James E. Ukrop to Chair Food Safety Campaign

      WASHINGTON, DC — March 3, 1999 — James Ukrop, Chairman of Ukrop’s Super Markets, was recently chosen as the Campaign Chairman of Safeguarding Our Last Link, the food industry campaign to educate consumers on safe food handling practices. Funds raised for the campaign will be administered through the FMI Foundation.

     On accepting the role Ukrop said, "Consumer food safety education is important to the industry. Changes in consumer lifestyle and an increasing array of eating habits mean more opportunities for foodborne illness. The food industry must work together to keep consumers informed and safe."

     Ukrop operates 25 supermarkets in the Richmond, VA metropolitan area. Ukrop began his career as a part-time employee in a supermarket. He held several management positions on his way to CEO and President of the company.

     Ukrop is very active in business and civic organizations, serving on the boards of Richfoods, Inc., Legg Mason, Inc. and Owens and Minor. Ukrop is past president and a member if the executive committee of the William and Mary Athletic Educational Foundation. He recently served as chairman of the Richmond Metro Chamber of Commerce.

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The Food Marketing Institute Foundation (FMIF) is a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Food Marketing Institute. The Foundation seeks to ensure quality and efficiency in the food system and is operated for charitable, educational and scientific purposes.

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is a nonprofit association conducting programs in research, education, industry relations and public affairs on behalf of its 1,500 members including their subsidiaries — food retailers and wholesalers and their customers in the United States and around the world. FMI’s domestic member companies operate approximately 21,000 retail food stores with a combined annual sales volume of $220 billion — more than half of all grocery store sales in the United States. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, small regional firms and independent supermarkets. Its international membership includes 200 members from 60 countries.