United Fresh 2013 To Honor Produce Retail Stars

WASHINGTON, DC – The United Fresh Foundation, through the Center for Leadership Excellence, is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. Established in 2005 by founding sponsor Ready Pac Foods, Inc., the program will honor 25 outstanding retail produce managers at the United Fresh 2013 convention May 14-16 in San Diego.

The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program pays special recognition to produce managers on the front line in supermarkets working everyday to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Since the program’s inception, over 170 managers from more than 60 different retail banners have been honored for their commitment to customer satisfaction, innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, and recognition among company peers.

“Produce managers are the face of our industry to the consumer,” said Chairman of United’s Retail-Foodservice Board Randy Scott, Category Manager Produce for Delhaize America. “Their creativity and positive interaction with customers can had a tangible effect on all of our bottom lines. This program is a powerful way to send a message to produce managers everywhere that we value what they do.”

This year, 25 award winners, along with their corporate produce directors, will receive complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations and registrations to the United Fresh 2013 convention. The winners will be honored at the Produce Celebration Dinner on Thursday, May 16, where five grand prize winners will be announced as recipients of an additional $1,000 cash prize.

“We salute the incredible work of these men and women who are delivering an exceptional produce experience every day to the consumer,” said Michael Solomon, President and CEO of Ready Pac Foods, Inc. “We are proud to sponsor this program and honored to have such dedicated and talented managers showcasing the best our industry has to offer.”

“We strongly encourage all retailers who want to recognize their best produce managers to nominate them today,” said Victoria Backer, United Fresh senior vice president of member services, foundation.  “This is more than just a plaque to hang on the wall. This program is experience that many have called a “highlight of their careers!”

The 2012 Retail Produce Manager Award winners were:

•Leslie Alex, Hannaford Brothers, Dover, NH
•Ricky Allemand, Brookshire Grocery Company, New Iberia, LA
•John Ballard, Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, Lafollete, TN
•Mathew K. Blair, Price Chopper/Golub Corporation, Cicero, NY
•Phil Burgess, Safeway Stores, Bend, OR
•Brian Burrow, Brookshire Grocery Company, Whitehouse, TX
•Franklin Bys, Hy-Vee, Inc., Coralville, IA
•James Campbell, Sunflower Farmers Market, Denver, CO
•Brian Collegnon, Rueben’s County Market , Hartford, WI
•Corey Conrad, Colemans Food Centres, Corner Brook, NFL, Canada
•Brian Corbitt, Bel Air Market/Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Sacramento, CA
•Jolene Cyr, Food Maxx/Save Mart Supermarkets, Fairfield, CA
•Ron Danielson, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Woodland, CA
•Chad Faulk, Harris Teeter, Charlotte, NC
•John Heon, Big Y Foods, Lee, MA
•Rich Jackson, Quality Food Centers, Sammamish, WA
•Steve Kaminski, Jewel-Osco, Westmont, IL
•Charmagne Kendrick, VG's Food Center/Spartan Stores, Fenton, MI
•Jim Kesteloot, Harris Teeter, Reston, VA
•Michael Kolek, Jewel-Osco, Schaumburg, IL
•Brian Langdon, The Kroger Company, Cincinnati, OH
•Mike McElmeel, Hy-Vee, Inc., Silvis, IL
•Elizabeth Myers, New River MCAS Commissary, Jacksonville, NC
•Wanda Ivy Nicholas, Travis Air Force Base Commissary, Travis, CA
•Nick Puleo, Vons, San Diego, CA

Nominations for the 2013 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program may be accessed online and must be received by January 18, 2013.

Click here for more information, including selection criteria and a list of winners since 2005, or contact Shannon Young, United Fresh education manager, at syoung@unitedfresh.org or 202-303-3405.

The United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program is generously sponsored by Ready Pac Foods, Inc.

Founded in 1998, the United Fresh Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization committed to meeting the public’s needs for an abundant supply of healthy, safe and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. The Foundation is dedicated to increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to children as a critical step in combating childhood obesity and launching a lifetime of healthy choices. To assist industry members in meeting these goals, the Foundation offers educational programs, leadership development, public outreach, and industry training through four different Centers — Center for Leadership Excellence, Center for Nutrition and Health, Center for Food Safety and Quality, and Center for Global Produce Sustainability. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400

Source: United Fresh Foundation