Daniel Wegman, CEO of Wegmans Food Markets, and Timothy Smucker, chairman of the board of The J.M. Smucker Co., have each been selected to receive 2013 Grocery Manufacturers Association Hall of Achievement Awards at the GMA Chairman’s Lecture on Jan. 19 in Arizona. The Hall of Achievement Award represents the highest honor given by the 104 year-old association.
“Danny Wegman and Tim Smucker are pioneers and leaders in the food and beverage industry,” said GMA President and CEO Pamela G. Bailey. “Not only have they grown and lead two of the most successful, trusted and admired CPG companies in the United States, both have worked tirelessly to make our industry better and more successful with their boundless passion, creativity, determination and unselfish leadership style. It is only fitting that these two men, who partnered on so many innovative solutions throughout their professional lives, will receive GMA’s highest honor at the same time.”
A 48-year veteran of his family’s business, Wegman is widely recognized as an industry innovator. Under Wegman’s leadership, the nearly 100-year-old beloved brand has become a $6.2 billion family-friendly franchise recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the top-ranking places to work. Wegman’s service to the industry is marked by his success in building consensus on tough issues. From his work on data synchronization, Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) and the New Ways of Working Together program, to his tenures as chairman of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), GS1 US, GS1 Global and the FMI Food Safety Task Force, Wegman has been a leader in bringing retailers and manufacturers together.
Smucker has served as the company’s chairman, president, COO, co-chief executive and a number of different roles over the years as the company has remained in the able hands of the Smucker family for four generations. As VP of planning in the 1970s, he ushered in a new, more modern approach to strategic, tactical and operational planning—a theme that would continue throughout his career. Smucker is well known for advocating for business standards, supply chain innovations and advanced technologies that have helped move not only Smucker’s but the entire industry forward. Smucker’s long standing commitment to the CPG industry is evidenced by his 27 years of service at GMA, working to bring the industry together through long-time posts on the GMA board of directors, its executive committee and its board committee on health and wellness. Smucker continues in implementing innovative new industry technology and standards in his role as vice chairman and chairman emeritus for the management board of GS1.
The GMA Hall of Achievement Award honors the extraordinary service and contributions of the consumer packaged goods industry’s most distinguished leaders. Established in 1984, 2013 marks the 29th anniversary of the award whose past recipients include AG Lafley of Procter & Gamble Co., Doug Conant of Campbell Soup Co., and Ric Jurgens of Hy-Vee Inc.
The GMA Chairman’s Lecture will be held Jan 18-19 in conjunction with the FMI Executive Midwinter Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Hall of Achievement Awards will be presented as part of the Chairman’s Lecture dinner program Jan. 19.
