Paul Hertz Takes Over as A&P Executive VP, Kramer Replacement

Gone after only four months, Mark Kramer has been replaced by Paul Hertz as Executive Vice President of Operations at The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., Inc. Hertz joins newly installed CEO, Sam Martin, as the latest addition from Office Max where he had served as Executive Vice President of the office products firm’s retail stores. Kramer left to pursue other interests according to A&P.

Hertz, like Martin, has also held posts in the supermarket industry at Wild Oats Market and Fred Meyer. Said Christian Haub, A&P’s Executive Chairman; “An important part of our turnaround is building a dynamic executive management team with the skills and expertise necessary to lead our company to excellence. With his high level skill set and vast experience, Paul not only believes excellence can be achieved, but he is also able to illuminate a path to it.”

The company’s stock has fallen 76% this year ranking it as the poorest performer in S&P’s 17-member Food and Staples Retailing Index. After another dismal earnings report for the fiscal first quarter of 2010, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. is touting another strategy to regain its footing in the highly competitive supermarket industry. It has announced the closing of 25 stores 14 of which are in UFCW Local 464A’s jurisdiction. Prior to the announcement the company operated 429 stores in eight states.