Don Clark: The New Gatekeeper at Sprouts
In today’s grocery landscape, earning shelf space at Sprouts Farmers Market is more than a distribution win; it’s often a signal to the rest of the industry that a brand is preparing for takeoff. Don Clark now calls the countdown. Appointed chief merchandising officer earlier this year, Clark now oversees buying decisions across one of grocery’s fastest-growing specialty chains, putting him in a position to influence which brands become the next breakout success stories. Clark has seen the industry from nearly every angle – leading merchandising at Giant Eagle, shaping assortments at Whole Foods and even running baby food startup Cerebelly. That mix of retailer, operator and brand-builder experience gives him a perspective few merchants possess. As Sprouts continues to position itself as the destination for innovative, health-forward products, Clark’s decisions will help determine which emerging brands make the leap from niche favorite to national player.