Jewel-Osco president retires after long career

Thomas Lofland has retired less than a year after assuming leadership of the Jewel-Osco banner, the grocery chain’s parent company Albertsons confirmed. The grocer announced the change on Thursday, noting that Lofland’s departure marks the end of a 35-plus-year career with the company. Jewel-Osco highlighted Lofland’s tenure in a statement released on LinkedIn, stating that “Throughout his career, he led with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to people, helping drive growth, innovation, and operational excellence across multiple divisions and thousands of associates.”

New regional structure at Albertsons

Albertsons announced the change on Thursday, noting that Lofland’s departure marks the end of a 35-plus-year career with the company. The grocer posted the news on its LinkedIn page. Lofland was named to the Jewel-Osco presidency during an executive shuffle in August 2025, a move intended to support the company’s new merchandising strategy. He succeeded Mark Laryea, who was promoted to president of merchandising for Albertsons.

The timing of Lofland’s exit is notable because it comes just one day after Albertsons unveiled a broader restructuring plan. The parent company adopted a new regional operating model that consolidates 11 existing divisions into four regions. The move also centralizes center store merchandising. This structural change reflects a significant shift in how Albertsons plans to organize its vast network of stores.

Related: Albertsons Shakes Up Leadership Amid Weak Quarter

The company also revealed that its president and CFO, Sharon McCollam, plans to step down later this year. She expects to step down later this year, but will remain in her role until a successor is named. She will then serve in an advisory role with Albertsons until its fiscal year ends in late February. While the company emphasized Lofland’s long history with the organization, his brief tenure at Jewel-Osco raises questions about the stability of leadership as Albertsons undergoes this significant operational overhaul.

Before taking the helm at Jewel-Osco, Lofland served as president of the Mid-Atlantic Division. His previous experience includes roles as senior vice president of merchandising and marketing, president of the Eastern Division, and vice president of merchandising and marketing for Safeway’s Eastern Division. His career began at Albertsons in 1990.

Career at Albertsons

The rapid turnover in top executive roles suggests that the new regional model may be intended to streamline decision-making and reduce the friction that often comes with managing a sprawling, multi-division grocery empire. By narrowing the focus to four regions, the company is effectively flattening its management hierarchy, a structural change that usually requires new leadership to execute properly. The search for a new president will likely begin immediately, though the company has not announced a timeline for a replacement.