Safeway, Inc. has named Kelly Griffith to the newly created position of president, merchandising. Griffith will report to EVP and chief marketing officer Diane Dietz. In his new role, Griffith will oversee the grocer’s entire perishable and nonperishable business units, encompassing grocery, general merchandise, produce, meat, seafood, bakery, food service and floral.

Griffith joined Safeway 30 years ago in the company’s Seattle division. Following a number retail store management assignments, he became part of the corporate retail operations team in 1999 and was elected VP the next year. He rose to VP, retail operations in the Seattle division in 2001, and three years later returned to the corporate office as SVP, produce and floral. Griffith then became president of the company’s Portland division in 2005, but once again took a corporate position in 2008 as president and general manager, perishables.

“Kelly has a proven track record of successes and is an energetic and effective leader who understands the needs of our customers and how to achieve positive results,” said Dietz, adding that the new post “will produce greater synergies between Safeway’s perishables and nonperishables teams, and will serve to enhance and strengthen the company’s overall centralized merchandising function.”

Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway operates 1,712 stores in the United States and Canada.