United Natural Foods, Inc. Appoints Ron Selders as New President of Fresh; Steve Dietz Comments
PROVIDENCE, RI - Fresh is the name of the game for United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), and the company’s latest move proves it. The foodservice distributor is bolstering its fresh operations with the appointment of Ron Selders as the new President of Fresh. He will lead UNFI’s growth strategy for its produce, deli, bakery, and meat departments, all of which drive traffic and provide choice, value, and unique products.
“Large-scale changes to shopping and eating behaviors, especially as more meals are consumed in the home, have put a stronger focus on the perimeter of the grocery store and its offerings. These changes represent a tremendous opportunity for retailers, and I look forward to working with our fresh teams to deliver wide-ranging and innovative products to help our customers grow and thrive,” said Selders.
Selders joined UNFI through the acquisition of Tony’s Fine Foods in 2014 and became President of the division in 2018. He spent 18 years in leadership roles at Tony’s, helping grow the business across the West Coast. In 2021, Selders was promoted to UNFI’s Senior Vice President of Bakery & Deli where he led the respective sales, merchandising, and category management teams across the entire organization.
Selders holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from California State University, Sacramento, a press release noted. His appointment is effective December 26, and he will report to Steve Dietz, UNFI’s Chief Customer Officer.
“Food retailers continue to invest in their fresh departments as they represent one of the most important growth areas in the grocery store, in addition to being a main driver in how retailers stand out against their competition,” said Dietz. “Ron has extensive experience in the fresh categories and working with the supplier community, and we expect this experience, combined with his strong understanding of customers’ operational expectations, to benefit our retail customers as they seek tailored solutions to enhance the consumer experience. He’s a proven leader and someone I’m confident will help our Fresh teams build and deliver an even stronger set of products and solutions for our customers going forward.”
Congratulations to Ron Selders on this exciting appointment!
