PRESENTATION OF SN'S RETAIL EXCELLENCE AWARD 2003

SN's Retail Excellence Award will be presented to H.E. Butt Grocery Co. on Monday, Oct. 20, during an awards dinner at the Food Industry Leadership Center Executive Forum in Portland, Ore. The FILC is part of the School of Business Administration, Portland State University.

en in a process that included industry nominations on SN's Web site, consultation with a range of industry executives and input from SN's editors.

The criteria stated that a nominated company must pursue innovative strategies that set it apart from the competition in its markets; show deep understanding of its customer base as demonstrated by its marketing and merchandising approaches; have a positive impact on the food industry by developing new solutions for challenges; and can be described as proactive and a leader.

AWARDS FORUM: The Portland forum, scheduled Oct. 20 and 21, will feature other award presentations and a number of speeches and panels on a range of supermarket industry topics. Speakers will include Jim Sinegal, president and chief executive officer of Costco Wholesale Corp.; Jim Donald, president of Starbucks, North America Retail; John McGinty, vice president, customer development group, Nestle Purina Pet Care; and J. Walker Smith, president, Yankelovich Partners.

Also, at the forum on Oct. 21 SN will present its Community Service Award to United Supermarkets of Lubbock, Texas, and will sponsor a panel on direct store delivery. That panel will include Mike Ellis, senior vice president, food division, Fred Meyer Stores; Al Carey, chief operating officer, PepsiCo North America; Todd Cornwell, director of sales Washington, for Franz Family Bakeries; and Chris Baldwin, national vice president, Kraft DSD sales and Integrated Logistics, Kraft Foods.

Another panel will focus on community-based initiatives, with participants including Warren Bryant, president, Long's Drugs; Bob Hermanns, president, Associated Grocers Seattle; Brian Rohter, president, New Seasons Market; and Matt Bumstead, vice president, customer and community service, United Supermarkets.