Joseph Kelley

Chief Operating Officer · Associated Wholesale Grocers

Grocery WholesaleKansas City, KS

Chief Operating Officer of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), the largest cooperative food wholesaler in the United States, since 4 May 2026. He joined from Kroger, where he was Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions from May 2025, leading 11 divisions, after running the King Soopers and City Market and Houston divisions. Earlier he was President of Stop & Shop and CEO and President of Marsh Supermarkets.

Last reviewed: Oct 1, 2026

Joseph Kelley

Chief Operating Officer Associated Wholesale Grocers

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

Joseph Kelley is Chief Operating Officer of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), the largest cooperative food wholesaler in the United States, serving independently owned supermarkets. He took the role on 4 May 2026, leading AWG’s merchandising, procurement, distribution, sales, marketing and division support center operations. He joined from Kroger, where he had been Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions since May 2025, overseeing 11 divisions across the central and western United States, after leading its Houston and King Soopers and City Market divisions. Earlier in his career he was President of Stop & Shop and CEO and President of Marsh Supermarkets.

Career Highlights

  • Chief Operating Officer of Associated Wholesale Grocers since 4 May 2026.
  • Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions at Kroger, May 2025 to 2026, leading 11 divisions.
  • President of the King Soopers and City Market division, 2021 to 2025.
  • President of Kroger’s Houston division, 2019 to 2021.
  • Earlier President of Stop & Shop and CEO and President of Marsh Supermarkets.

Professional Journey

Kelley began his career as a deli clerk in Boston. He went on to senior leadership roles at several U.S. grocery chains, including Albertsons, Price Chopper Supermarkets and Bozzuto’s, served as President of Stop & Shop, part of Ahold USA, and as CEO and President of Marsh Supermarkets. He was also principal of Kelley Business Advisors, which advised grocery retailers.

He joined Kroger in 2019 as a vice president on special assignment focused on customer experience, and that May became President of the Houston division. From November 2021 to April 2025 he was President of the King Soopers and City Market division. In May 2025 he was elected Senior Vice President, responsible for several of Kroger’s retail divisions.

In April 2026 Associated Wholesale Grocers announced his appointment as Chief Operating Officer, effective 4 May 2026. AWG serves about 1,100 member companies and 3,500 locations in 33 states from nine division support centers, and reported consolidated sales of $12.2 billion in 2025.

Education

No first-party source read for this profile states his education.