SpartanNash announced that Walt Lentz has joined the company as executive vice president and president of food distribution. Lentz has 32 years of logistics and supply chain experience in roles of increasing leadership responsibility, including serving from 2017 to 2019 as acting chief executive officer and chief supply chain officer of Peapod LLC, the grocery eCommerce business division of Ahold Delhaize.
As president of food distribution, Lentz will have full responsibility of SpartanNash’s $4 billion food distribution segment and responsibility for the total company supply chain. He will work with the SpartanNash team in developing and executing strategic plans to grow the wholesale distribution and food manufacturing businesses’ profitability. Lentz will report to SpartanNash’s president and CEO, David M. Staples.
“Walt’s multi-disciplined logistics and supply chain career and commanding knowledge of the grocery industry from distribution, retailing and omnichannel commerce to manufacturing and merchandising are in direct alignment with SpartanNash’s supply chain optimization and strategic growth objectives,” said Staples. “His proven track record of achieving top-line sales growth and bottom-line cost savings with emerging innovative solutions, merchandising and marketing initiatives, and improved customer and associate satisfaction are reflective of Walt’s transformational leadership skills. We believe his expertise and energy to accelerate our strategic plan will be an asset to our organization.”
Lentz’s logistics and supply chain experience includes serving from 2016 to 2019 as Peapod LLC’s chief supply chain officer. In 2017, in addition to CSCO, he was named Peapod’s acting CEO for the grocery eCommerce business division of Ahold Delhaize. His accomplished career with Ahold began in 2009, serving as senior vice president, supply chain for Giant Foods, advancing to senior vice president, supply chain logistics, planning and replenishment, for Ahold USA Retail. From 1997 to 2009, Lentz held several executive roles of increasing responsibility with the Kellogg Co., ranging from manufacturing operations to logistics operations and business unit sales support.
