Jose B. Alvarez

José Alvarez has written extensively about the global food system and retailing since he joined the HBS faculty in 2009.  He has co-authored over 30 cases and the book Retail Revolution: Will Your Brick and Mortar Store Survive.

Prior to HBS Mr. Alvarez was  President and Chief Executive Officer of Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover from April 2006 through July 2008. José joined Stop and Shop, a subsidiary of Royal Ahold NV, in 2001. Prior to his tenure as President and CEO, José was Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics for the company. He also served as the Senior Vice President Logistics and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives.

Mr. Alvarez has almost 20 years of  experience in the supermarket industry and has held management positions in a variety of functional areas. Before joining Stop & Shop in 2001, Mr. Alvarez worked with Shaw's Supermarkets, where his positions included Vice President of Grocery Merchandising. He also worked at American Stores Company and its subsidiary Jewel Food Stores, where his posts included Director of Market Research, Category Manager - Produce, store management positions and assignments in developing strategic initiatives.

Mr. Alvarez currently serves on the board of directors for United Rentals, The TJX Companies, The Joyce Foundation, The Good Jobs Institute, Daily Table, Empower Schools, and Munoz Group. He has also served as a trustee of Princeton University and the Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts.

Mr. Alvarez holds an AB degree from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. José is married with three children.

Books

• Lal, Rajiv, Jose B. Alvarez, and Dan Greenberg. Retail Revolution: Will Your Brick & Mortar Store Survive? Independently published, 2014. View Details

Cases and Teaching Materials

• Alvarez, José B., Forest L. Reinhardt, Jenyfeer Martinez Buitrago, and Pedro Levindo. "Taylor Farms: Adding Value to Fresh Produce." Harvard Business School Case 523-041, December 2022. View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest L., Jose B. Alvarez, and Natalie Kindred. "Applegate Farms." Harvard Business School Case 723-025, December 2022. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Pedro Levindo, and Ruth Costas. "Marfrig's Quest for Sustainable Beef." Harvard Business School Case 523-073, December 2022. (Revised February 2023.) View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest, Jose B. Alvarez, and Natalie Kindred. "Mission Produce in 2022." Harvard Business School Case 723-026, December 2022. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Annelena Lobb. "Signature Brands: Crafting Family Moments That Matter." Harvard Business School Case 523-030, December 2022. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Natalie Kindred. "The Pandemic's Impact on the U.S. Food System." Harvard Business School Background Note 521-065, March 2021. (Revised January 2023.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Annelena Lobb. "Pairwise." Harvard Business School Case 522-058, December 2021. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Billy Chan, and Dawn H. Lau. "Green Monday." Harvard Business School Case 522-056, December 2021. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Jim Sylvia, and David Lane. "U.S. Retail Real Estate in 2020." Harvard Business School Technical Note 521-030, June 2021. View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest, José B. Alvarez, Jenyfeer Martinez Buitrago, and Mariana Cal. "Arcos Dorados: A QSR Recovery Plan." Harvard Business School Case 721-023, December 2020. (Revised April 2021.) View Details
• Alvarez, José, and David Lane. "The U.S. Home Improvement Sector in 2020." Harvard Business School Case 521-032, March 2021. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Damien McLoughlin, and Natalie Kindred. "Ocado Group: Ready for the Future." Harvard Business School Case 521-061, January 2021. (Revised May 2021.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and David Lane. "Barbara Krakow Gallery (B): Art and the Pandemic." Harvard Business School Supplement 521-031, January 2021. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Lulu Curiel, and Eric Calderon. "Latinos and the MBA Option." Harvard Business School Case 521-051, January 2021. View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest L., José B. Alvarez, Damien McLoughlin, and Tonia Labruyere. "Kerry Group: Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life." Harvard Business School Case 721-019, December 2020. (Revised February 2021.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Zeynep Ton, and Annelena Lobb. "Daily Table." Harvard Business School Case 521-025, November 2020. (Revised November 2020.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Natalie Kindred. "Luvo (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 520-101, April 2020. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Natalie Kindred. "U.S. Food Retail During the Pandemic: March 2020." Harvard Business School Background Note 520-098, April 2020. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Carla Larangeira. "Grupo Éxito: Facing Colombia's Competitive Grocery Retail Industry." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 520-082, March 2020. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Forest Reinhardt, and Natalie Kindred. "CME Group in 2019." Harvard Business School Case 520-048, December 2019. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Natalie Kindred. "Impossible Foods." Harvard Business School Case 520-046, December 2019. (Revised March 2020.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Natalie Kindred. "Noiler." Harvard Business School Case 520-047, December 2019. View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Carla Larangeira, Jenyfeer Martinez Buitrago, and Miguel Diaz Moreno. "Grupo Éxito: Facing Colombia's Competitive Grocery Retail Industry." Harvard Business School Case 520-043, November 2019. (Revised December 2020.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Forest L. Reinhardt, and Emer Moloney. "Bord Bia: Strategically Growing Irish Exports." Harvard Business School Case 519-043, December 2018. (Revised May 2019.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Damien McLoughlin, and Matthew G. Preble. "Tyson Foods, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 519-003, December 2018. (Revised May 2019.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Mariana Cal. "Soybean Production in Argentina: The Duhau Group." Harvard Business School Case 519-033, December 2018. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Forest Reinhardt, and Natalie Kindred. "The Nature Conservancy in 2018." Harvard Business School Case 719-054, December 2018. View Details
• Lal, Rajiv, Jose B. Alvarez, and Matthew G. Preble. "Dick's Sporting Goods." Harvard Business School Case 517-007, February 2017. View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest L., José Alvarez, and Tonia Junker. "HEINEKEN—Brewing a Better World (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-001, August 2016. View Details
• Bell, David E., José B. Alvarez, James Weber, and Mary Shelman. "The Hain Celestial Group." Harvard Business School Case 516-007, December 2015. View Details
• Ofek, Elie, Jose B. Alvarez, and Michael Norris. "J.C. Penney's 'Fair and Square' Strategy (Abridged), (B), and (C)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 516-008, September 2015. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, and Julia Kelley. "Index." Harvard Business School Case 518-038, January 2018. (Revised November 2018.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., David Lane, and Joni Coughlin. "Amazon Buys Whole Foods." Harvard Business School Case 518-056, December 2017. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest, Jose B. Alvarez, and Annelena Lobb. "Area One Farms." Harvard Business School Case 518-069, December 2017. (Revised April 2018.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Maria Fernanda Miguel, and Mariana Cal. "Molino Cañuelas: Serving Customers from Seed Development to the Kitchen Table." Harvard Business School Case 518-046, December 2017. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Sarah Mehta. "International Institute of Tropical Agriculture." Harvard Business School Case 518-034, December 2017. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, Forest Reinhardt, and Natalie Kindred. "NatureSweet." Harvard Business School Case 518-002, December 2017. (Revised January 2018.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Matthew G. Preble. "Dick's Sporting Goods." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 518-040, September 2017. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, and Natalie Kindred. "Luvo." Harvard Business School Case 517-049, December 2016. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Anjali Raina, and Rachna Chawla. "Godrej Agrovet Ltd (GAVL)." Harvard Business School Case 517-014, November 2016. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., James Weber, and Natalie Kindred. "Note on the Impact of Millennials on the Food System." Harvard Business School Background Note 517-064, November 2016. (Revised March 2018.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, and Natalie Kindred. "Pete & Gerry's." Harvard Business School Case 517-048, November 2016. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, and Natalie Kindred. "Chicken Republic." Harvard Business School Case 516-052, December 2015. (Revised April 2019.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., Robert Mackalski, and Andrew Otazo. "Chilli Beans: Peace, Love, and Sunglasses." Harvard Business School Case 516-020, February 2016. (Revised August 2016.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Andrew Otazo, and Carin-Isabel Knoop. "The Promise of Agriculture in the Republic of Cuba." Harvard Business School Background Note 516-067, January 2016. (Revised March 2016.) View Details
• Alvarez, José, David E. Bell, and Damien McLoughlin. "Ocado." Harvard Business School Case 516-059, December 2015. (Revised February 2016.) View Details
• Alvarez, José B., and Carin-Isabel Knoop. "Lipman: Vertical Integration in Fresh Tomatoes." Harvard Business School Case 516-053, November 2015. (Revised February 2016.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Mary Shelman. "Simplot Plant Sciences: Designing a Better Potato." Harvard Business School Case 515-042, December 2014. (Revised February 2017.) View Details
• Ofek, Elie, Jill Avery, and Jose B. Alvarez. "J.C. Penney's 'Fair and Square' Strategy (B): Out with the New, In with the Old." Harvard Business School Supplement 514-085, January 2014. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Annelena Lobb. "Muñoz Group: Sustaining Global Vertical Integration Through Innovation." Harvard Business School Case 515-011, December 2014. (Revised August 2015.) View Details
• Reinhardt, Forest L., José Alvarez, Tonia Junker, and Daniela Beyersdorfer. "HEINEKEN—Brewing a Better World." Harvard Business School Case 715-022, December 2014. (Revised July 2016.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Anjali Raina, and Rachna Chawla. "HN Agri Serve: Growing Prosperity." Harvard Business School Case 515-006, December 2014. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Matthew G. Preble. "Disrupting the Meat Industry: Tissue Culture Beef." Harvard Business School Case 515-001, November 2014. (Revised March 2015.) View Details
• Bell, David E., Jose B. Alvarez, Mary Shelman, and Michael Norris. "Ocean Mist Farms." Harvard Business School Case 513-027, December 2012. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Damien P. McLoughlin, and Mary Shelman. "Tesco Group Food." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 514-102, June 2014. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Walter J. Salmon, and Christine Snively. "Ghurka." Harvard Business School Case 514-078, March 2014. (Revised January 2015.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Mary Shelman. "Mission Produce." Harvard Business School Case 514-023, February 2014. (Revised August 2015.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Damien P. McLoughlin, and Mary Shelman. "Tesco Group Food." Harvard Business School Case 514-022, January 2014. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, and Natalie Kindred. "VP Group: Vegpro Grows Beyond Kenya." Harvard Business School Case 514-055, December 2013. (Revised July 2015.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, and Nyssa Liebermann. "Barbara Krakow Gallery." Harvard Business School Case 514-033, December 2013. (Revised January 2015.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Robert Mackalski, Annelena Loeb, and Lisa Mazzanti. "Lufa Farms." Harvard Business School Case 514-008, October 2013. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Carin-Isabel Knoop, Aldo Sesia, and Mary Shelman. "Mutti S.p.a." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 513-069, May 2013. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Matthew Preble. "Creating a Luxury Experience at Value Retail." Harvard Business School Case 513-009, January 2013. (Revised March 2013.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Mary Shelman. "Mutti S.p.a." Harvard Business School Case 513-034, January 2013. (Revised April 2013.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Jason Riis, and Walter J. Salmon. "H-E-B: Creating a Movement to Reduce Obesity in Texas." Harvard Business School Case 512-034, April 2012. (Revised February 2013.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Zeynep Ton, and Ryan Johnson. "Home Depot and Interconnected Retail." Harvard Business School Case 512-036, March 2012. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Ryan Johnson. "Doug Rauch: Solving the American Food Paradox." Harvard Business School Case 512-022, December 2011. (Revised February 2012.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose, Robert Steven Kaplan, and Natalie Kindred. "Terry Lundgren at Macy's." Harvard Business School Case 412-033, February 2012. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Mary Louise Shelman. "Zespri." Harvard Business School Case 511-001, December 2010. (Revised January 2012.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Ryan Johnson. "FreshTec: Revolutionizing Fresh Produce." Harvard Business School Case 511-059, November 2010. (Revised July 2011.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Mary Shelman. "Zespri (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 511-103, June 2011. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Elizabeth C. Williamson, and James Weber. "Paydiant." Harvard Business School Case 511-065, January 2011. (Revised May 2011.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Ryan Johnson. "FreshTec: Revolutionizing Fresh Produce (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 511-105, March 2011. View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., and Aldo Sesia. "Customer Loyalty Schemes in the Retail Sector." Harvard Business School Background Note 511-077, March 2011. View Details
• Bell, David E., and Jose B. Alvarez. "Note on Store Location." Harvard Business School Background Note 593-112, April 1993. (Revised January 2011.) View Details
• Alvarez, Jose B., Mary Louise Shelman, and Laura Winig. "Red Tomato: Keeping It Local." Harvard Business School Case 510-023, November 2009. (Revised May 2010.) View Details