Grocers conglomerate, Heritage, names new Chief Administrative Officer
In a significant move for Heritage Grocers Group (HGG), Suzy Monford, the new CEO of the company, has announced the appointment of Leticia G. Espinoza as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). This news was shared in an interview with Progressive Grocer.
Leticia Espinoza, a recognised figure in the grocery industry, has been serving as the Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer at HGG. Her new role includes overseeing real estate, loss prevention, corporate affairs, communications, legal, risk management, and human resources across all Heritage banner companies.
Espinoza brings over 25 years of legal experience to her new position, with more than two decades in executive in-house roles for both publicly traded and privately owned organizations. She joined HGG in 2019 as general counsel and corporate secretary for the Cardenas Markets banner. In 2021, she was promoted to Chief Legal Officer at Cardenas Markets.
Under Espinoza's leadership, HGG has been associating itself with tech-forward solutions such as Instacart, Caper, and RELEX, defining what it means to be a modern Hispanic grocer. This focus on innovation is reflected in HGG's ranking on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer's 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, where the company is ranked No. 70.
In her new role, Espinoza will report directly to HGG Chairman and CEO Suzy Monford. This appointment is a recognition of Espinoza's exceptional leadership and contributions to the organization. She is also involved in the company’s philanthropic initiatives through the Heritage Grocers Giving Foundation, which supports various community programs.
In addition to Espinoza's appointment, HGG has also promoted Kim Cates to group VP of merchandising and Allison Garcia to group VP of marketing. Matthew Holt has been named as the new CFO of Heritage Grocers Group, succeeding Darren Karst who has retired.
HGG operates in six states - California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois - with a total of 57 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, 29 stores under the El Rancho Supermercado banner, 21 stores under Tony's Fresh Market banner, and seven stores under the Los Altos Ranch Market banner.
Leticia G. Espinoza earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School. She is also recognised as one of Progressive Grocer's 2025 Top Women in Grocery, highlighting her prominence in the industry. Espinoza also serves on the board of directors for several foundations, including the Cardenas Markets Foundation, the Heritage Grocers Group Foundation, Manos y Corazones Unidos Foundation, Olive Crest Roundtable, and the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.
The new appointments and promotions at HGG signal a period of growth and innovation for the company, as it continues to expand its presence and offer tech-forward solutions to its customers.
Financing the next phase of expansion for Heritage Grocers Group (HGG), the newly appointed Chief Administrative Officer Leticia G. Espinoza will oversee various departments that contribute to business growth, including real estate, loss prevention, corporate affairs, communications, legal, risk management, and human resources.
In addition to the tech-forward solutions HGG has been associating with, such as Instacart, Caper, and RELEX, these business and retail strategies are also reflected in the company's ranking on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer's 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.
