FOOD INDUSTRY FMI Presents 2024 Store Manager Awards By Abasto MI- 吀栀e Food Industry Association announced the 2024 Store Manager Awards recipients. 吀栀ese outstanding individuals have demonstrated exceptional commitment to driving success within their respective stores, fostering a culture of excellence, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. “We are immensely proud of these store managers for their unwavering commitment to the communities they serve and for their innovative approach to leadership. 吀栀ese awardees are a testament to hard work and creativity and Fdemonstrate the positive contributions the food industry makes in people’s lives each and every day. Congratulations to all our deserving winners,” said Leslie Sarasin, FMI president and CEO of FMI. The 2024 Store Manager Awards Recipients Categoría A (1-25 Tiendas): Kerri Hunsley, PCC her approach to work and mentorship was in昀氀uenced by her Community Market, Columbia City, time as a soccer player. It’s not just the hustle and competitive Washington. spirit, either: it’s how she sees a path to the goal, anticipates Nothing against desks or offices, but moves that may get in the way, and rallies her team to get the manager Kerri Hunsley doesn’t hang out in best performance from them as individuals and as those places very much. She spends about a group. two-thirds of her typical day working on the 昀氀oor at the PCC Community Market Category D (International): Rita in Columbia City, Washington, interacting Khijakadze, SPAR, Tbilisi, Georgia. with customers and associates. 吀栀at kind of If imitation is the 昀椀nest form of 昀氀attery, immersion allows her to see what’s working, Rita Khijakadze has a lot of admirers. A what’s not working, and what might be missing at one of the constant innovator, she has launched several highest-volume and heavily tra昀케cked PCC locations. “昀椀rsts” at her SPAR store that were emulated Categoría B (26-199 Tiendas): Román and implemented by other locations in Georgia. Pérez, The Fresh Market, Inc., Palm “People’s Pick” of 2024: Chris Lawlor Beach Gardens, Florida. Chris Lawlor, manager at Eurospar Wallace Village/ Many kinds of statistics support strong Henderson Retail in Lisburn, United Kingdom, is the “People’s store management. Although Roman Pick” of 2024, garnering over 4,300 social media Perez has hit important metrics for sales votes. 吀栀e fact that he doesn’t seek out credit and EBITDA, the fact that his store in is exactly why his colleagues nominated Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is under the Chris Lawlor for an FMI Store Manager company turnover goal by double digits is Award. His natural humility – evident in arguably the most impressive. Employees stay at one of his favorite phrases about “Our the store because of his leadership and, more importantly, turn wee team!” – enables him to focus on in their best performances to make the location a standout. the business and others around him and has been a key factor in lifting the store’s Category C (More than 200 stores): Alex performance. Spurlock, QFC – The Kroger Co., Redmond, For her part, Sarasin concluded: “We look forward to Washington. continuing the celebration next year. Thank you to all If you watch Alex at work for a few participants in this year’s Store Manager Awards, and we are shifts at the QFC store in Redmond, grateful for the support of our partner in sponsoring this year’s Washington, owned by the Kroger Store Manager Awards program, 吀栀e Coca-Cola Company.” Family of Companies, you can see how 5050 JJUULLYY//AAUUGGUUSST 2T 200224 4 AABBAASSTOTO..CCOOMM