Sears Holdings Corp. has named Robin Michel, formerly president of Giant Foods, as the retailer’s new grocery and pharmacy chief.
Michel, a veteran supermarket executive, joins the operator of Sears and Kmart stores at a time when mass merchandise chains are moving more aggressively into the food business.
Sears began testing the delivery of online grocery orders in New York and Chicago last summer. Target, the cheap-chic discounter, remade hundreds of stores last year to make room for its PFresh grocery concept. And drugstore chains Walgreens and CVS are adding more fresh produce to their stores.
Michel, 53, began as senior vice president and president of food and consumables and health and wellness at Sears Dec. 13. The Hoffman Estates-based retailer announced her appointment Tuesday.
Michel’s also has held senior executive posts at Royal Ahold’s Giant Foods division, Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc., 7-Eleven Inc. and H.E. Butt Grocery Co. She started her career at Kroger Co.
Michel succeeds Tom O’Boyle, who left Sears in August.
smjones@tribune.com
