US grocery retailer Albertsons has announced that Pete Van Helden has been named president and CEO of the company’s newly formed California food division.

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The new division combines the former Northern and Southern California Albertson’s food divisions into one single business unit comprising over 500 stores and over 41,000 employees.
 
Van Helden, formerly president of the Jewel-Osco division, has worked for Albertsons for 26 years and has served in a variety of leadership positions. Van Helden will report directly to Larry Johnston, chairman, CEO and president of Albertsons.


The headquarters of the new California food division will be in Fullerton, California. Dave Simonson remains president of the Southern California region and Donna Robbins remains president of the Northern California region. Both will report directly to Van Helden.

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