CINCINNATI, Aug. 8, 2018
/PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today named
Gil Phipps, currently vice president
of Our Brands, to vice president of branding, marketing
and Our Brands, effective August
15.
Mr. Phipps joined the company in 2012 and led the transformation
of Our Brands by evolving existing brands and introducing
new brands that resonate with customers. Through elevating recipes
and product formulations, inserting personality into packaging and
more, Mr. Phipps has increased customer loyalty and driven record
Our Brands sales growth.
"We are fundamentally changing how we market to and engage with
our customers, and Gil is the perfect talent—a personality full of
creativity, imagination and fun who loves food and new meal
experiences—to lead the way," said Stuart
Aitken, Kroger's group vice president and CEO of 84.51°.
"Kroger's new marketing approach is more engaging,
cross-functional, data-driven, and customer-led in support of
Restock Kroger. As we redefine the customer
experience, we are using compelling marketing communications to
create uplifting connections with our shoppers that earn even more
of their sales, trust and loyalty."
With Mr. Phipps' leadership and influence, the Our Brands
business has substantially increased. If Our Brands
were a unique consumer packaged goods company on the Fortune 500
list, it would rank number 138. Mr. Phipps was instrumental in
introducing Simple Truth®, now the largest natural and organic
brand in America with more than $2
billion in annual sales.
"The retail industry is dynamic, exciting and changing, and I'm
thrilled to take on this role at this very moment to transform the
way Kroger connects with our customers to elevate our brand across
America," said Mr. Phipps. "We will continue to build on how we use
data points powered by 84.51° to create marketing communications
and experiences that are even more relevant, meaningful and
personalized."
Mr. Phipps started his grocery career in 1987 as a store
director for Fresh Plus Grocery in Austin, Texas. Following the role, he became
brand manager for Guiltless Gourmet before moving into brand
marketing positions at both Michael
Angelo's Gourmet Foods and Hormel Foods. In 2001, Gil joined
H-E-B as a brand manager before earning a series of promotions that
placed him as the leader of H-E-B's store brands program.
In 2015, Supermarket News recognized Mr. Phipps as one of
the "Top Disruptors" in the industry.
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose:
to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a million
associates who serve over nine million customers daily through a
seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores
under a variety of banner names, serving America through food
inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste
communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and
investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.