King Kullen has promoted three veteran executives who have more than 100 combined years of experience working for the Bethpage, NY retailer.
Joseph W. Brown has been elevated to executive VP of the Long Island merchant. He began his career at King Kullen as a teenager 47 years ago and most recently served as senior VP-chief merchandising officer. In his expanded role, Brown will assume greater responsibility in corporate leadership, strategic planning and maximizing operational performance. He will remain president of Wild by Nature, the family-owned retailer’s five-store natural and organics subsidiary.
Bernard P. Kennedy, who is a third-generation member of King Kullen’s original family and whose father Bernard D. Kennedy served as co-chairman until his death in 2018, has been elected senior VP-corporate and legal affairs. Kennedy is also a co-managing member of law firm Bond, Schoeneck & Kings. He has been King Kullen’s general counsel for more than 20 years. In his new post, Kennedy will help guide corporate strategy and development as well as oversee corporate real estate and legal issues. His brother J. Donald Kennedy is King Kullen’s current co-president (along with Brian Cullen).
Thirty-five-year King Kullen veteran Michael Simco has been promoted to VP-administration and benefits. He most recently served as director of corporate payroll and benefits. In his new position, Simco will assume greater responsibility for the regional chain’s insurance and benefits management.
King Kullen, founded in 1930 and generally considered America’s first supermarket, currently ranks fifth among all food and drug retailers on Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties) with estimated annual sales of $655 million and a 6.25 percent share of “The Island’s” $10.5 billion food and drug pie. In addition to the five Wild by Nature stores, the company operates 29 conventional King Kullen supermarkets.
In January 2019, King Kullen agreed to be acquired by Ahold Delhaize USA’s Stop & Shop unit. That tentative deal lingered for 18 months before being terminated in June 2020.
