Chief Leads Sweetbay Through Era Of Rising Food Prices, Heated Competition

Mike Vail was a key player in the leadership team that transformed the 105-store Kash n' Karry Food Stores into a more upscale Sweetbay Supermarket for its Belgian owners.

Eight years later as Sweetbay president, he's piloting the Tampa-based chain through an extended economic downturn and aggressive expansion by rivals Publix and Walmart and less pricey newcomers Aldi and Save-A-Lot. All this at a time when consumers balk at paying rising food prices.

Even so, Sweetbay, No. 3 in market share locally at 12 percent, has kept opening two new stores a year. Vail, 48, discussed necessary adjustments while showing off the newest Sweetbay in a rebuilt Publix at 3400 East Lake Road in East Lake Woodlands.

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