The Giant Co. appoints new VPs

The Giant Co. has named Brian Lorenz as vice president of omnichannel fresh merchandising and Kathy Sweigert as vice president of the mid-Atlantic division, both effective Nov. 27.

Lorenz will report directly to company President John Ruane, while Sweigert will report directly to Dave Lessard, senior vice president of operations, customer experience and perishable distribution, according to a news release.

“Brian and Kathy bring vast experience to our business, with more than 40 years of retail grocery experience between them and have a strong understanding and appreciation of the needs of our team, customers, and the communities we serve,” Ruane said in the release. “I am excited to see them grow in their new roles and continue to contribute to The Giant Co. in meaningful ways.”

In the new roles, Lorenz will lead omnichannel fresh merchandising, including the produce/floral, meat/seafood and deli/bakery departments, while Sweigert will oversee retail operations at 100 Giant and Martin’s stores across central and western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the release.

Lorenz joined The Giant Co. in 2014 as district director. He has held a variety of positions across the Ahold Delhaize USA family of companies, including district director and portfolio lead. Most recently, Lorenz served as category director, bakery/deli, a position he has held since 2018. Prior to joining The Giant Co., he held a variety of positions at Walmart and Tops Friendly Markets, according to the release.

The Giant Co. said Lorenz received its highest honor, the Presidents’ Award, in 2023 for consistently delivering exceptional performance, contributing to the organization’s success in countless ways, being a role model for the company’s values and bringing its purpose to life in all that they do.

He currently serves as the co-chair of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, according to the release. Lorenz is a graduate of Youngstown State University.

In 2018, Sweigert was honored by FMI — The Food Industry Association as Store Manager of the Year and was recognized by the YWCA of Harrisburg (Pa.) as a “Woman of Excellence” for her professional and philanthropic contributions to the Capital Region in 2017. She also received Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery Award in 2016 and 2022.

Sweigert serves on the board of directors for the Blair County Action Program, according to the release. She previously served as the executive adviser for The Giant Co.’s CARE business resource group and is also a member of the company’s LINC business resource group.