Contact:
     
Bill Greer

(202) 220-0667

wgreer@fmi.org





ARLINGTON, VA — January 22, 2007 — Craig Schnuck, chairman of the Executive Committee at Schnuck Markets, Inc., received the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Sidney R. Rabb Award today, honoring his supermarket industry leadership in technology, industry relations, diversity and community service. FMI Board Chair Jeff Noddle presented the award at the association’s 2007 Midwinter Executive Conference in Grand Lakes, FL.




Schnuck served for nine years on the Board of Governors of the Uniform Code Council, which oversees the industry’s most fundamental technologies such as the Universal Product Code. He chaired the council for an unprecedented two terms (1995-1997 and 1999-2000).




During a pivotal time for the UCC, Noddle said, Schnuck "helped set the council on a new course to support a vastly changed industry and make the transition to e-commerce in a global marketplace." Schnuck was a strong advocate for global scanning, technology and synchronizing data, helping lead the industry "toward levels of efficiency that were unthinkable a decade ago."




Schnuck championed diversity at the national and local levels, promoting minority business development in St. Louis and co-chairing the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City to redevelop blighted areas of St. Louis.




As chair of the United Way of Greater St. Louis in September 2001, Craig had his company jump-start the charity’s September 11th Fund campaign with a $100,000 contribution and a customer Scan-and-Give program that raised the total to more than $320,000. This figure is in addition to the $2 million that Schnucks associates donated. When Hurricane Katrina struck, Schnucks was among the first companies to donate $1 million in cash, goods and services to aid evacuees and rescue efforts.




In a first for the Rabb award, Craig Schnuck is the third member of the same family to receive this honor. His father Donald was recognized in 1983, and his uncle Edward was among the first recipients in 1977. Craig Schnuck is the 35th person to receive the award.




FMI established the Sidney R. Rabb award in 1977 to honor supermarket industry leaders for outstanding service to the community, consumers and the industry. Its namesake, a visionary industry leader in the 20th century, pioneered the consumer- and community-driven role of the supermarket as chief executive of The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company.




For photos of the award presentation, click here.