By: Morgan Griffin, Manager, Communications, FMI & Madeline Torrisi, Manager, Marketing, FMI
The 20th anniversary of FMI’s Store Manager Awards highlights not only the program’s longevity but also its impact on recognizing and elevating leaders across the food industry. We reconnected with a few prior Store Manager Award recipients to hear more about the impact of this award and their big takeaways.
Honoring the Legacy
Since its inception in 2005, the Store Manager Awards have honored individuals who exemplify the best of food retail. From driving store performance and mentoring associates to implementing creative solutions and championing community engagement, these managers go above and beyond every day.
"This is such a meaningful award to me,” shared Sally Angulo, a 2017 Store Manager Award recipient. "As the first store manager to receive this award in the Fry’s division of Kroger, it was really special. I make it a practice to follow through for my associates with heart and having that recognized was so rewarding."
Kathy Swegert a 2018 recipient, reflected on the program’s significance: "This award inspires emerging and future leaders in our industry, myself included. It motivated me – and still does to this day – to be the very best leader I can be, regardless of my title or area of responsibility, for my team and colleagues. As I advance professionally, I continue to hone my personal leadership style to ensure it reflects my commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, who then, in turn, build strong and engaged teams to serve their customers and the community.”
Charlynne Stunder, an awardee and People’s Pick recipient from 2015 stated, “The Store Manager Awards showed me that hard work pays off. Receiving this honor was a very proud moment in my career, one I will never forget.”
Brian Hayes, another awardee from 2015, gave this advice to this year’s winners, “To be nominated is such an honor. Someone in your immediate circle recognized that you make a difference, felt strongly enough to nominate you, and that’s what matters. You mean something to the people you interact with daily. Don’t take that responsibility lightly!”
These testimonials are a glimpse of the incredible stories that have shaped the Store Manager Awards history as FMI celebrates hundreds of store managers for their leadership and dedication, setting new benchmarks for what’s possible in the food industry.
Looking Ahead: Nominations Now Open
We invite you to be part of the next chapter of the Store Manager Awards by submitting a nomination. Do you know a manager who consistently goes above and beyond, inspires their team, and delivers exceptional results? This is your chance to recognize their achievements and share their story with the broader industry.
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