United Fresh Names Top Produce Managers

WASHINGTON — The United Fresh Produce Association has named its 2010 Retail Produce Manager Award winners. Selected from a field of hundreds of nominees, the winners were chosen based on criteria including their efforts to increase produce consumption through "everyday excellence in merchandising, special displays and promotions, community service and commitment to total customer satisfaction."

The winners and their corporate produce directors will be honored during United Fresh's upcoming trade show in Las Vegas, during the Chairman's Reception and Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 22.

"These men and women represent the 'best of the best' in our industry," Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and chief executive officer, said in an announcement. "Through their creative efforts and interaction with customers, they're making produce a centerpiece of the retail shopping experience and wowing consumers everyday."

In alphabetical order, the 2010 winners are: Douglas Collins, Food City, Prestonsburg, Ky.; Lynette DeClerk, Niemann Foods, Pana, Ill.; Brent Doud, Safeway, Albany, Ore.; Samuel D. Fannin, Kroger, Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Jeff Freeman, Save Mart, Clovis, Calif.; Judy Gauthier, Buy-Low Foods, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada; James Grande, King Soopers, Aurora, Colo.; Steve Gray, MOM's Organic Market, Frederick, Md.; Cris Gutierrez, Raley's, Reno, Nev.; Angela Hamilton, Al's Supermarkets, La Porte, Ind.; Claudette Johnson, Jewel-Osco, Plainfield, Ill.; Lannie W. Kiser Jr., Brookshire Grocery Co., Kaufman, Texas; Valerie Lambert, Food City, Wise, Va.; Ryan Lindner, Hy-Vee, Madison, Wis.; Jeff Oelfke, Chief Supermarket, Bryan, Ohio; Lisa Paulis, Vons, La Jolla, Calif.; Joseph Ortiz, Brookshire Grocery Co., Monroe, La.; Shawn Seely, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Edwardsville, Pa.; Rick Stolarik, Big Y Foods, Tolland, Conn.; John Thut, Bel Air Markets, Sacramento, Calif.; Gary Viall, Hannaford Bros., Colonie, N.Y.; Juronald Williams, Ord Community Commissary, Seaside, Calif.; Willie L. Williams Jr., Kroger, Englewood, Ohio; John Wombacher, Hy-Vee, Iowa City, Iowa; and Craig Yamane, Bel Air Markets, Sacramento, Calif.