Kroger names presidents for Smith's Food and Drug Stores division and Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday named Jay Cummins president of the Smith's Food and Drug Stores division and Joe Fey president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division.

Cummins, 62, has been serving as president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division. He succeeds Mark Tuffin, who was named SVP retail divisions in December. "In his more than 40 years with the company, Jay has been an enthusiastic and passionate leader in each role he has held," Mike Ellis, Kroger's president and COO, said. "Jay's experience and commitment to our Customer 1st Strategy will ensure Smith's continues to go above and beyond for our customers." 

Cummins brings more than 40 years of retail experience to Smith's. He began his Kroger career as a clerk in 1972 in Huntington Beach, Calif. In the following years, he served in positions of increasing responsibility in store and district management and in grocery merchandising for the company's Food 4 Less division. In 2002, Cummins was named VP and general manager of the Food 4 Less Midwest division, where he led the expansion of the Food 4 Less price-impact warehouse store format in the Chicago area. In 2004, he was named president of the Los Angeles-based Food 4 Less division, and to his current position in 2007.

Cummins, and his wife Terrie, will be relocating to the Salt Lake City area. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Smith's operates 131 stores in Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City.

Fey, 59, has been serving as president of the company's QFC division. He succeeds Cummins as president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division. 

"Joe always leads by example and is deeply committed to our customers, our associates and our company," Ellis said. "His merchandising expertise and experience in leading the QFC Division will be great assets in our Mid-Atlantic division. We are looking forward to his positive energy and guidance." 

Fey brings nearly 40 years of retail experience to Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division. He began his career as a meat clerk with Kroger in 1972 while earning a bachelor's degree in business administration at Indiana University. He was quickly promoted to a variety of leadership positions including store management, deli/bakery merchandising, and meat/seafood merchandising in both the company's Central division and corporate office in Cincinnati. In 1999, Fey was named VP merchandising for the Dillons division. He was named VP merchandising for the Michigan Division in 2008, where he served before being named president of QFC in 2011.

Fey and his wife, Joy, will be relocating to the Roanoke, Va. area. They have two grown sons and three grandchildren.

Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division operates 121 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and the eastern portions of Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. It is headquartered in Roanoke, Va.