On January 8th, 2025, New Seasons Market announced that CEO Nancy Lebold has stepped down from her position. Lebold, a grocery industry veteran, had led the Portland-based company since April 2021.
In response to Lebold’s departure, New Seasons has appointed longtime executive Dave Kauder to oversee day-to-day operations in the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Retail. Kauder, who joined the company in 2016 after an eight-year tenure at Whole Foods Market, will focus on supporting New Seasons’ core business goals, enhancing customer experience, engaging staff, and fostering local partnerships.
The company stated that this leadership transition is part of a broader strategic shift aimed at enhancing long-term growth and success.
This change in leadership occurs amid ongoing labor negotiations between New Seasons Market and the New Seasons Labor Union, which represents approximately 1,150 employees across 11 stores in Portland and Beaverton. The union, formed in 2022, has been engaged in contract discussions with the company, including organizing one-day strikes on November 27th and September 1st, 2024, in response to what they describe as ongoing unfair labor practices.
New Seasons Market, founded in Portland in 2000, operates 21 stores across Oregon and Washington and employs around 2,700 people. The company was acquired in 2019 by Good Food Holdings, a subsidiary of South Korean retail giant Emart.
As the company navigates this leadership transition and ongoing labor discussions, it remains a significant player in the local food ecosystem, known for supporting regional food brands and maintaining loan programs to assist local food producers and farmers.
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