WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Raley’s Companies has promoted two veteran leaders—Jessica Blakely and Faith Garrard—to senior roles overseeing sales and merchandising.
Blakely has been named Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for Bashas’, where she will lead category management for fresh and center store, vendor relations, data and analytics, pricing, schematics, and merchandising strategy for the Bashas’, Bashas’ Diné, and Food City banners. She will report directly to CEO Keith Knopf.
“Jessica’s strategic insights, deep understanding of our business, and proven leadership make her exceptionally well-suited for this role,” Knopf said. “Her appointment marks a significant step forward as we continue to strengthen our operations and deliver exceptional value to our customers in Arizona and New Mexico.”
Blakely joined The Raley’s Companies in 2014 and has held roles of increasing responsibility in sales, merchandising, and marketing. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Marketing, where she led loyalty, CRM, data analytics, and retail media initiatives under the direction of Chief Customer Officer Deirdre Zimmermann. Earlier in her career, she played a key role in private label development and managed several high-impact product categories.
“I’m honored to step into this new role and grateful for the opportunity to lead such a passionate and talented team,” Blakely said. “Bashas’ Family of Stores has a rich legacy of serving communities across Arizona, and I look forward to building on that foundation by enhancing the in-store experience, deepening our connection with customers, and driving innovation in our merchandising strategy.”
Faith Garrard has been promoted to Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for Raley’s, where she will oversee the company’s merchandising efforts with a focus on operational excellence, innovation, and value. Garrard will continue to report to Paul Gianetto, president of Raley’s Operating Division.
“Faith’s innovative approach, outstanding leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental to Raley’s ongoing success,” said Knopf. “Her dedication to elevating our fresh categories and building strong vendor partnerships has inspired teams across the organization and positioned us for continued growth.”
Garrard is known for championing customer-centric strategies and leading with purpose and integrity. Her work has played a key role in Raley’s mission to “change the way the world eats, one plate at a time.”
“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for the support of such a dedicated team,” Garrard said. “Raley’s has a proud tradition of innovation and customer service, and I look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding experiences and value to our customers.”
The appointments come as The Raley’s Companies continues to expand its presence across the western U.S. and deepen its commitment to delivering fresh, affordable, and community-focused food experiences. The family-owned company, which was founded in 1935, says the promotions demonstrate its commitment to developing internal talent and improving the customer experience across its eight banners: Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill Foods, Raley’s O-N-E Market, Bashas’, Food City, AJ’s Fine Foods, and Bashas’ Diné Market.
