Acme president announces departure

by Julia Hays on March 9th, 2010 Comment

By Eileen Stilwell, Courier-Post Staff

Judy Spires, a Cherry Hill native who rose from grocery clerk to president of Acme Markets, announced her resignation Monday, effective Friday.

Spires is leaving for another company, but will not disclose where until next week, said a spokeswoman for SUPERVALU, the parent company of Acme.
Pete Van Helden, executive vice president of retail operations for the parent company, will assume her duties until a replacement is named.

The daughter of an Acme bread truck driver, Spires began her career with the company as a clerk in 1970.

She was named 2008 "Person of the Year" by the Mid-Atlantic Food Trades Organization and one of the Top 50 Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer magazine. Spires also received the prestigious 2009 Paradigm Award from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

"I will miss working with the many dedicated and talented people at Acme and wish the team the very best as they continue to work hard to grow the business," said Spires in a printed statement.

Based in Malvern, Pa., Acme operates 124 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, employing more than 16,000 people.

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