Heritage Grocers Group Reshapes Leadership Team to Support Growth

Heritage Grocers Group has announced a series of executive appointments and internal promotions designed to strengthen operations across its portfolio of Hispanic and ethnic grocery banners.

The changes include new leadership roles overseeing merchandising, logistics, technology, customer experience and people operations, along with new division presidents for several of the company’s supermarket banners.

Ryan Adams has been named division president of Cardenas Markets and Los Altos Ranch Market, while Jay Sharrock will serve as division president of El Rancho Supermercado. The company said the appointments are intended to keep leadership closely connected to individual banners while supporting broader growth across the organization.

Heritage Grocers Group also promoted Vince Gambino to chief merchandising officer, where he will oversee product assortment, sourcing and vendor partnerships across the company. Adrian Castañeda has been named chief logistics officer and will lead transportation, distribution and supply-chain operations.

Other appointments include Maria McDonald as chief people officer, Adam Salgado as chief experience officer and Gil Salazar as chief information officer.

“We are pleased to announce these leadership appointments and recognize team members who have grown with HGG and taken on expanded responsibilities,” said David Hinojosa, CEO of Heritage Grocers Group.

The changes follow Hinojosa’s appointment as CEO earlier this year and reflect the company’s strategy of giving each banner greater operational focus while maintaining shared resources and expertise at the corporate level.

For produce suppliers, the merchandising and logistics appointments are particularly notable. Heritage Grocers Group has long emphasized fresh foods across its banners, which include Cardenas Markets, El Rancho Supermercado, Los Altos Ranch Market and Tony’s Fresh Market. The company has said fresh food leadership remains a key part of its broader growth strategy.

Gambino’s expanded responsibilities will include supplier relationships and sourcing, while Castañeda’s role places him in charge of the distribution infrastructure needed to move fresh and perishable products efficiently throughout the store network.

Heritage currently operates 58 Cardenas Markets locations, 29 El Rancho Supermercado stores and 22 Tony’s Fresh Market locations, along with its Los Altos Ranch Market banner.

The leadership restructuring comes as ethnic and Hispanic grocery formats continue competing aggressively on fresh produce, meat and prepared foods—categories that often serve as major points of differentiation for their shoppers.

By expanding leadership across merchandising, logistics and individual banners, Heritage is positioning its organization to support additional growth while preserving the local market focus that has helped define its supermarket brands.