West Concord, Mass.-based Divert Inc. has announced the appointment of Nicholas Bertram as the founding member of its advisory board.
Divert develops technologies and sustainable infrastructure to eliminate wasted food, according to the company.
Bertram brings more than 20 years of experience in the retail industry, most recently as the president of The Giant Co., a subsidiary of Royal Ahold Delhaize N.V., according to a news release.
“Nick is widely respected for his vision and leadership in the retail industry, and has been at the forefront of sustainable retailing,” Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder of Divert Inc., said in the release. “His vast knowledge of retail operations and the food supply chain will be invaluable to Divert as we enter this next phase of growth. We are thrilled to welcome Nick as the founding member of our advisory board and are actively working to bring on additional advisors that mirror our shared commitment to building a healthier, more sustainable future.”
During his most recent five years leading The Giant Co., a major food retailer that includes Giant, Martin’s, Giant Direct, and Giant Heirloom Market, Bertram drove historic omnichannel growth in expanded markets and championed the company’s transformation toward zero-waste by connecting it to the shared purpose of its 37,000 teammates, the release said.
“Working at every level of retail, from part-time stocker to leading a company, has given me a holistic view of the industry and just how pervasive the wasted food problem is — not only for retailers but for our larger world,” Bertram said in the release. “Over the last near-decade of my career, Divert was an incredible partner, and I saw firsthand the real impact their solutions had on our business and the broader industry. It is an honor to serve as an advisor as the company accelerates its mission to protect the value of food.”
Prior to The Giant Co., Bertram held a variety of other senior leadership positions while at Ahold Delhaize spanning commercial integration, merchandising, store strategy and sales development. Bertram also previously led retail operations for Chicago’s Jewel-Osco, now part of Albertsons Cos. Inc., which followed his nearly 12 years of leadership roles at Walmart Inc., the release said.
The new advisory board will serve as a guidepost as Divert continues its rapid expansion across the U.S., and its members will focus on corporate strategy, product development, marketing activities, research and evaluation of results, among other responsibilities, according to the release. Divert experienced significant business growth in 2022, expanding its retail customer base by nearly 35% to now include nearly 5,400 retail stores.
