Associated Food Stores has announced Brian Golliet as a new category manager, where he will oversee direct store delivery categories, commonly known as DSD.
Brian brings nearly 30 years of grocery industry experience to the role, having worked in several stores, departments and leadership positions before joining the corporate team.
“I started nearly 30 years ago with Albertsons as a bagger,” Brian said. “Over the years, I had the opportunity to work in multiple departments, which gave me a well-rounded understanding of store operations from the ground up.”
That path included time in seafood, where he learned to cut meat, and later a move into a full-time meat cutter role. Over 11 years in the meat department, Brian worked in three different stores and served as meat manager in two of them.
Ready for a new challenge, he transitioned into center store as a grocery manager. When AFS acquired Albertsons, Brian continued in that role and was later transferred to another store. In 2013, he was promoted to assistant store director, and in 2017, he advanced to store director.
Since then, Brian has led five different locations, including one of the top-performing ARO stores, helped open a new store and built strong relationships across the organization.
“All of my roles have prepared me for this position,” Brian said. “Each one provided lessons that built on the last and helped me understand how processes, procedures and teams work together to support retailers and customers.”
In his new role, Brian will focus on ensuring DSD categories are positioned for success through product selection, pricing, promotions and collaboration with vendors and internal teams.
“The goal is to make it easier for stores to win by offering the right items at the right value for customers,” he said.
Brian said the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of the grocery industry continues to motivate him, along with the ability to see decisions take effect quickly in stores.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to learn, grow and make an impact in a new way,” he said. “This role allows me to use my store and operational experience to support our stores at a broader level and help shape strategies that drive results.”
His goals for the coming year include learning the role and programs, building strong relationships with team members and vendors, deepening his category knowledge and driving results for stores and customers.
“I’m excited to have Brian as part of the AFS family and excited for his role as DSD category manager,” said Steve Skinner, director of center store. “With nearly 30 years of grocery experience, Brian brings a wealth of knowledge from the store floor. Brian understands operations and has a great deal of passion for helping everyone succeed. He will make a big impact as he works with AFS internal teams and DSD vendors alike to strengthen DSD efforts and his commitment to learning and collaboration is exactly what makes AFS strong. We can’t wait to see the results he delivers.”
Brian credits Associated Food Stores’ focus on independent retailers and strong team culture as key differentiators in the industry.
“The company values collaboration, invests in its people and emphasizes long-term relationships,” he said.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys spending time with his family, which includes four children ranging from nearly 12 to 25 years old. He and his family enjoy camping and four-wheeling, and he also spends time working on vehicle restoration projects with his oldest son, including an old Chevy pickup and a Ford Mustang. His favorite comfort food, he said, is lasagna.
Brian said his advice to those starting their careers at AFS is simple: “Be open to learning from every role and every experience, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or take on new challenges.”