Dive Brief:
- Nouria has hired Joy Almekies as director of fresh food and culinary, according to a Friday announcement from the retailer.
- Almekies will lead Nouria's fresh food and culinary initiatives, “focusing on menu innovation, product quality and consistent execution,” according to the announcement.
- Almekies’ hiring comes as Nouria places more emphasis on its foodservice operations, with the retailer seeing fresh food as central to its future, said Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria, in the announcement.
Dive Insight:
Almekies will work closely with the fresh food and operations team, working to strengthen training and ensure Nouria’s stores are delivering food that meet expectations for taste, freshness and value. The retailer’s fresh food menu includes an array of breakfast items, sandwiches, wraps and pizza, along with Krispy Krunchy Chicken in some locations.
She brings more than 25 years of foodservice experience across convenience retail, menu development, and operations. Her most recent role was senior director of food services with Global Partners, “where her responsibilities included foodservice strategy, profitability, food safety, training and acquisition integration,” according to the announcement.
She has also held roles with distributor J. Polep Distribution Services and former convenience retailer New England Pantry/White Hen Pantry.
"What attracted me to Nouria was its commitment to people and its thoughtful approach to building a lasting food program," Almekies said in the announcement. "Great food starts with a great team, supported by strong training and consistent execution."
