New York-based specialty food retailer Citarella has appointed grocery industry veteran Rich Durante CEO. In this role, Durante will be in charge of operations, merchandising, and team development for all seven Citarella locations.
“The addition of Rich to our Citarella family will bring a level of leadership experience and expertise in food retail to allow our Citarella stores to continue to grow and operate at the highest level,” said owner and founder Joe Gurrera, in a statement.
Durante brings over 40 years of experience in the food retail industry with a particular focus on the specialty sector to Citarella. Most recently, he served as chief merchandising officer at The Fresh Market, and has held executive positions at AG Supermarket Holdings, Balducci’s Market, and Balducci’s On The Go Cafe.
“Joe Gurrera has built Citarella into an iconic brand with a stellar reputation, and it’s an honor to be a part of the team,” said Durante, in a statement. “From an unparalleled selection of the freshest seafood to renowned prepared foods and specialty items, they’ve got it all, and I’m looking forward to bringing my expertise to the table for the next chapter.”
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Image: Rich Durante