Mike Eardley, HEB, Receives 2010 IDDBA President’s Award

Madison, WI — Mike Eardley, Director of Deli, Cheese and Prepared Foods, HEB Grocery Co., received the 2010 International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s President’s Award at the Awards Banquet, the closing event of Dairy-Deli-Bake 2010. John J. Sullivan, President of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association and President & CEO, Norseland, Inc., selected Eardley for the honor which recognizes distinguished service or contribution to the industry and honors those who have led with vision and dedication.
In presenting the award on Tuesday, June 8, Sullivan said:

The IDDBA President’s Award is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary commitment to serving a cause, an organization, an industry, or a country.

Mike Eardley’s long career in grocery started while he was still in grade school working in the family supermarket. This early exposure to the business taught him to appreciate integrity, good food, and great customer service. His mentor and teacher was his father.

His life-long work ethic is based on a passion and enthusiasm for excellence and for accountability in himself and in others. He leads by example and sets the bar for achievement very high.

He has served on almost every IDDBA committee, and is still active on the Retail Advisory Committee. He served on the Board for over nine years and was the President of the IDDBA in 2001-2002.

In recognition of his passion and enthusiasm for excellence, and on behalf of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association and our grateful industry, we are delighted to present the 2010 IDDBA President’s Award to Mike Eardley.

His vision, leadership, and service are an inspiration to us all.

Mike Eardley has worked in the grocery industry since grade school, beginning in his father’s supermarket where he learned to appreciate integrity, good food, and great customer service.

He spent 29 years working for D&W Food Centers in Grand Rapids, Michigan. D&W was a leader in independent supermarket circles and known for their innovation in food service and deli. Mike was Director of Food Service when D&W opened its first restaurant and its Central Kitchen. He later became Vice President of Fresh Foods, heading up the Meat, Produce, Deli, Bakery, Seafood, Floral, and Chef Departments. He brought a food service mentality to all of the fresh areas of the store. He also had leadership for the Central Kitchen, Meat Plant, Floral Design and Distribution Facility, and Food Safety Departments.

In 2001, HEB Supermarkets hired Mike to join their team in San Antonio, Texas as Business Development Manager for Deli. He was recently named Director of Deli, Cheese and Prepared Foods.

Source: International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association