Food solutions company SpartanNash has announced the promotion of Nicole Zube from senior vice president to executive vice president, chief human resources officer. Since joining SpartanNash in September 2022, Zube has played a critical role in advancing the company’s people-first strategy to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
Under Zube’s leadership, SpartanNash achieved its 2023 KPIs for safety and associate retention, performing in the top-quartile among peers with OSHA and reducing turnover by more than 9%. Zube led the creation and launch of the company’s first people philosophy and competencies, which are measurable skills the company uses to help guide candidate interviews, goal setting, professional development, and the overall associate career experience. She has additionally championed enhancements to SpartanNash’s total rewards offering, including pay increases for all entry-level roles in retail and supply chain, expanded bonus program eligibility, a new service rewards program, and a higher discount for the associate stock purchase plan.
Since Zube joined SpartanNash, the company has earned accolades including the Great Place to Work certification, a spot on Newsweek’s America’s Top Workplaces for Diversity 2024 list, and a No. 12 ranking on Indeed’s Top 25 Most Flexible Companies list.
“Nicole’s work to support our family of 17,000 associates has better positioned the company to deliver on our promises of customer-focused innovation,” says Tony Sarsam, SpartanNash’s CEO. “Nicole has driven remarkable, measurable impact that is felt by every individual associate across the organization, and we are proud to recognize her talent, leadership, and passion with this well-deserved promotion.”
Prior to SpartanNash, Zube most recently served as head of HR – U.S. commercial at Kellogg Company. She worked in a variety of human resources roles during her decade-long tenure at Kellogg, including a three-year stint in the United Kingdom, where she was senior HR director, European supply chain and senior HR manager, European talent and diversity. Prior to Kellogg, Zube worked in various HR positions during her eight-year career at Procter & Gamble. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University and her master’s degree from Xavier University.
