Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009 - (Page 40)

2009 Top Women in Grocery Karen Buch, Director of Lifestyle Initiatives,Weis Markets, Inc. AS THE STRATEGIC planner for Weis Markets’ growing health-and-wellness outreach, Karen Buch provides healthand-wellness education to 2 million customers weekly through the Healthy Bites newsletter, ads, media and in-store messages. She created the new chainwide Fight Hunger program in September 2008 and the new weekly Serving Up Savings program in January 2009. She is the recipient of the 2009 Griffin Report Women of Influence in the Food Industry, USA Rice Retailer of the Year Award 2008 for her comprehensive marketing program communicating the health benefits of rice (resulting in a 350 percent sales lift), and the 2006 Excellence in Broadcasting Award. She belongs to a number of trade organizations, including the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Consumer Affairs Committee as chair, the American Dietetic Association and the Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group. Buch also raises funds for her local chapter of the American Cancer Society. earned the respect of her employees by rolling up her sleeves and lending a hand when necessary. So it’s no surprise that her Joshua,Texas, store’s net profit for 2008 was over 4 percent, and she surpassed all company goals related to sales, labor, overtime and supplies. In addition, her store has earned a Brookshire Store of the Month distinction several times over the past three years, and was Joshua's 2008 Business of the Year. No. 133 is also Joshua's Most Spirited Business and BGC's '08 Spirit Award winner. Claybourn is VP of the city's Chamber of Commerce, and works closely with the Joshua School District in a program to improve TASK scores and teacher/parent relationships. Deborah L. Sode, Store Manager, Giant Food Store 111, Columbia, Md. GIANT STORE MANAGER Deborah L. Sode is a woman of her word. In midJuly of last year, the ID sales of her store, No. 111, were down as low as 25.2 percent in food and -20.8 percent in total store sales, due to two competitor openings while her location was undergoing a major remodel. At that time, during a company meeting that included Giant’s more than 200 store managers, sales managers, district managers and even the new EVP, Sode bravely stood up and professed her determination to increase her store sales by 20 percent. Her strong focus on innovative promotions and a sharp eye for shrink management led to weekly sales increases. Not only did she increase her store’s sales by the 20 percent she promised, she passed that number, reaching 23.3 percent. Heather Crawford, Store Director, Brookshire’s Food Store No. 129, Denton,Texas HEATHER CRAWFORD is the only female store director in her district. But that may not last long, and she’s part of the reason. She’s become a mentor and coach to younger colleagues, and recently her grocery manager and a manager trainee — both female — became assistant managers. In addition to improving her employees, Crawford has also improved sales, leading her store to No. 2 in grocery gross for the district, and overall ranks within the top 10 percent of the company. Even when the largest Kroger in Texas opened nearby, and the company projected a 20 percent decrease in sales, her innovative promotions and strong customer service kept the decrease to only 2.3 percent. Among her accolades are first place in the company for “Improving Bottom Line by 50 Percent or More,” and consistently achieving an “Outstanding” ranking with mystery shoppers, operations audits and shrink audits. Sue Giordano Store Manager,A&P Store, Midland Park, N.J. SUE GIORDANO, store manager for The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.’s Midland Park, N.J., store, puts an end to the saying,“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” She’s one of the company’s top training managers, responsible for training and mentoring future store managers. She also runs one of the most profitable stores in the company, proof that she doesn’t just talk the talk. Giordano’s leadership has earned her several awards, including her company’s Leadership, Operator of the Year, Merchant of the Year and Retailer of the Year awards. She is also an active supporter of several philanthropic programs focusing on women’s and children’s health issues, including Children’s Health Fund St. Jude’s Research Hospital and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Ora Esquivel, Deli/Bakery Merchandiser,Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. DESPITE MANY challenges this year — including an aggressive sales and profit budget — Winn-Dixie deli/bakery merchandiser Ora Esquivel and her team still led the company in sales, gross profit margins, and shrink control for the $89 million department, and successfully completed the remodeling of 21 locations. She also reduced retail store inventories by $1.5 million, reduced equipment purchases by 40 percent and consistently achieves sales increases over previous years. According to her colleagues at Winn-Dixie, Esquivel is able to accomplish this because of her willingness to share her thoughts and ideas to make the company better at providing fresh products and local service. She is a member of Belle Glades Church of Christ, a volunteer at Glades Day School and a member of the IDDBA. Theresa L. Betson, General Manager, Giant Food Store 349, Urbana, Md. IF AWARDS are any indication of her accomplishments, Giant Food store manager Theresa L. Betson has done a lot the past year. She was awarded the 2009 Giant Food Founders award, which is given yearly to one recipient for community service. She also received a best-in-class award for customer service last year and a Top Performer award for nonperishable shrink.As if that wasn’t enough, Betson was also nominated for the 2008 Top Merchant company award, which recognizes the top store manger in each region who clearly stands out among his or her peers in driving sales and operating exciting stores. According to Giant, her compelling seasonal displays in general merchandise generated an 18.2 percent increase in sales over the prior year, along with a 40 percent increase in natural food sales. Betson is actively involved in the Frederick County Cancer Foundation, Red Cross Alzheimer’s and Mission of Mercy Associations. Bridget Brander, Unit Manager, Kroger Store No. 414,Athens, Ga. ALTHOUGH she took the helm at store No. 414 only in September 2008, Bridget Brander was able to achieve a sales increase of nearly 10 percent for that year, earning the location a No. 10 ranking out of 216 stores in the Atlanta Division for Shopping Experience Progress Report scores, with a total score of 93.1.Additionally, on the last total-store inventory at store #414, Brander reported just 0.30 percent shrink. Her many charitable activities include supporting the Light the Night Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and being an advocate for ovarian cancer awareness. Store Managers Helen Claybourn, Store Director, Brookshire’s Food Store No. 133, Joshua,Texas STORE DIRECTOR Helen Claybourn’s passion for customer service and the development of her employees has made her a standout at Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC), which she joined in 1983 as a cashier, rising to store director in 2005. Her consistent annual sales increases are driven by her innovative merchandising and creative programs, and she’s 40 • Progressive Grocer • June/July 2009 A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T 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