Stater Bros. Markets reorganizes top leadership roles, names new CEO
Stater Bros. Markets has appointed a new CEO to lead the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California.
The company announced that current President and Chief Operating Officer Greg McNiff has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. President/CEO and Chairman of the Board Pete Van Helden will remain with the company in the role of Executive Chairman of the Board.
The appointments will be effective Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, with all functional areas of the company reporting to McNiff, company officials stated.
“I’ve worked with Greg for many years, and due to his industry knowledge and fit in Stater Bros.’s culture, I can’t think of a better leader for the company’s day-to-day operations into the future,” said Van Helden. “While I’ll be stepping back from the company’s everyday operations, I’ll maintain an active role in the company as Executive Chairman while Greg continues to build on the strong foundation that we helped establish together.”
McNiff, a 44-year veteran of the supermarket industry, has spent 33 years of his grocery career in Southern California.
He began in 1981 as a courtesy clerk at Albertsons, and served in a variety of leadership roles encompassing a wide range of operational responsibilities, including integration, marketing and merchandising, company officials said.
In 2016, McNiff advanced to division president of Albertson’s Portland Division. In 2019, he joined Stater Bros. as its president, and in 2022, added the role of Chief Operating Officer.
McNiff holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from California Coast University and is a graduate of the USC Food Industry Executive Program. He is a past president of the Western Association of Food Chains, and currently serves on its Executive Board.
In addition, McNiff was the 2019 recipient of The Illuminators Torch Award for his support of advancing education in the food industry and currently serves as president of the Food Industry Circle for City of Hope.
Van Helden joined Stater Bros. Markets as president and chief operating officer in 2013. In 2016, he was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer by Stater Bros.’ late Executive Chairman, Jack H. Brown.
In 2022, Van Helden was elevated to Chairman of the Board. He will continue as CEO of Stater Bros. Charities, the company’s philanthropic arm.
In the High Desert, Stater Bros. stores are located in Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Phelan and Victorville.
Stater Bros. Markets
Beginning as a small grocery store in Yucaipa, twin brothers and World War II veterans Cleo and Leo Stater purchased the original Stater Bros. Market from W.A. Davis with a $600 down payment.
In the midst of the Great Depression, Stater Bros. officially opened for business on Aug. 17, 1936.
Headquartered in San Bernardino, Stater Bros. Markets will celebrate its 90th year of serving Southern California in 2026.
Today, Stater Bros. operates 167 supermarkets in seven counties throughout the area, and has approximately 18,000 employees with annual sales of over $4 billion.
For more information, visit staterbros.com.
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