FMI elects new officers, board members

ARLINGTON, Va. The Food Marketing Institute has elected two new vice chairmen and five new board members, in line with its annual showcase in Las Vegas.

The industry group said David Ball, president and CEO of Ball’s Price Chopper/Hen House Markets in Kansas, will be vice chairman of independent retailers and will continue to serve as chairman of FMI's independent operator advisory board. Additionally, Safeway chairman, president and CEO Steven Burd will be FMI's vice chairman of finance.

New members of FMI's board of directors include:

• Jim Donald, president and CEO of Haggen
• Dennis Eidson, president and CEO of Spartan Stores, a grocery wholesaler and retailer based in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Joey Hays, owner and president of five supermarkets under the Food Rite banner, based in Dyer, Tenn.
• Tom Heinen, president and COO of Heinen’s Fine Foods
• Steve Junqueiro, president of Save Mart Supermarkets.

“These new leaders bring to FMI great vision, talent, creativity and utmost dedication to the industry. They exemplify the many ways we serve our customers, communities and, ultimately, America. They make FMI’s leadership more diverse, running companies large, mid-sized and small, including retailers and wholesalers, and many of their businesses are family-owned,” said FMI president and CEO Leslie Sarasin.