SEATTLE, Oct. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Associated Grocers, Incorporated (AG) has announced today that John Wiedmann has been named to the position of Vice President, Logistics. John comes to AG with over 35 years of grocery distribution center experience, including over 25 years managing and directing several of Safeway's northwest distribution centers.
John began his career in 1971 working his way through college as an Order Selector at the Safeway distribution center in Santa Fe Springs, California. During that time, he was recognized for his leadership skills and appointed Supervisor of Produce Operations and later Warehouse Superintendent for Perishable Operations serving 243 stores. In 1974, he graduated from California State Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and was offered the position of Operational Auditor. John's audits of 17 Safeway operations resulted in direct cost savings of over $11 million. In 1978, he was appointed Distribution Center Manager for Safeway's Spokane, Washington distribution center, where he received the President's Award for excellence. In 1985, John was made the Director of Distribution in Portland, Oregon, where he directed the center to the most efficient operation in the company.
Most recently, John has held the position of Director of Distribution in Seattle Washington, with responsibilities for territory covering five states and over 300 stores. Since assuming the role in 1992, John once again directed that center to the most efficient operation in the company and again received the President's award. He was also responsible for the 2005 relocation of the facility from Bellevue to Auburn, Washington.
"AG is extremely fortunate to have a man of John's experience and caliber as a member of our officer team. He will be invaluable in our mission to make AG one of the leading wholesalers in the nation and the first choice of all independent retailers in our market area," said John Runyan, AG President and CEO.
Associated Grocers is a full service wholesaler providing food, general merchandise and retail services to stores throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Pacific Rim. Since its founding in 1934, AG has leveraged its group buying power to facilitate the success of its over 320 customer locations. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, AG procures and distributes a comprehensive selection of supermarket commodities including: grocery, meat, produce, deli, natural, specialty, ethnic, service deli, service bakery, health and beauty care, and general merchandise.
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