Peapod founder named president
Change of management at US home shopping business
Ahold has appointed Andrew Parkinson as president of its Peapod subsidiary, the leading internet grocer in the US.
Parkinson, together with his brother Thomas, founded Peapod in 1989 and pioneered the online grocery delivery concept. The business was later sold to Holland-based Ahold, the world’s third biggest retail group. Most recently. Parkinson was Peapod’s chief financial officer.
Parkinson replaces former president and CEO Marc van Gelder, who is returning to the Netherlands to join the executive board of OPG Group, a pharmacy and medical supply retail and distribution company.
Bill Grize, president and CEO of Ahold US Retail, said: “Ahold intends to grow its online grocery business and offer customers another convenient way to shop.
“We want to thank Marc van Gelder for his leadership in developing and executing Ahold’s bricks and clicks strategy which resulted in the doubling of Peapod sales. We are excited to have Andrew Parkinson leading us forward. His passion for excellence and commitment to the business are the right ingredients for Peapod’s continued success.”
Parkinson said: “This is an exciting point in our history. We’ve proven ourselves with exceptional quality and service and, as a result, we are growing over 20 per cent a year.” Peapod has enteretd four new US markets in 2004.
