Retailers Among 'Most Admired' Firms

NEW YORK — Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Publix Super Markets were named the “world’s most admired companies” in the Food and Drug Stores category by Fortune Magazine.

Whole Foods topped the list of admired food and drug companies while Kroger and Publix tied for second. In addition several companies were named as “contenders” in the food and drug category: Safeway (finishing 6th), Delhaize Group (7th), Royal Ahold (8th) and Supervalu (9th).

In the Wholesale: Food and Grocery category, United Natural Foods (2^nd), Unified Grocers (3^rd) and Spartan Stores (4^th) were among the “most admired companies” while Nash-Finch (8^th) was called a “contender.”

In addition, Costco Wholesale (20^th) and Wal-Mart Stores (24^th) were on the overall list of the World’s 50 most admired companies across industries. Apple was rated No. 1.

The 2012 Fortune World's Most Admired Company survey was conducted in the fall of 2011 among top executives, directors and securities analysts in 58 industries. A company's overall score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be named to the list.

The survey assessed nine reputation drivers considered to be crucial to a company's global success: financial soundness, long-term investment value, people management, social responsibility, use of assets, quality of management, quality of products/services, innovation and global competitiveness. The complete list and related story appeared in the March 19 issue of Fortune Magazine.

“We are extremely pleased to be recognized as one of the ‘World’s Most Admired Companies,’” said Dennis Eidson, Spartan's president and chief executive officer, in a statement.  “This achievement reflects the tremendous dedication and efforts of our associates as we strive to provide the consumer with consistent value and a quality shopping experience at our retail stores as well as provide our distribution customers a differentiated go-to-market strategy and value-added partnership.”