Festival Foods Appoints New Chief Operating Officer
Festival Foods COO appointment puts Adam Whitney in charge of daily store operations and long‑term growth, signaling leadership for the grocery chain.
Festival Foods announced Tuesday that Adam Whitney will assume the chief operating officer title, moving up from his recent position as chief merchant. The promotion places him at the helm of daily store management while also giving him responsibility for the chain’s longer‑range development strategy.
Whitney entered the organization in late 2023, initially overseeing merchandising and marketing as senior vice president. Within months he added stewardship of the fresh department, a move that broadened his influence over product assortment and in‑store presentation. During that period he helped steer a full overhaul of how the retailer plans, buys, and promotes its inventory, a process that blended a fresh organizational layout with upgraded digital tools and deeper collaboration with suppliers.
Prior to joining Festival Foods, Whitney built a career in the broader retail sector. He led the fuel and convenience segment for Meijer Express, where he managed a network of stations that combined gasoline sales with quick‑stop merchandise. Earlier roles at Meijer included oversight of pricing strategies and the visual display of merchandise, as well as management of a regional merchandise team. His résumé also contains merchandising leadership positions at several national chains, giving him a breadth of experience across different retail formats.
In his new capacity, Whitney will not only direct the operational heartbeat of Festival Foods but also supervise the Hometown Grocers portfolio, which was brought under the same investment umbrella during the acquisition that paired the two brands. He will continue to sit on the leadership council of the investment firm, ensuring that the strategic objectives of both grocery families remain aligned.
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“As we build for the future across Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, we needed a leader who combines deep retail experience with a clear vision for where our industry is headed,” said Todd Schnuck, Chairman and CEO. “Adam brings a proven track record, a pragmatic ‘measure twice, cut once’ approach to execution, and a strong ability to leverage the new data and technology driving our growth.”
The retailer’s origins trace back to the mid‑twentieth century, and it adopted its current banner identity at the start of the 1990s. Today the chain operates a network of supermarkets throughout the state, complemented by a collection of independently branded stores managed by Hometown Grocers. Together they serve a diverse customer base, offering a mix of traditional grocery items and an expanding selection of fresh, locally sourced products.
