Food City recently named Tripp Ward to serve in the newly created role of real estate development manager for the company’s Chattanooga operating division. Ward brings over 21 years of experience in the real estate industry to this key position, including commercial and residential real estate sales, marketing, management, and development. 

“Our company has been very blessed to have experienced a significant amount of growth over the past several years. Chattanooga and the surrounding regions of middle and east Tennessee, northeast Alabama, and northern Georgia are all areas where we intend to continue expanding. Tripp’s education, experience, and local knowledge will be a valuable addition to our Real Estate and Site Development Department and we’re very excited to welcome him to our Food City team,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer. 

Throughout his career, Ward has served in a number of real estate roles, including vice president/owner/realtor, vice president of investment sales, and director of real estate. Most recently, he acted as a real estate development consultant specializing in retail development projects. He also served as a part-time instructor of management for Dalton State College (Wright School of Business).

In his new role, Ward will be responsible for aiding with the oversight of Food City’s retail development projects, including market analysis, site selection, incentives and entitlements, financial analysis, and civil development. He will also support the Real Estate & Site Development Department with the day-to-day administration of the company’s diverse real estate portfolio. 

“I am delighted to join the Food City team in the new role of Real Estate Development Manager. It is exciting to be a part of a community-oriented company with plans to continue to grow and expand. I look forward to working with the dynamic Real Estate team and company leadership to assist with facilitating their growth strategy,” says Ward.

Ward is an active member of his local community, having served on the board of directors for Friendship House and the Dalton Education Foundation (President). He served as Commercial Committee Chairman of the Carpet Capital Association of REALTORS, President of the Gordon Association of REALTORS and Bear Paw Trees HOA and is a past member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS. Ward also served on the United Way of Northwest Georgia Marketing Committee, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Buddy Program, and Thrive 2055 – Places Working Group. He is a member of the Auburn University Master of Real Estate Development Alumni Council, Urban Land Institute, International Council of Shopping Centers, and is also a Certified Commercial Investment Member Candidate. 

Ward holds a Master of Real Estate Development degree from Auburn University, Bachelor of Science in Textile Management from Clemson University, and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member Candidate.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 149 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.