LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unified Grocers announced that Leon G. Bergmann was named Senior Vice President, Sales, a new position at Unified, effective December 3, 2012. The announcement was made jointly by Al Plamann, Chief Executive Officer, and Bob Ling, President.
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In his new position, Bergmann will be responsible for sales and service functions across all regions of the Company and will participate with other sales product leaders in developing programs that meet Unified's member retailers' and customers' needs. Bergmann will report to Bob Ling.
"The addition of Leon to our management team strengthens our entire organization," Ling said. "He has a wide range of experience in virtually all segments of the grocery industry, including wholesale, retail, consumer packaged goods manufacturers and transportation and logistics. We are looking forward to the insight, fresh ideas and energy that he will bring to our organization."
"I am proud to join Unified Grocers, a company with strong retail owners, an experienced wholesale team, and strong market share," said Bergmann. "I look forward to leveraging the strength and natural alignment of a co-op to benefit retail, our owners and Unified Grocers."
Bergmann comes to Unified from SuperValu, Eden Prairie, Minn., where he was President, Independent Business and was responsible for supporting the growth and success of independent retailers who were supplied by the wholesaler. Prior to assuming this position, Bergmann served as Group Vice President, Independent Sales, Marketing and Merchandising in SuperValu's Supply Chain Services Division.
Prior to joining SuperValu, Bergmann spent six years at C&S Wholesale Grocers, Keene, N.H., the last three of which (2008-2011) were as Senior Vice President, Sales and Customer Service, Northeast Region, where he was responsible for total customer satisfaction and sales for the Company's major retail customers in the Northeastern U.S. While at C&S, Bergmann also spent two years as General Manager, West Coast Operations and one year as Vice President, Corporate Development.
During the course of his career, Bergman has also served as Vice President, Process Economics and Engineering for ES3, Ltd. (C&S Holdings), was a Six Sigma Black Belt at Penske Truck Leasing/Logistics and had a successful career with the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator.
Bergmann holds a B.B.A. in Economics from Memphis State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Memphis. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of IGA USA and also is a past member of the Board of Directors of the California Grocers Association.
About Unified Grocers, Inc.
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: http://www.unifiedgrocers.com
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Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management's assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in the Company's Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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