Full Name
Mary Ellen Adcock
Job Title
SVP, Retail Operations
Company Name
The Kroger Co.
Speaker Bio
Responsibilities
Mary Ellen serves as a senior vice president of Operations for the Kroger Co. In this role, she has P&L responsibility for all 22 retail business units including all 2,800 stores. She leads all aspects of the store operations – including improving the customer experience for 11 million customers daily and the associate experience for over 450,000 associates across 35 states. She drives strategy and innovation, for store and e commerce operations, while maintaining food safety and compliance standards. She also leads asset protection, process change, productivity improvement and sustainability initiatives.
Experience
Mary Ellen joined Kroger in 1999 in the Manufacturing Division. She held several manufacturing leadership positions, including Human Resources Manager, general manager, and Regional Operations manager. She was promoted to vice president of Deli/Bakery Manufacturing in 2009. In 2012, she was promoted to vice president of Natural Foods and in 2014 to vice president of Merchandising and Operations for the Columbus Division. Mary Ellen was promoted to group vice president of Retail Operations in 2016, senior vice president of Retail Operations in 2019 and was named to her current role in 2021.
Recognition
Mary Ellen has been recognized numerous times for her leadership in the grocery industry, including Top Women In Grocery Trailblazer in 2022. She is a member of the board of trustees for the Cincinnati Museum Center and Mount St. Joesph University. Mary Ellen previously served on the board of directors for the American Bakers Association.
Education
Mary Ellen graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Human and Organizational Development & Business Administration. She earned her MBA from University of Colorado.
Personal
She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and son.
Mary Ellen serves as a senior vice president of Operations for the Kroger Co. In this role, she has P&L responsibility for all 22 retail business units including all 2,800 stores. She leads all aspects of the store operations – including improving the customer experience for 11 million customers daily and the associate experience for over 450,000 associates across 35 states. She drives strategy and innovation, for store and e commerce operations, while maintaining food safety and compliance standards. She also leads asset protection, process change, productivity improvement and sustainability initiatives.
Experience
Mary Ellen joined Kroger in 1999 in the Manufacturing Division. She held several manufacturing leadership positions, including Human Resources Manager, general manager, and Regional Operations manager. She was promoted to vice president of Deli/Bakery Manufacturing in 2009. In 2012, she was promoted to vice president of Natural Foods and in 2014 to vice president of Merchandising and Operations for the Columbus Division. Mary Ellen was promoted to group vice president of Retail Operations in 2016, senior vice president of Retail Operations in 2019 and was named to her current role in 2021.
Recognition
Mary Ellen has been recognized numerous times for her leadership in the grocery industry, including Top Women In Grocery Trailblazer in 2022. She is a member of the board of trustees for the Cincinnati Museum Center and Mount St. Joesph University. Mary Ellen previously served on the board of directors for the American Bakers Association.
Education
Mary Ellen graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Human and Organizational Development & Business Administration. She earned her MBA from University of Colorado.
Personal
She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and son.
Speaking At
