LOS ANGELES — Daniel J. Murphy, senior vice president, retail support services, Unified Western Grocers, Inc., was recently assigned the additional responsibilities of overseeing the company's meat and service deli departments in California, along with perishables in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington) and the company's store supplies program. 

The announcement was made March 18, 2003 by Alfred A, Plamann, Unified's president and chief executive officer.  As a result of his new responsibilities, Murphy's title will change to senior vice president, perishables and retail services.

Murphy, a grocery industry veteran with more than 20 years of procurement, merchandising and retail operations experience, joined Unified in late 2000 as senior vice president, retail support services.  In addition to his new responsibilities, Murphy will continue to oversee the development and introduction of programs that are designed to help Unified's member retailers maximize sales and increase efficiencies.

"The combination of Dan's retail experience and the strong meat and perishables management team that we already have in place in each of our three regions will pay tremendous dividends for our company," said Plamann.  "I am confident that Dan and his team will take us to a new level of success in all of these areas."

Murphy came to Unified from HomeGrocer.com where he served as vice president, merchandising.  Prior to that, he was vice president, sales and merchandising, ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc., a chain of more than 60 stores on the East Coast operated by Wakefern Food Corp.