Michigan Grocers Select 2017 Outstanding Achievement Award Winners

Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) revealed that Oleson’s Food Stores in Northern Michigan and Lipari Foods, headquartered in Warren, are the 2017 Al Kessel Outstanding Achievement Award winners.

“The award is named to honor former MGA director Albert F. “Al” Kessel, Jr., who passed away in 2012,” says MGA president and CEO Linda M. Gobler. “Al was the founder of the Flint-based Kessel Food Market chain. To reflect his generous spirit, each year one Outstanding Retailer and one Outstanding Business Partner are selected to receive the award. Winners are selected by a 12-member committee.”

2017 Outstanding Retailer Oleson’s Food Stores

Celebrating 91 years in business, Oleson’s started in 1926 when Gerald “Jerry” and Frances Oleson took over a small store in Traverse City from Jerry’s dad, Nels. Known to most people as “Mr. O,” Jerry believed in no titles and hard work. He was known to carry index cards in his shirt pocket; when he heard something he liked or thought of some thing he wanted to remember, he wrote it down. Sons Jerry and Don grew up working in the store, taking on more responsibility after graduating from college and eventually adding more stores. Today, Don is president and his son DJ is VP. Having joined MGA in 1934, Oleson’s Food Stores has the distinction of being the Association’s oldest member. A former MGA board chairman and current board director, DJ is part of Oleson’s Family Food’s fourth generation alongwith his brother Brad and cousin Martha “Marty” Watts. A fifth generation is also involved in the company, which now has four stores in Traverse City, Petoskey, and Charlevoix.

Oleson’s own a large buffalo herd that provides natural buffalo meat, with no added hormones or  orantibiotics, to Oleson’s Food Stores and several Michigan restaurants. Since 1956, Oleson’s has donated all the food as well as thousands of hours of time for the annual Northwestern Michigan College BBQ to raise money for scholarships, equipment, and much more. In 1962, Gerald and Frances started the Oleson Foundation, designed to continually perform good works in Northern Michigan. The Foundation grants close to a million dollars each year to worthy organizations.

Oleson’s Food Stores was nominated by Scott Stegink with MGA member SpartanNash. In support of Oleson’s, selection committee member Craig Diepenhorst with MGA Associate Member H.T. Hackney said, “I know their business very well, and for them to continue to succeed in that brutal/compressed environment, with all the new competitors they have had to deal with, is simply amazing!”

2017 Outstanding Business Partner Lipari Foods

For their “incredible partnership and friendship,” Lipari Foods was nominated by Bryan Neiman, on behalf MGA member Neiman’s Family Markets. “Lipari Foods has been instrumental in our success,” Neiman said. “No matter the request — from late afternoon and special weekend deliveries to creating unique programs, sharing industry knowledge, and helping retailers be first to market with on-trend items — the entire Lipari team gives 200 percent to make it work for their customers.”

In the early 1950s, Jim began distributing unique products from the back of his station wagon. He and his business partner created their own barbecue sauce called Bazzo’s; and later, Jim created Bella Mia Spaghetti Sauce. In 1963, Jim formed Lipari Food Distributors to continue distributing Bazzo’s and Bella Mia, with his big break coming in 1967 when he was named Frank’s Tea & Spice distributor. Jim was soon known as the “spice man,” and his customer base included many independent supermarkets. In 1971, Jim’s son, Thom, joined the company.

Today, Thom is president & CEO, and his sister, Lori Lipari Adams, is SVP. In 54 years, Lipari Foods has become a leading independent “perimeter of the store” distributor, delivering a wide range of quality bakery, dairy, frozen, retail, deli, packaging, seafood, meat, grocery, food service, beverage products, confectionery and convenience foods to over 8,000 customers in 14 states. In addition, with over 1,000 employees, Lipari gives back to the community in many ways including partnering with Gleaners Food Bank of Southeast Michigan and Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as donating to many community and customer-sponsored events.

“Both Oleson’s Family Foods and Lipari Foods have made significant contributions to Michigan’s grocery industry,” says Gobler. “They are active in the Association and have earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and customers throughout the state and beyond. The awards are well-deserved recognition.”