(LOS ANGELES) — Charles J. Pilliter, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Unified Western Grocers, Inc., has been promoted to the newly-created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. The announcement was made March 12, 2002 by Alfred A. Plamann, Unified's president and chief executive officer.
In his new position, Pilliter will be responsible for overseeing the company's sales and marketing functions, distribution and logistics, manufacturing, specialty products, meat, international sales, and business development.
"Chuck is very familiar with our member base and has an excellent working knowledge of all facets of our operations," Plamann said. "His experience, industry knowledge and personal leadership skills will combine to make him an effective chief operating officer. I am very pleased to have an individual with Chuck's talents available for this assignment and look forward to working with him in this role."
Pilliter had served as Unified's executive vice president, sales and marketing, since November, 1999 when he was named to the post following the completion of the merger between Certified Grocers of California and United Grocers of Oregon. Prior to the merger, Pilliter was senior vice president and president, Northern California Division, at Certified Grocers.
First employed by Certified in 1976, Pilliter spent 23 years working his way into successively higher positions throughout the company. During his tenure at Certified he also served as director of manufacturing and produce, executive director of Southern California sales and president, Northern California Division.
Prior to joining Certified, Pilliter was the general manager for a 5-store independent retail operation in Southern California. He began his grocery career in 1964, working in several family-owned independent food stores in the Riverside and San Bernardino areas of Southern California.
Pilliter is the current Chairman of the National Grocers Association. He has also served on the board of directors for the City of Hope — Northern California (Executive Committee), the Bay Area Boy Scouts of America, the Northern California Grocers Association and on various committees with Food Distributors International and the California Grocers Association.
Unified Western Grocers, Inc. is a retailer-owned grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the Western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3 billion in sales during the 2001 fiscal year, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to benefits expected to be derived from the proposed acquisition. There are a variety of factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements above. These factors are outlined in Unified's Form 10-Q and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.