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Specialty Food Association Honors Six Industry Leaders
The Specialty Food Association has named six winners of its fourth annual Leadership Awards honoring members who have gone “above and beyond” in advancing food standards in society—and society itself—by creating social, economic and environmental impact through innovation and vision.
Grocery Headquarters
January 1, 2018
4 Min Read
The Specialty Food Association has named six winners of its fourth annual Leadership Awards honoring members who have gone “above and beyond” in advancing food standards in society—and society itself—by creating social, economic and environmental impact through innovation and vision.
The winners’ achievements range from navigating a food safety crisis to creating products that support both health and the environment to enhancing community through launching food businesses that empower workers in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Africa.
The winners are:
Citizenship:
Kimberly Jung, Rumi Spice
Linda Appel Lipsius, Teatulia Organic Teas
Business Leadership:
John Lowe, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Greg Steltenpohl, Califia Farms
Vision:
Josh Tetrick, Hampton Creek
Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, Back to the Roots
“Throughout the specialty food industry, dedicated entrepreneurs demonstrate creativity, business acumen, and a commitment to make the world a better place through their products and practices,” says Ron Tanner, vice president, philanthropy, government and industry relations for the Specialty Food Association. “Their efforts toward worker empowerment, protection of the environment, and fair regulations and policies continue to break new ground and inspire others to take action.”
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony Jan. 18 at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. The keynote speaker will be Paul Saginaw, co-owner and founder of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, who has helped build the company into a $50-million-plus enterprise by pursuing a social as well as a business agenda.
Nominations for the awards were made by members of the Specialty Food Association and others in the specialty food industry. A panel of judges composed of industry experts and influencers selected the honorees from more than 50 nominees across the three categories.
The judges included Derek Mulhern, Organic Trade Association, Washington, D.C.; Joe Roy, UNFI, Providence, R.I.; Donna Daniels, Social Venture Network, San Francisco; Rebecca Fontes, City Harvest, New York; Errol Schweizer, Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas; David Gremmels, Rogue Creamery, Central Point, Ore., and Sara Holby, Ajiri Tea, Upper Black Eddy, Pa.
