On July 26, John L. Davis of A & R Supermarket and Dennis Stewart of Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Company were presented with the National Grocers Association's (N.G.A.) Spirit of America Award at the Alabama Grocers Association Annual Convention in Sandestin, Florida.
The awards, presented by N.G.A. Director of Government Affairs, Greg Ferrara, were given in honor of John's and Dennis' involvement in community and civic affairs and in praise of their support and leadership of Alabama grocers.
John L. Davis of A & R Supermarkets served on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Grocers Association, and was its Chairman in 1994. He has served on the Board of the Associated Grocers of the South for the past 16 years. A & R Supermarkets was purchased by John's father in the 1940s and now has four locations throughout Alabama.
Dennis Stewart also served on the Alabama Grocers Association Board of Directors, as well as the N.G.A. Board. He was the AGA Wholesaler of the year in 1995 and 1999. Dennis has been with the Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co., Inc. since 1965 and now serves as its President and CEO.
The N.G.A. Spirit of America Award, established in 1982, honors key industry and community figures who have provided leadership in the areas of community services and government relations on behalf of a free and independent food distribution system. N.G.A. has given this award to over 400 individuals, including Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford, and Vice President Dan Quayle, as well as other distinguished individuals serving the public interest. Previous Alabama recipients of the award include Ferris Youmans, Mary Hardin, Peter Gregerson, Sr., Representatives Tom Bevill, John H. Hawkins, Jr., and Seth Hammett, Senators Richard Shelby and Howell Heflin, and most recently, James Smotherman.
About The National Grocers Association: N.G.A. is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating in a variety of formats. Most independent operators are serviced by wholesale distributors, while others may be partially or fully self-distributing. Some are publicly traded but with controlling shares held by the family and others are employee owned. Independents are the true "entrepreneurs" of the grocery industry and dedicated to their customers, associates, and communities. N.G.A. members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about N.G.A. and the independent sector of the industry, see the N.G.A. website: www.nationalgrocers.org .
Source: The National Grocers Association
