Topco Associates names 2016 board of directors

Topco Associates LLC, Elk Grove Village, Ill., said it held the election of its 2016 board of directors recently at its Annual Membership Conference, which took place Feb. 24–26. The new board members will serve a two-year term.

In a unanimous vote, the Topco membership named John Lucot, president and chief operating officer of Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle Inc., chairman of the Topco board. Lucot had served as Topco’s vice chairman since June 2015 and has been a Topco board member since 2012. In his role as chairman, Lucot will help to represent more than 50 Topco members to aggregate volume, innovate industry best practices and share their collective knowledge to compete more effectively in the marketplace.

“Giant Eagle has been a Topco member for many years, and I look forward to working with each member to align to Topco’s structure and processes that will facilitate an environment for all of us to truly partner together,” Lucot said.

Giant Eagle has been a Topco member-owner since 1962, Topco noted. The retailer takes part in many of Topco’s programs.

Lucot replaces Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee Inc., who previously served a three-year term as Topco’s chairman. Edeker will continue to serve Topco as a member of its board in 2016.

“We have a strong board that supports this organization, and a great chairman coming in. John is a very insightful leader, a smart leader and someone who is committed to doing an outstanding job on behalf of Topco,” Edeker said.

The Topco membership elected Chris Coborn, president and CEO of Coborn’s Inc., St. Cloud, Minn., vice chairman of the board. Coborn, who has been a Topco board member since 2014, will serve a two-year term as vice chairman, Topco said.

The remaining 2016 Topco board members include:

• Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO, Brookshire Holdings, Inc.
• Jay Campbell, Jr., president and CEO Associated Grocers Inc.
• Charlie D’Amour, president and chief operating officer, Big Y Foods Inc.
• Scott Grimmett, president and CEO, Golub Corp./Price Chopper
• Randy Skoda, president and CEO, Topco Associates LLC
• Steve Smith, president and CEO, K-VA-T
• Pete Van Helden, president and CEO, Stater Bros.
• Dennis Eidson, president and CEO, SpartanNash Co.