Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009 - (Page 20)

2009 Top Women in Grocery tee of the Sustainability Task Force for FMI and is on the board of Progress Through Business, a nonprofit organization that addresses issues of poverty within disadvantaged groups through business initiatives. She is also actively involved in the International Women’s Forum and has been an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is on the board of trustees for St. Catherine University and serves on the International Advisory Board of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship. which are a major initiative of Cindi Bigelow’s, an initiative that keeps the brand relevant in today’s challenging environment. Some of these successful introductions are: a line of Chai Tea Bags, Pomegranate Herbal Tea and Green Tea w/Pomegranate (Bigelow now owns both the Chai and Pomegranate segments), a line of 10 Organic Teas, and 3 Arizona branded Hot Tea Bags (through an alliance). over the past year have launched Campbell's Select Harvest and reducedsodium versions of Campbell's Condensed kids soups, continued to grow the V8 beverages line, revitalized the Prego brand and successfully acquired Wolfgang Puck organic soups, to name just a few achievements.The recipient of numerous industry accolades — including Top Woman in Grocery nods in both 2007 and 2008 — Morrison is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences.Additionally, she helped launch the Women of Campbell’s affinity network, serves as an executive sponsor of the company's Lifestyle Change Awards program (which recognizes employees for improving their health and well being), and is currently the executive sponsor of the Campbell’s African American Network. Rebecca Sanders, Beth Thieme, CEO/VP of Commercial Sales, Amigo Mobility International, Inc. BETH THIEME is CEO/VP of commercial sales for Amigo Mobility International, Inc., which manufactures electric shopping carts for the handicapped. Last year, she drove a 52 percent sales increase for the company. In addition to helping the disabled through the equipment her company makes, she also helps her community in a variety of ways. She is chairwoman of Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch, which she created in 1997 to raise awareness of frivolous lawsuits and their cost to society. She is also a board member of Guardian Angels Respite Center, has participated in MS Society's annual MS Walk for more than 10 years, and lectors weekly at her church. Thieme has been recognized with the Best of Michigan Business award for 2009, and an Economic Excellence Award in 2008. VP of Consumer Insights (Marketing), Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) AS HEAD of consumer research, Rebecca Sanders completed a process for obtaining consumer insights, launched true market research, solidified the Consumer Insights team, researched and organized an online shopping task force, initiated a recallalert program, and launched BGC’s mystery shopping program.The reports she has generated through the Consumer Insights group have been used as examples for others in the industry. Sanders has been awarded the VRMS Donald C. Iron Award for Best Marketing Program in both 2005 and 2007, was a presenter at the VRMS annual conference in 2006, and has twice been named a BGC “Employee of the Year.” She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women; in the community, she serves on the board for Bethesda Health Clinic and is a former board member of the American Red Cross and the United Way. Nancy Reagan, VP,Team Wal-Mart, Campbell Soup Co. NANCY REAGAN is an accomplished female leader within the CPG and grocery industries. She is an outstanding example of an individual who has made tremendous inroads in a highly competitive field and serves as a role model to many. She leads the team that manages one of Campbell’s largest and most important customer relationships. Reagan manages the sales planning, programming and execution for sales of Campbell’s entire portfolio of products at all of Wal-Mart’s U.S. stores. She oversees a team of 21 individuals with various responsibilities for the Wal-Mart account, including sales planning, finance and category management. Reagan delivered double-digit growth of Campbell’s sales at Wal-Mart. Her key initiatives included acceptance/installation of gravity-fed shelving, the Green Can project (a special green-and-white label for Earth Day time frame) and increased market share across portfolio. Team Wal-Mart was chosen as Campbell Sales Co.’s 2008 Team of the Year; the team was given a 2008 Extraordinary Performance Award by CEO Doug Conant, and Campbell was awarded Wal-Mart’s Martin Luther King Visionary Award for commitment to diversity. Reagan reports to Rick Tyrrell,VP of the grocery channel for the Campbell Sales Co. During her nearly 30-year career in the CPG/grocery industry, Reagan has mentored many women and acted as a role model to those inside and outside the companies in which she has led teams. She is a member of Network of Executive Women (NEW) and Catalyst and Leadership California, as well as being a senior leader in Women of Campbell’s affinity network and in Doug Conant’s CEO Institute (a leadership mentoring/coaching program for 50 Campbell leaders). Linda Wiggins, Cynthia R. Bigelow, President, R.C. Bigelow, Inc. BIGELOW TEA is a 100 percent familyowned company now in its third generation of leadership. Bigelow has tried to do the right thing for the planet, the community and their employees since Cynthia “Cindi” R. Bigelow’s grandmother founded the company back in 1945. Cindi Bigelow’s philosophy of “doing the right thing” has included large-scale plans like generating Bigelow’s own power through the installation of solar panels, but means doing smaller things as well. She believes that the small things, over time, add up. Bigelow’s ongoing initiative involves large-scale optimization of paper goods. Nearly every piece of packaging from the shipping carton to the tea bag itself requires the use of paper. All in all, 85 percent of Bigelow’s packaging is both biodegradable and recyclable. It is Cindi Bigelow’s hope that Bigelow’s efforts might inspire others to take similar steps to protect our planet. She is responsible for the company’s overall $80 million in annual sales, and reports to co-CEOs David and Eunice Bigelow. Bigelow Tea became the No. 1 specialty tea bag brand in the grocery/supercenter marketplace in the United States and has never let go.This position has come as a result of continued growth rate in a relatively flat category.This growth has been primarily driven by successful new product introductions, 20 • Progressive Grocer • June/July 2009 VP, Director of Deli and Bakery Operations, Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) WITH 280 MANAGERS and 1,450 partners under her supervision, Linda Wiggins has been responsible for double-digit sales increases for fiscal 2009, resulting in $101 million combined sales in the deli and bakery. She has implemented the company’s knowledge-based training, a Hispanic program, the Pay it Forward program, coffee bars, gourmet cupcakes, a fresh-baked program, a series of “Taste of … ” promotions, incentive plans, cleanup plans and department refurbishing.Wiggins received BGC’s highest honor, the Bruce G. Brookshire Hall of Fame Award for excellence in service, as well as numerous past awards for sales, profits and labor. She is also the overall BGC Aggressive Hospitality winner and past Deli Manager of the Year. She has been involved for the past five years with IDDBA’s retail forum, share groups and annual conference. Stephanie Skylar, Denise Morrison, SVP and President-North America Soup, Sauces and Beverages, Campbell Soup Co. EXPERTLY GUIDED by Denise Morrison, the Campbell USA, North America Foodservice and Campbell Canada businesses A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T President and CEO, Chief Super Markets, Inc. UNDER STEPHANIE SKYLAR’S stewardship during these challenging economic times, the company has remained financially strong, has carried low levels of debt and has maintained profitability. Skylar has reached collective bargaining www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009

Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009
Table of Contents
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/ Spotlight: Cheese/Shredded Cheese
Market Snapshot: Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Calif.
Independents Report: The Advantages of Older Associates
Lempert Report: Food Experts Tackle the Economy
Industry Achievement: The Top 100 Women in Grocery
Multicultural Marketing: 2050 is Today
Retailer of the Year: Celebrating Kroger
2009 Deli/Bakery Operations Review: Shrink-Wrapped
Fresh Developments: Consumer Shifts Create New Complexities for Fresh Food Trading Partners
Produce: Brimming With Possibilities
Meat: Fired Up!
Store of the Month: Giant Eagle’s Express-Ohhh!
Cheese: Cooked Cheese and Other Spiritual Revelations
Beverage Alcohol: A Cup of Cheer
Frozen Foods: Frozen Vegetable Sales are Steaming
Real Estate: Bigger is not Always Better
Technology: At Your Service
Equipment Innovations
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009