FMI Honors Top Store Managers

LAS VEGAS — Tim Hammonds, president and chief executive officer, Food Marketing Institute, presented the 2008 Store Manager of the Year Awards to Mark Halvorson of Cub Foods, Cheryl Rondenelli of Hannaford Bros. and Ralph Towery of MarketPlace Foods at the FMI Show here last week.

Halvorson, who won in the large-chain category, was recognized for his work coordinating Cub Foods' response to the Interstate 35 bridge collapse in Minnesota last year and providing supplies for emergency responders from his store in St. Louis.

Rondenelli was recognized in the midsized chain category for her store leadership and her community participation and event organization in Clinton, N.Y.

Towery was recognized for leveraging his store's bakery department to both drive business and support charities, such as a Breast Cancer Awareness campaign in Minot, N.D.

The other finalists for the award were: Jeffrey Iwamuro, Potash Bros.; Dale Kahn, Bi-Lo; Bob Kees, Foodland; Ramiro Marquez, Bashas'; Mitch Streit, Hy-Vee; and Janice Yergeau, Hannaford Bros.