KANSAS CITY, KS - This has been a week of revamping and restructuring for Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), promoting and shifting several employees to new, executive positions.

Jeff Pedersen will be promoted to EVP of Division Operations, Steve Arnold will transfer to the Oklahoma City Division to the position of SVP - Division Manager, Dan Funk will be promoted to EVP of Merchandising and Marketing, and Danny Lane will become Senior Vice President of Grocery.

Pedersen, will now be EVP of Division Operations, reporting to President and CEO David Smith, effective October 19, 2015. Pedersen began his grocery career in 1976 with Hinky Dinky and worked at Bag-n-Save and Hy-Vee prior to joining AWG in 1997. Since joining AWG, Pedersen has held a variety of leadership roles, to include Division Manager in Oklahoma City and most recently, SVP Member Services. In his new role, Pedersen will have responsibility for AWG operations and member services.

Former EVP of Merchandising, Steve Arnold, will transfer to the Oklahoma City Division to the position of SVP, Division Manager and will report to Pedersen. Steve joined AWG in 1995 as a Price Chopper Sales Manager. After a series of promotions within the company’s command chain, Steve was promoted to EVP Marketing in 2014. According to a press release, throughout Arnold’s career at AWG, he has played a key role in the successful growth in private label sales which exceeded $1 billion in sales under his leadership. 

Along with Arnold’s move, current SVP of Grocery Dan Funk will be promoted to EVP of Merchandising and Marketing. Dan joined AWG from Supervalu in October of 2012 as President of Valu Merchandisers Company where he successfully grew sales. A press release explains that his leadership opened new doors in the area of general merchandise, seasonal, and specialty foods. Dan took over leadership of grocery in 2014, where he has continued to build center store sales and marketing programs to support our members within their markets. 

Replacing Dan in the role of SVP of Grocery will be Danny Lane, current SVP, Division Manager of the Oklahoma City Division. Danny began his grocery career in 1982 and has since held senior level positions in the retail and wholesale grocery industry. Danny has led the Oklahoma City Division since 2013, but prior to that he was the Vice President of Merchandising & Marketing for the division.  

Associated Wholesale Grocers