SACRAMENTO, CA - As Michael Teel, Owner and CEO of Raley’s, continues to push healthy food choices, he has announced he will step down as President to further focus on the cause.

Teel stated he expects to focus "more on where we are going in the future and how we can realize our vision and purpose."

"I am committed to continuing to build on our strong culture, and to support the passion our people have to infuse life with health and happiness by changing the way our customers eat, one plate at a time," the executive commented in a prepared statement, according to the Sacramento Bee.

In his stead, the retailer’s Chief Operating Officer Keith Knopf has been named as the new President. Additionally, the company’s Senior VP of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Mark Foley, was promoted to Chief People Officer.

Knopf, who joined the team just after Teel acquired majority ownership of Raley's in 2015, steps in to lead a chain of about 5,600 workers and 121 stores under four brands:

• Raley's
• Bel Air Markets
• Nob Hill Foods
• Food Source

With $3.1 billion in annual revenue, the report noted that the retailer is the California capital’s fourth-largest private company and the fifth-largest private-sector employer in the region.

As the company’s Owner and CEO looks to further promote healthy foods, what strategies might this latest move yield for produce in the retail sector? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated on all the latest.

Raley's