Spartan Stores names new ceo

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Spartan Stores, a grocery distributor and operator of 84 retail supermarkets in Michigan, has named Dennis Eidson chief executive officer, effective Oct. 15.

Craig Sturken will continue in his role as executive chairman of the board. Until his transition to president and chief executive officer, Eidson will continue in his current role as a board member, president and chief operating officer.

“For the past 24 months, our board has been engaged in chief executive officer succession planning,” stated Sturken. “I have worked with our board to assess our critical leadership needs and to ensure that we selected the right individual to lead us through our future growth stages.”

Eidson joined the company in March 2003 as executive vice president of marketing and merchandising. In October 2007, he was appointed to the board of directors and as a company president, following his appointment in February 2007 as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Prior to joining Spartan Stores, he was divisional president and chief executive of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company’s Midwest region, and assistant general manager for Nash Finch’s Michigan operations.