Gelson's Markets has strengthened its board of directors with the addition of Sue Klug, an accomplished former grocery executive with broad operations and marketing experience.

Klug currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for Republic Services, a $10 billion recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal company based in Phoenix, AZ. Prior to her appointment to this position in 2016, Klug spent more than 30 years in leadership positions with some of the nation's largest supermarket retailers.

Klug served as executive vice president, chief marketing officer of Unified Grocers from 2012 to 2016. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade with Albertsons, including five years as president of the Albertsons Southern California division, where she was responsible for the operations and financial performance of all 248 Albertsons stores in California and Nevada. Earlier in her career, Klug was a senior executive role for Safeway, overseeing sales and marketing for all 330 Vons and Pavilions stores in Southern California and southern Nevada.

A Southern California native, Klug brings a deep understanding of the competitive California grocery sector to Gelson's.

Klug has extensive relationships throughout the grocery industry and is widely recognized as one of its premiere female leaders. Her previous industry board experience includes the Independent Grocers Alliance in Chicago and Western Association of Food Chains in L.A. County, where she served as its first female president and chairperson. She has been recognized with numerous industry honors.

"We are thrilled to have Sue Klug join our board of directors," said Rob McDougall, chief executive officer of Gelson's. "Her savvy marketing and operations experience in wholesale grocery, supermarket retailing and waste/recycling services will bring valuable insight to Gelson's, and we are grateful to have her onboard."