Earth Fare Names Frank Scorpiniti President/CEO

Natural and organic food retailer Earth Fare appointed Frank Scorpiniti its new CEO last October. The company's previous CEO, Jack Murphy, took the helm at New York-based Fairway Market in September 2014.

Scorpiniti's arrival coincides with a period of rapid growth for the Asheville, N.C.-based grocery chain, which plans to add more than a half-dozen stores this year, including its first Atlanta-area location, set to open at the Peachtree Corners development in Norcross, Ga., on Jan. 15.

Before joining Earth Fare, Scorpiniti was CEO of Katz Group Canada Ltd/Rexall/Rexall Pharma Plus. He joined the Mississauga, Ontario-based drug store company as COO in 2011 and was promoted to CEO the following year. Scorpiniti began his retail career in store operations at Long's Drugs in his native California in 1986, rising through the ranks there before joining New York-based Duane Reade in 2008 as SVP of pharmacy operations.

At both Duane Reade and Katz Group Canada Ltd./Rexall/Rexall Pharma Plus, Scorpiniti played a key role in repositioning the companies with a strong emphasis on health and wellness.

"I strongly believe that a retailer has to live its brand values and principles in how it operates and engages with its customers, something that Earth Fare already exemplifies," noted Scorpiniti, who added that his efforts would include "helping an already vibrant company reach its full potential."

Earth Fare operates 33 stores throughout the midwestern and southeastern United States.