SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Food Marketing Institute last week presented its annual Sidney R. Rabb Award to Ronald Pearson, chairman of Hy-Vee and a former board chair of FMI.
and the William H. Albers Award for Industry Relations to Steven Reinemund, chairman and chief executive officer, PepsiCo.
In presenting the Rabb Award, Jeff Noddle, FMI board chair, pointed to Pearson's contributions to the industry and communities in areas including food safety, technology, diversity, disaster relief, economic growth and education. Pearson chaired FMI from 2001 to 2003, a tenure known for food safety initiatives and successes on the government front.
Wakefern's selection for the public affairs honor was based on its extensive government involvement in areas including mandatory country-of-origin labeling, credit- and debit-card interchange fees and the estate tax. A group of executives including Joe Colalillo, Wakefern chairman and CEO, was on hand to accept the honor.
PepsiCo's Reinemund was recognized with the Albers Award for his industry collaboration. FMI cited his advocacy of health and fitness as chair of the Grocery Manufacturers Association's Government Affairs Council and his company's partnership with the Discovery Channel to help tackle the problem of childhood obesity by educating children about calorie reduction.
