Can Randall Onstead Fix Dominick’s?
By George Anderson
According to a report by Crain’s Chicago Business, “Safeway has hired R. Randall Onstead Jr., previously CEO and part-owner of a Texas-based grocery chain that sold out
to Safeway in 1999, to oversee an effort to repair Dominick’s.”
Mr. Onstead has his work cut out for him. The chain has continued to lose market share since Safeway purchased it from Yucaipa and labor problems led it to put the chain up for
sale about a year ago.
The Crain’s piece said Mr. Onstead was facing an uphill battle in turning Dominick’s around. He will have to reestablish the chain’s reputation in the market and win back
customers. He will also have to deal with a contentious labor situation, something he never had to do in Texas.
Moderator’s Comment: What are your thoughts on Randall Onstead being chosen by Safeway to turn Dominick’s around? What will he need to do if he is to
accomplish this task?
There’s no question that Randall Onstead knows grocery retailing. He is also one of the most genuine people we’ve had the pleasure to meet in all our years
in the business. He’s the right person for this very big job. [George
Anderson – Moderator]