Winners Will Be Announced at Future Connect™

ARLINGTON, VA — December 16, 2010 — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today announced a call for entries in the 2011 FMI Store Manager Awards, an annual program recognizing supermarket store managers who generate sales growth, provide great customer service, contribute to attaining company goals and are an integral part of the communities they serve. The awards program will take place at Future Connect™, the industry leadership education event, May 10-12, 2011 in Dallas, TX.

“Store managers play an essential role in enhancing supermarket business operations. They train and mentor their employees, work hard to provide excellent customer service and are actively involved in their communities,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI president and chief executive officer. “We are very proud to acknowledge their leadership, customer service and community commitment with the FMI Store Manager Awards.”   

          Companies are invited to submit stories that demonstrate how a store manager created positive growth and customer satisfaction during the past 12-18 months. Entries will be scored based on the overall content and the store manager’s ability to:

• Generate sales growth and positively impact the overall business of the store.


• Go above and beyond the ordinary to provide customer service and community relations.


• Execute innovative in-store programs and special events that improve overall customer service and community relations.


• Demonstrate a balance between people skills and operations skills.


• Lead or mentor the team members from their store.

Three grand prize winners will each be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a crystal award. Nine finalists, including the three grand prize winners, will receive two complimentary registrations to Future Connect and three nights of hotel accommodations in Dallas.

Only store managers from FMI member companies who have been at the same place of business for at least one year are eligible.

Entries will be divided into three categories based on company size. Category A includes small retailers with 1-49 stores, Category B includes medium retailers with 50-199 stores and Category C includes large retailers with 200 or more stores. Judges will select three finalists and one grand prize winner from each category.

The 2010 grand prize winners include:

• Dave McCleery, Russ’s Market, store director in Lincoln, NE — Category A, companies with 1-49 stores.


• Sharon Boyett, Brookshire Grocery Co., store director in Monroe, LA — Category B, companies with 50-199 stores.


• Molly Stiles, The Kroger Company, manager in Farragut, TN — Category C, companies with 200 or more stores.

Contact Meredith Esbeck at 202.220.0728 or mesbeck@fmi.org for more information.