Former 7-Eleven leader joins SpartanNash as VP of c-stores and fuel centers

Dive Brief:

• Food retailer and distributor SpartanNash has named Ryan Speakes vice president of fuel center and convenience stores, effective immediately, according to a Monday announcement.
• Speakes, who previously spent over 15 years with Speedway and 7-Eleven, will oversee SpartanNash’s 37 fuel centers, most of which include a c-store and are co-located with one of the company’s grocery stores, according to the announcement.
• Hiring Speakes underscores SpartanNash’s increasing focus on c-stores, as the company “sees tremendous opportunity to bring new innovations to this segment” of its retail business, Tom Swanson, executive vice president of corporate retail, said in the announcement.

Dive Insight:

SpartanNash’s focus on fuel and c-store operations comes during a transitional period for the company. Last November, it announced the consolidation of its 10 retail banners to four brands by late 2024, as well as plans to merge its food distribution and military businesses under one group. 

The plans note that Family Fare will make up SpartanNash’s mass market stores, its Martin’s and D&W brands will comprise its upmarket locations, and its ethnic stores will carry the Supermercado brand.

Beyond providing leadership, strategic direction and operations plans for these c-stores, Speakes will also manage “the rising cost of fuel for consumers,” according to the announcement.

“Having served in a variety of leadership positions in the fuel center and c-store industry, Ryan brings valuable expertise that we are excited to tap into at SpartanNash,” Swanson said in the announcement.

According to his LinkedIn bio, Speakes first joined Speedway in 2006 as a field merchandising intern. Over the next 15 years, he worked his way up at the company, eventually becoming region manager for Lansing, Michigan, and Dayton, Ohio. He took on his most recent role of market leader for 7-Eleven in May 2021, which coincided with the Irving, Texas-based retailer closing on its $21 billion acquisition of Speedway.

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash operates about 150 corporate-owned grocery stores in nine states and distributes to more than 2,100 independent locations throughout the U.S.