Former Safeway Exec to Guide A&P's Private Label Development

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc. names Douglas Palmer, Safeway's former vice president of consumer brands, as vce president of its own brands. Palmer will report directly to SVP of Merchandising and Supply & Logistics Rebecca Philbert, who also earlier joined the Northeast retailer from Safeway. At Safeway, Palmer oversaw the development of the company's brand rationalization and consolidation initiative, the redesign of its store-brand labeling and the introduction of its corporate organic products brand. During his tenure, Safeway's Consumer Brands program received many packaging and product awards for its 'O' Organics, Safeway Select and Eating Right product lines. An industry veteran with more than 20 years of corporate brands experience, Palmer previously served with Ahold USA, Daymon Worldwide, Meijer and Farm Fresh.