Houchens Food Group, which operates about 20 Crossroads IGA and Express convenience stores across Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, has named Greg Rush as president, the company announced this week.
Rush, who has held several roles with Houchens since 2009, had been the company’s chief marketing officer and vice president of merchandising since 2021. According to his LinkedIn bio, other positions he’s held with Houchens have included convenience category manager, merchandising manager and director of merchandising.
“Greg is an industry veteran and very deserving of this promotion,” Dion Houchins, CEO and chairman of Houchens, said in the announcement. “I look forward to working closely with Greg and I know he will do a terrific job leading this proud company.”
Craig Knies, Houchens’ VP of retail operations, North division, will replace Rush in the CMO role and also take over as senior vice president of merchandising, according to the announcement. Knies has spent the past 16 years with Houchens in roles across operations, sales and merchandising, according to the announcement.
“We are fortunate to have an experienced, industry veteran such as Craig to fill this very important role,” Houchins said.
Houchens opened its first Crossroads IGA convenience store in 2005, and now operates 17 locations across three states, according to the company’s website. Every Crossroads IGA includes a fuel station, a quick-service restaurant and a small grocery market that features fresh food, meats, deli items and other essentials.
In 2021, Houchens opened a Crossroads Express convenience store in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Unlike the IGA locations, this store only features hot and iced coffee, grab-and-go meals and fresh fruit. It also offers electric vehicle charging.
Houchens Food Group is one of the largest 100% employee-owned independent retailers in the nation, operating more than 400 convenience, retail grocery and hardware stores and quick-service restaurants across 15 states. It’s a subsidiary of Bowling Green-based Houchens Industries.
