Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118
WASHINGTON, December 12, 2023 — The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), the nation’s leading national nonprofit working to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the U.S., today announced that Walmart’s Melody Richard has joined its board of directors.
As the senior vice president of Pantry for Walmart, Richard plays a critical role in helping to close the hunger gap for individuals and families, ensuring they have access to shelf-stable grocery items to support their nutritional needs. This dedicated effort not only focuses on advancing a safer, healthier, and more efficient consumer food supply, but also on streamlining the journey from the grocery aisle to the kitchen table, making it more efficient for consumers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Melody to our board,” said Luis Guardia, president of FRAC. “Her dedication to improving families’ access to healthy foods, makes her a valuable addition to our board as we work to improve equitable access to nutrition for the tens of millions of households struggling to put food on the table.”
Richard’s career spans more than 25 years, during which she consistently delivered results for legacy retail and emerging brands. Before her tenure at Walmart, she held several roles, spanning two decades in Operations at Coca-Cola.
“So much of my career has been focused on helping customers have access to affordable food and healthy options, and FRAC has led the way in educating the industry on ways to improve,” said Richard. “I’m excited to help FRAC in its mission to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of those struggling with hunger.”
Richard is a member of the Walmart Women’s Officer Caucus and Walmart Women’s Resource Group. She also represents Walmart as secretary on the National Board for NextUp and was the first recipient of the NextUp National Inclusion Award.
In addition to her key roles at Walmart, FRAC, and NextUp, Richard is also active with other anti-hunger organizations, enrichment programming, and diabetes awareness initiatives, such as the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank Jewels Gala, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the American Diabetes Association.
She has an Executive Master of Business Administration from Emory University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University.
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The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
