Stew Leonard’s Announces Key Executive Promotions, Highlighting Next Generation of Family Leadership

 

NORWALK, Conn. – July 23, 2026 — Farm fresh food store Stew Leonard’s today announced key executive promotions across its New York and Connecticut stores. Among the leadership shifts are three grandchildren of founder Stew Leonard, Sr., highlighting the family-owned retailer's focus on internal career growth and next-generation leadership.

 

“Recognizing the hard work and dedication of our team members is core to our family culture, with over 80% of our management team promoted from within,” said Stew Leonard, Jr., President & CEO of Stew Leonard’s. “I know my father would be thrilled to see his grandchildren stepping into key leadership roles as we continue to grow.”

 

The leadership appointments include:

 

Third-Generation Family Promotions

  • Andrew Hollis, Vice President, Stew Leonard’s Danbury: A grandson of founder Stew Leonard, Sr. and a son of Bethy’s Bakery founder Beth Leonard Hollis, Hollis began his career at Stew’s in 2007 as a produce production assistant. He returned to the company in 2020 to launch the Norwalk store’s Instacart curbside pickup service before progressing through store manager, Grocery Department Manager in Yonkers, and Director of Sales positions. Hollis also co-hosts the company’s LegenDAIRY

 

  • Chase Leonard, Director of Brand & Creative Strategy: A granddaughter of the founder, Leonard leads brand, digital, and experiential strategy across all retail channels. Her visual storytelling and marketing campaigns have supported over $450 million in sales, produced the store’s top three most viral videos (surpassing 100 million views), and generated over $1.5 million through custom product lines.

 

  • Sarah Hollis Leclerc, General Manager, Stew’s Direct: A granddaughter of the founder and daughter of Bethy’s Bakery founder Beth Leonard Hollis, Leclerc oversees the strategy and expansion of the company’s e-commerce gifting division. Joining Stew’s following a career in CPG marketing as Brand Manager for at the Campbell Soup Company, she holds an MBA from Northeastern University and has driven significant revenue growth since relaunching the gift business.

 

Key Operations & Purchasing Promotions

  • Jamie DiStefano, Head Meat Buyer: A 34-year veteran of Stew Leonard’s who began in the Norwalk store’s Garden Shop in 1992, DiStefano succeeds his longtime mentor, Mike Derivan, who is retiring in early 2027. DiStefano previously served as Vice President of the Danbury store and will now manage $100 million in annual meat and poultry purchasing across all eight locations.

 

  • Joe Vota, Vice President, Stew Leonard’s in Newington: A 38-year veteran of Stew Leonard’s, Vota started as a high school bagger in 1988 at the Norwalk store before rising through leadership roles across store operations, security, and sales. He previously served as Vice President of the East Meadow location and helped open the Farmingdale store before returning to Connecticut to lead the Newington store as Vice President.

 

  • Carl Danielson, Vice President, Stew Leonard’s East Meadow: Starting as a bakery production assistant in 2003, Danielson rose through department leadership and store management roles, serving on the grand opening teams for both Long Island locations before being named Vice President of the East Meadow store.

 

  • Kerri Lawson, Director of Operations & Sales, Stew Leonard’s East Meadow: Lawson joined Stew’s in 2016 as a seasonal cashier and advanced through roles as Front End Supervisor, Store Manager, and Fresh Food Manager for both Deli and Seafood before taking charge of storewide operations and customer experience in East Meadow.

 

  • Ryan Collazo, Food Safety Coordinator: Having first joined Stew’s in 2011, working his way up through the Ice Cream Department to Store Manager, and returning in 2024, Collazo draws on his store management and logistics background to help manage food safety, sanitation, and compliance operations chain-wide.

 

 

About Stew Leonard’s Founded as a dairy store in 1969, Stew Leonard’s has grown to become a beloved regional farm fresh food retailer with eight store locations across Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Renowned as the “Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by The New York Times, Stew Leonard’s is famous for its customer-first philosophy, interactive store environment, and family-friendly atmosphere. For more information, visit www.stewleonards.com.

 

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