The Kentucky Grocers Association and Kentucky Association of Convenience Stores (KGA/KACS) recently recognized Tim Couch, owner of Hyden Grocery, Inc. in Hyden, KY, as the 2014 Grocer of the Year. Couch began his grocery career at the age of 17 working at Dobson’s Supermarket in Manchester, KY. Couch attended Cumberland College and then began working at Shamrock Coal Company where he would spend the next 15 years of his career underground. During his career at Shamrock Coal Company, Couch demonstrated his leadership skills and spent his last five years with the company as a supervisor.
While still working for Shamrock, Couch knew the grocery business was still in his blood and drawing upon his Shamrock retirement account, he entered into a land contract to purchase a small 3,000 square foot grocery store in Hyden. Putting all his effort into the grocery store, Couch was able to quit working in the mining industry and focus entirely on the store.
The business grew 50 percent over the next four years and Couch expanded his operations to include a convenience store next to grocery store. As an employer in the Hyden community, Couch currently provides jobs for 10 full-time and seven part-time employees.
A strong desire to provide service back to his community led Couch to seek election to the Kentucky General Assembly. He won election to the Kentucky House of Representatives and began his service in 2003. Couch continues to hold office and will begin his 12th year in the Kentucky Legislature in January 2015.
Couch was recognized by the KGA/KACS for his leadership in fighting 2014 legislation that would have increased the Kentucky minimum wage rate above the current federal rate and the rates of many surrounding states. Couch eloquently used his grocery store as an example during committee testimony and during floor speeches of the devastating impact increasing the minimum wage would have on his business.
“Couch knows that his business and the customers he serves remain in a very tough economy – despite news reports of economic recovery in other parts of the state and country,” Stephen Chesnut, Laurel Grocery Company, said. Chesnut added, “Tim is deeply concerned about federal policies and like other businesses in his region, is not confident about what the future holds for his company.”
The KGA/KACS has honored industry leaders for their contributions in Kentucky’s grocery industry since 1972. The Grocer of the Year award recognizes a member of the association who has made an outstanding contribution to the good of the industry. This year’s award was presented to Tim Couch during the 2014 KGA/KACS Annual Awards Luncheon held at the West Sixth Brewery in Lexington, KY and sponsored by BCD, Inc. General Contractor and First Touch Payment Solutions, Inc.
Source: The Kentucky Grocers Association