The United Fresh Produce Association is now accepting nominations for the 2015 United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. The program will honor 25 outstanding retail produce managers at the United Fresh 2015 convention June 8-10 in Chicago.
The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program pays special recognition to produce managers on the front line in supermarkets working every day to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. This year marks the eleventh year of the program.
Since the program’s inception, 230 produce managers from 80 different retail banners have been honored for their commitments to customer satisfaction, innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, and recognition among company peers. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 program. Nomination forms may be accessed online and must be received by March 16.
“This program is a powerful way for retailers to recognize their outstanding produce managers for their hard work and commitment to the industry,” said chairman of United’s Retail-Foodservice Board Randy Scott, category manager-produce for Delhaize America. “The winning produce managers are recognized as leaders in their field and excellent representatives of the produce industry for our customers.”
Twenty-five award winners, along with their corporate produce directors, will receive complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations and registrations to the United Fresh 2015 convention. The winners will be honored at the Retail-Foodservice Celebration Dinner on Wednesday, June 10, where five grand prize winners will be announced as recipients of an additional $1,000 cash prize.
The 2015 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program is sponsored for the first time by Dole Food Company. “We are delighted that Dole has stepped up to sponsor this signature retail program for United Fresh,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and CEO. “I also want to thank the previous sponsor, Ready Pac, with helping us launch this program 10 years ago.”
“Dole Food Company is truly excited about the opportunity to sponsor this program and to recognize the excellent leadership of these produce managers,” said Howard Roeder, president of Dole Fresh Vegetables. “Our company is delighted to take the reins of sponsorship for this very important program and looks forward to working with our retail partners throughout the industry to recognize their key leaders at the front line of sales to the consumer.”
Click here for more information about the program, including selection criteria and a list of winners since 2005, or contact Jessica Mosley, United Fresh director of education, at jmosley@unitedfresh.org or (202) 303-3417.