Jay White Heads Flagship Store for Southern Season
Dave Herman, president of Southern Season, announced today that long-term Southern Season veteran Jay White has been appointed as vice president and general manager of the company’s flagship store in Chapel Hill.
White joined Southern Season in 1994 as one of the floor managers and quickly became the face of the store. After Southern Season was acquired in 2011, White worked with the new leadership in a senior corporate role and headed the new store development team where he opened the Charleston, S.C., store in September 2013 and is leading the team that is opening the Richmond, Va., store in July 2014.
“As we continue expanding throughout the Southeast, it is important that we never lose focus on the Chapel Hill store and its culture and traditions,” said Herman. “All of our long term customers will be thrilled to see Jay again, and our new customers will soon learn why he is the face of Southern Season.”
“We are fortunate to have a number of long-term employees and managers at Southern Season, and Jay is the dean of this group. He is dedicated to customer service, has a passion for our products and traditions and is one of the many reasons Southern Season has such a loyal customer base,” said Clay Hamner, CEO.
In addition to his role as general manager, Jay heads the Share the Food Foundation as well as the local community outreach program for non-profits and, along with Liz Cooper, hosts the weekly radio show, Side Dish, on Chapel Hill’s WCHL—97.9 FM.
“Southern Season is truly a retail experience unlike any other,” said White. “Built on a foundation of passionate and knowledgeable service, great staff and unparalleled products and offerings, we also know our customers are one of the most essential parts of who we are. I am excited to return as the general manager of Southern Season’s flagship store and look forward to seeing my many friends and meeting new ones as they experience what makes us the premier gourmet marketplace in North Carolina.
About Southern Season
Southern Season is a gourmet food and entertaining retailer that offers the ultimate culinary experience throughout its store, restaurant, and cooking school. Our customers enjoy learning and interacting with our knowledgeable sales associates, tastings of an incredible array of products and our cooking school. Through demonstrations and hands-on opportunities, our experts work together to “educate, excite, and entertain” locals and visitors alike. The flagship store, located in Chapel Hill, N.C., has been in operation since 1975, the Charleston, S.C. store opened in September 2013 at 730 Coleman Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and the Richmond store will open in July 2014. The Company has plans to open stores in Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville and Washington DC. For more information please visit www.southernseason.com
