Grocery Outlet Appoints Two Independent Directors with 40 and 30 Years’ Experience
Grocery Outlet added Frances Allen and Felicia Thornton to its board on April 1, 2026, bringing 40 and 30 years of grocery and retail leadership. Their expertise in brand strategy, operations and finance strengthens governance for executing the Company’s strategic growth priorities and enhancing long-term shareholder value.
1. Appointment of Frances Allen and Felicia Thornton to Board
Effective April 1, 2026, Grocery Outlet appointed Frances Allen and Felicia Thornton as independent directors to its Board of Directors, expanding its governance team to support strategic growth and operational excellence.
2. Frances Allen’s Retail Leadership Experience
Frances Allen brings 40 years of experience across restaurant and consumer brands, including roles as President and CEO of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants and Boston Market, Brand President at Jack in the Box, Chief Brand Officer at Denny’s and Chief Marketing Officer at Dunkin’ Donuts, as well as senior positions at Sony Ericsson, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay.
3. Felicia Thornton’s Financial and Grocery Expertise
Felicia Thornton contributes over 30 years in grocery, retail and finance, having served as Chair, CFO and interim CEO at deep discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores, CFO and EVP of Strategy at Albertsons, senior operations roles at Kroger-affiliated chains and executive positions at Market Basket.
4. Impact on Strategic Priorities and Governance
These appointments enhance board oversight with deep expertise in brand strategy, marketing, operational restructuring and opportunistic sourcing to support execution of Grocery Outlet’s strategic growth initiatives and reinforce long-term shareholder value creation.