Food City recently announced that they have named Brian Raymond to serve as district manager for their Curt’s Ace Hardware division.

“We are excited to welcome Brian to our team. With his extensive retail experience and background, particularly with Ace Corporation, he will be a valuable asset to our company as we continue to grow and expand our Curt’s Ace Hardware family of stores,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.

Brian is a seasoned retail executive with more than 30 years of experience leading multi‑unit operations for top-tier organizations. He has a strong track record of elevating business performance through strategic leadership, behavioral coaching, and talent development, consistently building high‑performing teams and robust leadership pipelines.

Known for his results‑driven mindset, decisive leadership style, and commitment to accountability, Brian has repeatedly delivered exceptional customer experiences while fostering a positive, inclusive culture aligned with company values. He is passionate about inspiring teams, strengthening brand loyalty, and driving sustainable organizational growth.

Brian has served in leadership roles for both regional and national retail chains. Most recently, he served as a district manager for Ace Hardware Corporation, where he partnered closely with independent retailers to assess business needs, identify growth opportunities, and develop actionable strategies to drive sales and profitability. In this role, he coached and advised retailers on maximizing performance through careful evaluation of market conditions, competitive dynamics, and operational effectiveness.

In his new role, Brian will oversee Food City’s division of Curt’s Ace Hardware stores. The company currently operates 15 Curt’s Ace Hardware locations across three states: Prestonsburg, KY; Morristown, Pigeon Forge, Newport, Erwin, Elizabethton, Strawberry Plains, Gray, Piney Flats, and Ocoee, TN; and Bristol, Abingdon, Marion, Galax, and Lebanon, VA. An additional location is scheduled to open in Seymour, TN next Spring.

Ace Hardware offers an extensive selection of premium products, including Benjamin Moore paints, Weber, Recteq, Traeger, and Big Green Egg grills and accessories; a full range of power tools featuring gas and battery-powered equipment from Stihl, EGO, and Milwaukee; as well as YETI gear, hardware, lawn and garden supplies, and a wide variety of home improvement essentials.

Brian earned his Bachelor of Science in political science from Towson State University. He served as an Airman First Class as an Electronic Navigation Technician in the United States Air Force, stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California.

Brian currently resides in Knoxville, TN with his lovely wife, Deborah. They are the proud parents of two children – Jourdan and Amanda.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 162 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama. For information on Food City, visit their website at foodcity.com.