Vons’ CEO Stangeland Is Honored
Roger E. Stangeland, chairman and chief executive officer of Vons Cos. Inc., was named food industry executive of the year last week by the USC Food Industry Management program.
He received the honor at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles during a banquet that also honored current graduates of the program’s intensive nine-month curriculum in retailing.
Stangeland, of San Marino, has headed the El Monte-based grocery firm since 1986 after completing a leveraged buy-out of the 193-store chain’s former parent company, Household Merchandising.
Since Stangeland took control of Vons, the company has introduced innovative store concepts such as Pavilions--an upscale, service-oriented market--and Tianguis, a food store designed to appeal to Latino consumers. Vons Cos. also acquired the 10-store Pantry chain in 1986 and is in the process of acquiring Safeway Stores’ 172 Southern California markets.
“With only a very few years of service to this industry, I am truly touched with this honor,” Stangeland said, in remarks to more than 500 people in attendance.
The Food Industry Management Program, a part of the USC School of Business, was founded in 1959. Grocery industry executives are schooled in management techniques, marketing research and economics while in residence at USC.
