Dive Brief:
- Schnuck Markets Inc. has named David A. Peacock as its new president and COO, according to The Shelby Report. Previously, Peacock served as president of Anheuser-Busch.
- Schnucks currently has 100 stores and 14,000 employees across five states.
- In his new role, Peacock will manage procurement/merchandising, operations, marketing/communications and supply chain.
Dive Insight:
For those who don’t know Peacock’s background, tapping a beer industry veteran may seem an odd move for a grocery retailer looking to play more with the big boys. However, his experience with the brand and the company’s home base of St. Louis aligns perfectly with what the retailer is looking to do.
Peacock was already part of the company’s advisory board, joining in 2013. Todd Schunuck, the chain's chairman and CEO, told the St. Louis Business Journal that Peacock has been instrumental in helping Schnucks prepare for more growth.
He managed U.S. operations for Anheuser-Busch from 2008 through 2012, and was responsible for the company's U.S. success during its integration with InBev. He also once served as chairman of the Beer Institute, the U.S. beer industry’s policy organization.
Currently, he owns Jamba Juice franchisee Vitaligent LLC and is an investor in fast casual restaurant Crushed Red.
Peacock is more recently known for his leadership in St. Louis sports. He is chairman of the St. Louis Sports Commission, and led two unsuccessful efforts with professional teams. He co-chaired the task force that failed to keep the National Football League's St. Louis Rams from leaving, and was the lead investor in an effort — ultimately rejected by voters — to attract a Major League Soccer franchise to the city.
Schnucks has seen some recent bumps in its relationship with the community. Following some contentious months of union negotiations, the chain recently reached agreements with employees, ending brief boycotts. Last year, a new store policy banning solicitors — including Girl Scouts selling cookies and Salvation Army bell-ringers during the holidays — angered many. The bell-ringers were eventually permitted to return. And the former president Anthony Hucker has sued the chain for breach of contract, saying he was terminated without cause after being offered a job as Save-A-Lot's CEO.
Someone like Peacock, with deep roots in the city and proven success in food and beverage, could help Schnucks get past the bad PR of the recent past and write its next chapters.