab-and-go options.
“Our guests tell us they expect Target to inspire them with differentiated food offerings like we do in other areas. We have an opportunity to make food more reflective of our brand, elevate the shopping experience and make Target a food destination for our guests. Having previously worked alongside Anne, I know her industry expertise and proven ability to reinvigorate existing businesses make her the right leader to drive our reinvention,” said Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell.
Earlier this year, Cornell and other key members of Target’s senior leadership team announced the company will reposition its approach to food over the next 12 to 18 months. Based on guest insights, focus areas will include making better-for-you options simple and attainable, providing meal solutions and offering unique selections for everyday occasions as well as entertaining.
“My very first job was in a local grocery store and I’ve had a passion for food ever since. Joining the team at Target gives me an opportunity to bring my professional experience and love of food to the organization as their transformation is just getting underway,” said Dament. “I’m excited to return home to Minnesota and work alongside great leaders for such an iconic brand.”
Target’s food reinvention will emphasize six key categories that resonate most with its guests: better-for-you snacks, coffee and tea, premium sauces and oils, specialty candy, wine and craft beer, and yogurt and granola. It will also expand the availability of natural, organic, locally grown and gluten-free choices to fit guests’ wellness-focused lifestyles. Work on the reinvention is underway, with the most significant changes slated to arrive in stores in 2016.